Eating Case


Eating Christmas in the Kalahari is an example of cross cultural misunderstanding when people from different cultures operate in a culturally unfamiliar environment. While Lee is doing some work in the Kalahari, Lee takes it upon himself to share the Christmas spirit with the Kung Bushmen by purchasing and slaughtering the largest ox he can find for a Christmas day feast. The idea of Christmas is not tradition to the Kung, but it happens to coincide with a local December custom of trance dance feasting. Excited with the opportunity to show his generosity, Lee tracks down the biggest ox he can find and purchases it. To his dismay, the news of his purchase and intentions doesn't go well with the locals. Everyone he speaks with tells him that he chose an old wreck of an ox that is deathly thin. He is even told that the amount of meat will not be enough that it will surely cause fighting and chaos over it. It appears that his plans have went astray. He is miserable, even considering not taking part in the feast. However, when the moment of truth arrives, the ox turns out to be exactly what he had originally anticipated. It is layered in fat and there is enough meat for everyone to eat. They had been playing games with him. He comes to understand that it is their way to insult the hunter and his kill in order to keep his pride in check, to keep him humble. Through this experience, Lee comes to the realization that, there are no totally generous acts. This is a fascinating commentary on the Kung, as well as on our western culture. Often, what we present as acts of generosity are more truthfully self-serving, even manipulative, moves in whatever game we are playing in society. As for the Kung, however simple they may seem, they are aware of these games and actively counter them.