There was so much to learn in school that would help me with Spam. But after three years, I had changed as a person and filmmaker. I no longer found the same resonance in Spam that I felt before. Somehow, it was less relevant. JH Food, especially ethnic food communicates so much to me.
Food can be an effective diplomat.
For example, my father has a sweeping history-based grudge against the Japanese. He lived during the Japanese occupation of Korea. He mistrusts Japanese, considers them barbaric island people, etc, etc. Yet he loves Japanese food. When I go to an ethnic restaurant, it's often like stepping onto foreign soil.