While this game is quite the fun cooking game, it is also a learning experince and has some rather deep topics inside of it. Not only do we get to learn about the culture, we get to see the hardships this family goes through, and the way the struggle to adapt to this new world, where the language is not the same as theirs, the customs, clothing- its all so different from their own. I think some anthropological concepts would definitely be the culture aspect of it, but also we see assimilation, and a struggle to find ones identity and to keep ones identity.

As immigrants from Southern India, we already see the struggle Venba has with adjusting to the language, and we see how Paavalan struggles with obtaining a decent job, all because his work experince is different from others, and not 'up to par' with what the American work places ask for. We even see him comment, about how he doesn't have 'Canadian work experince'. We watch as the two struggle with the idea of moving back to India, where they might face more prejudice against their union- the main reason why they moved to Canada, so that they could be together without the pressure to follow what others had in store for them. With the many opportunities Canada brought, such as a better education, it also brought its hardships. For instance, Kavin knowing so English more than his own native language, an issue that Venba has, where she feels as if she cannot communicate with her son and that there is a wall growing between them as he seems to want to put his culture behind and become 'normal'. This could potentially be called assimilation, as he is giving up his identity to conform with the identity others put upon him, going so far as to demand being called Kevin when he was younger. You can see he becomes embarrassed by his culture, something we see later on he even comments on how he was embarrassed to eat the food his mother made for him in front of people. But you also see how Venba tries so hard to keep her culture strong within her home, having decorations up, fixing up her mothers recipe to make her native food, she even tries to share the food with Kavin's friends before he goes off to college, having made enough that he could bring with him and share with his friends- a rather innocent gesture yet Kavin denies it and pushes her and his father further away.

But soon Kavin does come around, using the recipe book his mother fixed up, he makes a dish that he remembers having when he was younger and sick, while struggling to read Tamil, his native tongue, another sign of his lost of identity, he manages to make it and seemes to realize that his mother was struggling too, her own mother- his grandmother being sick and soon passing it away it seems. We get to see him go visit his mother in India, her teaching him how to cook and cheering him on, the two seeming to reconcile. He mentions how he was always inspired by his dad as a writer, but even though he had a good writing gig, gave it up because he felt like he was using his culture as a sudden convience, and he felt guilty about it when he had always tried so hard to distance himself from it. I remember realizing in this final scene as well that he was wearing his dads glasses, which I thought was very bittersweet. But Venba then mentioned about how she decided to move back to India, not because her son had hurt her, but because she thought it would be better for him if she gave him some distance and time, which seemed to work out in the end.

I found myself relating a bit to this game surprisingly, as I have always felt a bit distant from my own culture(s), which I don't know a lot about and even don't know if I could call myself to be apart of that culture. But it was so heartwarming to watch this family, even though they struggled, persevere through it all and come out smiling and in the end, happy. While I definitely got a little teary eyed at some points, I remember the joy I felt when Kavin finally talked to Venba and the two shared a moment of happiness and memories, which just made me love the game even more. I also really loved the little details of the text bubbles, like how when Kavin, when he was younger, spoke slower in Tamil unlike how quickly he talked in English. Plus, the food made me so hungry!

Some questions that came to mind,

• Could this be another example of teaching people about different cultures?

• Could this game be used not only to remind people about how important family is, but culture as well?

• Could this be an opportunity to bring to light the struggles immigrant families go through?

• Could this enlighten people on those struggles, and perhaps used to inspire people to help those families and help create a better system for them?

• How many immigrant families have lost children to the force of the American system? To prejudice against their culture?

• How many families have felt threatened about being themselves? That they had to hide who they are?