Explain how to cook a turkey...to someone who can't speak English

16 years ago

Although I am exempt from cooking TG dinner due to being invited to others' celebrations, I always buy a turkey at this time of year because they are so CHEAP! So there I was picking out a turkey (25c/lb) trying to decide how big and this couple next to me, picks one out then asks me how to cook it.

The trouble is, they spoke VERY little English. They were Asian but I can't say exactly what country they were from and I wondered if they'd even SEEN a turkey before. I tried to explain to leave it in the fridge for three days to defrost then cook at 350 for 3 hours. It was about a 12 lb bird in their cart.

The exchange took about 15 minutes and at one point they asked if they should "break". She even spelled it out for me, B-R-E-A-K. I was at a loss till the husband said, "break - broil". OH! I said, BAKE and then proceeded to show then numbers with my fingers 3-5-0.

More information than that would have been impossible and I'm not at all sure that the entire message got through but I wanted to say, "don't forget to take all the extra stuff out of the cavities!" and even more to the point, "just look it up on the internet!" LOL

I hope their turkey comes out good. It might need more than three hours but I'm hoping they'll at least have some idea of when it's really done, maybe based on previous experiences with chickens?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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Comments (7)

grainlady_ks
16 years ago
How about a video... do a Google search - video - how to cook a turkey.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: video - how to cook a turkey
Fori
16 years ago
The guilt! What if it didn't come out right?? Don't worry. If they asked you in the store, they'll probably ask a neighbor if they still aren't sure.

When I was in high school, one of my good friends called me the day before Thanksgiving asking me how to make mashed potatoes because her family (from Vietnam) was doing their first traditional Thanksgiving. No language barrier, but I told her incorrectly. I thought I knew but hadn't ever done all of it before. Ooops. She never said anything but I still feel bad!

A few years ago another good friend from high school called asking me how to make mashed potatoes (from potatoes). I did manage to tell her correctly I think. Actually no, I think I told her it was OK to use a mixer. I didn't have one. How would I know? :)

I did give her a hard time about never having made mashed potatoes by the time she hit her mid-thirties. Isn't that a staple? She'd been EATING them her whole life!
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Look, I'm not saying that it isn't impolite to speak a language in front of someone who doesn't understand it. And it is certainly true that it is her home, too. The only point I wanted to make is to consider the cost of turning it into a battle. Yep, you can win it. It's your house, your way, everyone speaks English only if you are in the room. Hey, it's not even your rule -- it's a basic rule of etiquette. Rules of etiquette apply at home, too (This works best, though, if she never, never breaks any herself, even at home). You are reasonable and blameless. You win! But ... what do you win? You win ... ... and the children don't feel at home at Dad's. ... and the Dad and kids have to speak to each other in a second language (to them) if you are present, which can be fatiguing and also just harder to express yourself as you really want to. ... and Dad's relationship to the kids is different if you are there. ... and things feel even more strained and there is even less communication, even if not a single word of Spanish is spoken. How does that make everyone feel about each other? Think it through, from each point of view at a time. NOT from the point of view of who is RIGHT and who is WRONG -- from the point of view of how this will all play out, no matter who is right or wrong. Now, believe me, I'm not saying that the only solution is for her to learn Spanish and/or to suck it up! I definitely agree that the children (and dad) need to think about how all the Spanish conversation makes her feel. They, too, need to see things from her point of view: she needs to feel at home and equal as much as they do. Who knows -- a kind, positive discussion about everyone's point of view on this might actually strengthen their relationships -- assuming that everyone goes into it sincerely trying to see others' perspectives, not just assert their own rights. And I do think that if the children see she is making an effort to learn Spanish, and especially if she enlists them as her teachers, they are going to be much more inclined to make sure she understands all the conversation. It just seems to me that there has to be a much more constructive (and pleasant) way to solve this problem than to cite etiquette rules, issue ultimatums, demand shows of respect, and turn it into a whose-house-is-this-anyway power play that will alienate the children, make Dad feel pulled apart, and ultimately not leave her feeling satisfied anyway.
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mustangs81
16 years ago
*`Â¯Â´v`Â¯Â´**.Â¸Â¸ Â¸Â¸.**`Â¯Â´ââ May, How Sweet of you to help! ââÂ´Â¯`**.Â¸Â¸ Â¸Â¸.**Â´Â¯`vÂ´Â¯`*

I'll bet they tell family over dinner about the nice lady who helped.

Good idea Grainlady.
lowspark
Original Author
16 years ago
The guilt - exactly!! I'm hoping that they WILL get additional advice somewhere. The thing is, part of their problem will be not knowing the workings of an oven. I'm guessing they don't because it seems obvious that you wouldn't put something in an oven on broil for three hours.

I had the feeling they'd been in the country for an extremely short period of time. I really hope it comes out well!!

Grainlady, I wish I'd had an i-phone or something to show them a website! Since it took me 15 minutes to get across the two concepts (thaw 3 days, bake 3 hours at 350) I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to say "look it upon on u-tube".
lpinkmountain
16 years ago
Hopefully they have at least baked a chicken for some background. Do you think they were possibly considering chopping it up into smaller chunks like you would with a chicken?
Anyway, I know how they feel. Vegetarian me is in a foreign land when it comes to cooking big whole animals!
lowspark
Original Author
16 years ago
Unfortunately I have no idea what their plan was. I felt bad because my communication was clearly not getting through, which is why it took so long to get even those basics across.

This suddenly reminds me of a story I heard years ago, probably an urban legend, but here it is. A newly arrived immigrant family goes to the grocery store and ends up buying a can of crisco, fully expecting it to contain fried chicken parts as pictured on the label!

I don't know if they realized the turkeys were plentiful because of thanksgiving or if they just thought that this was a regularly stocked item. I figured at the time that they were trying to get into the American spirit of things but looking back, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd only been in the country a few days and had no idea about Thanksgiving!

I just have to keep telling myself that if they were brave enough to buy it, then they would be able to figure out if it was done after three hours or not.
lindac
16 years ago
My guess is they were more savvy than you thought....andw ere buying it because it was cheap...for a lot of meat.
I'll bet they could roast it over a fire....but had no idea how to make it look like all the pictures they have been seeing around.
Very likely had been in this country for years....I know the nail tech's mother who does the polish removal1! Speaks apparently no English and has been working there at least 5 years.
Linda C

Explain how to cook a turkey...to someone who can't speak English

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grainlady_ks

Fori

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Explain how to cook a turkey...to someone who can't speak English

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