On Thursday, our class visited Port Richmond. Even though, I have lived in New York all my life, I’ve never visited Port Richmond and actually walked around the neighborhood. This class visit introduced me to a neighborhood intertwined with its culture. One of the “challenges” we had received at the start of the tour was to keep track of the number of restaurants we would pass by throughout the avenue. I had officially lost count of the amount once we had completed the tour. It wasn’t until I had physically noticed the number of different restaurants that I realized how rich in food culture this neighborhood really was. It also made me realize how truly diverse it was. There were multiple Peruvian, Mexican, and Chinese restaurants. There was even an Irish pub and a gourmet shop (that had just opened) we first passed through.

One particular store that stood out for me was the local market. It reminded me of the movie we had watched and what we had discussed in our class regarding food deserts. Many neighborhoods across the United States don’t have shops that offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious types of food. It showed me how important food choices really are. I had noticed that this shop was pretty much overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables. The shop also served different types of fruits that I had never even tried before. Another thing I had noticed was the décor. It represented the culture and gave a welcoming atmosphere. At one point, our guide spoke about the neighborhoods presence and the scents of South America. Although I have not been to South America, it seems welcoming to know that people found something familiar and that it reminded them of home.