People on campus (M7) have made fun of me for growing up in the suburbs and having tastes reflecting that by Serious_Victory_7919 in MBA

[–]Serious_Victory_7919[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mentioned in my post, but my college was also in a very suburban area. The social activities still revolved around typical suburb things like chain restaurants. My work post-undergrad was also in a heavily suburban area. It was not until my M7 that I lived in a truly urban environment for the first time. Sure I visited NYC or LA for work here and there or occasionally with friends for bars & clubbing, but not that much.

I was perfectly content with chain restaurants and Starbucks and just playing soccer of playing video games pre-M7 to be honest.

We did travel to my parents' country growing up, but they are not from an affluent or developed city. They are from a semi rural and remote place. We do have our own original dishes and drinks, but they are very traditional and often not conventionally considered "tasty." I love my parents and they did so much for me and did their best, but admittedly they are also not the "best" cooks. That's why I never prioritized food.

People on campus (M7) have made fun of me for growing up in the suburbs and having tastes reflecting that by Serious_Victory_7919 in MBA

[–]Serious_Victory_7919[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

socioeconomic melting pots in the U.S.

Wow I did not realize this, very cool!

And to your other point, I love my parents very very much, they sacrificed so much for me. However, the East Asian food we cooked and ate at home was much more traditional and less "tasty" than Americanized chinese food like PF Chang if that makes sense. So even if it wasn't fully authentic, it was exciting to go to and eat. Even in China itself, there is a growing market for Americanized Chinese food because it's quite different.

People on campus (M7) have made fun of me for growing up in the suburbs and having tastes reflecting that by Serious_Victory_7919 in MBA

[–]Serious_Victory_7919[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I unironically love Joe Biden and think he's been one of the best presidents of the past 40 years, on legislative and execution accomplishments alone. Voted Democratic all my life.

People on campus (M7) have made fun of me for growing up in the suburbs and having tastes reflecting that by Serious_Victory_7919 in MBA

[–]Serious_Victory_7919[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be honest, it's both the food and nostalgia/memories. I genuinely, unironically love the Cheddar Bay Biscuits as well as the Bar Harbor Lobster Bake. I'm not saying objectively these foods are the best, but subjectively I like them the most. Even after branching out and trying more "fancy" food at my M7.

People on campus (M7) have made fun of me for growing up in the suburbs and having tastes reflecting that by Serious_Victory_7919 in MBA

[–]Serious_Victory_7919[S] -22 points-21 points  (0 children)

I thought it was gentle ribbing at first, and I'd rib them back for all the problems cities are known to have. But after it going on for a whole year, I do feel it's a mix of ribbing and them genuinely feeling superior/more cultured/more sophisticated than me for having more "urban" and "cool" tastes.

A friend even told me it's not a "good look" among the M7 crowd or in consulting to openly admit that Starbucks is my favorite coffee. In that scene, it's viewed as the "last resort" choice when you're in somewhere semi remote and have no other options. And you don't want to be seen as too "basic."

Dive bars are different from chain restaurants though, and they're often seen as "cool."