MARINA
Nomads
Nomads are people whose main occupation is cattle breeding. In search of better pastures, they are forced to move from place to place with their families and belongings, covering many miles. Many years ago, all people on Earth were nomads. Humanity was born somewhere in Central Africa and spread all over the planet.
Therefore, I think that it is in human nature to look for a place where it is better or more interesting for you.
Once in my family, my parents decided to change their place of residence and went to a youth construction site in the Urals – it is very far away, near Siberia. To give birth to me, my mother returned home, then with me as a newborn, she went to my father’s construction site, and then 3 years later we returned to Leningrad.
So I was a nomad with my family. Of course, I don’t remember anything, but my parents remember that time well. They got to know a new place and new people, and they gained new experiences.
Camel is to Somalia as pyrog is to Russia
No holiday in my culture was complete without it. The word itself means festive bread or pie. A Russian proverb says: “A house is not beautiful with its corners, but with its “pyrogs.”
There are 50 types of pyrogs: meat, fish, cottage cheese, vegetable, with eggs, porridge, fruit, berries, mushrooms, raisins, poppy seeds, peas. Each “pyrog” is served with a specific dish: a pie with porridge – with fresh cabbage soup and a pie with salted fish – with sour shchi (shchi is the same soup as borscht, but without beets). A pyrog with carrots – with fish soup, and with meat – with noodles.
“Pirogi” are still a decoration of any Russian table.
My mother made very tasty closed pyrog with cabbage, open winter pyrog with potatoes or cottage cheese, and summer ones with raspberries or blueberries.
After moving to the USA, I made pyrog with cabbage twice.
Food in my culture
When I came to America, I realized that most of the food there is fast food or cuisines of different countries! And in order not to gain more weight, I started to cook home-cooked food that I ate since childhood. These are soups, salads. I eat little meat and therefore camel meat is wild for me, I didn’t even know that camels are eaten!
I am from Kazakhstan. Kazakhs are the indigenous people of Kazakhstan. Many eat horse meat which is the national dish of the Kazakhs and it is very tasty! And eating horse meat is also incomprehensible to me, when there is much more meat than standard! I miss Russian cuisine, sometimes I can make salads myself or buy them in Russian stores! Therefore, I do not really miss the food that I ate as a child!
Determination
I know different people from my circle, living in different countries. They also had situations similar to Jamal’s story, and they all also fought and achieved their goals, acted and worked for their dreams. They overcame bad luck, illnesses and lack of money, but thanks to their determination, they succeeded!
So I, having arrived across the oceans to America, also acted decisively for my goal!
Camel is to Somalia as chicken Kiev is to Ukraine
Kotleta po-Kyivsky (Chicken Kyiv) is a classic Ukrainian dish that has become famous far beyond Ukraine’s borders. It consists of chicken fillet stuffed with a piece of butter that melts when the cutlet is sliced, giving it a unique and rich flavor. The cutlet is coated in a crispy breadcrumb crust, and for aesthetic appeal, a chicken bone is added, making the cutlet resemble a chicken drumstick.
This decorative element, the bone, resembles the “stick” from Camel on a Stick from the series, making these dishes visually similar. Both demonstrate how presentation can enhance the uniqueness of traditional cuisine.
I often ordered Chicken Kyiv in restaurants and bought it in stores.
When friends or relatives visited me in Kyiv, I always started their city tour with a taste of this iconic Kyiv dish at a restaurant that is also called Chicken Kyiv. . . . I don’t eat it now, but I know it’s available in many restaurants. For example, it’s on the menu at Pastis on 52 Gansevoort Street.
I miss this dish because it reminds me of Kyiv and special moments in my life.
Nomads
A nomad is someone who constantly moves from place to place, seeking better living conditions.
Jamal refers to his ability to adapt to changes and overcome challenges.
Yes, I have moved frequently and lived in different cities and countries due to education, work, and hobbies, so I consider myself a nomad. I’m also learning how to adapt to new circumstances.
Camel is to Somalia as spring rolls are to Vietnam
Vietnam has some popular disks representing the country such as Pho (Rice Noodle), Banh My (Vietnamese Sandwich), Spring Rolls. You can see them in most Vietnamese restaurants in the US. Of which, the best I love is Fried Spring Rolls.
How to make it? Its ingredients include: Pork meat, crab meat (or shrimp), eggs; some vegetables such as onion, carrot, dried shiitake and wood ear mushroom, vermicelli noodle, black pepper and seasoning spice. All of these ingredients are chopped into small pieces, then wrapped in a rice sheet and fried with hot cooking oil. It’s so crispy and tasty.
Spring rolls are very popular in Vietnam. It is presented in all Vietnamese traditional parties as well as normal life. We, my family, usually make spring rolls in Vietnam and here in the US. We can enjoy it everyday. It gives us balanced nutrients such as protein (meat), vitamins (vegetables), grain (vermicelli). Eating this traditional dish also helps us to less miss our home country.
2. What were some of Jamal’s challenges once he got accepted into the State Fair? How did he deal with (or meet) the challenges? Did he overcome those challenges?
When Jamal got accepted into the State Fair, the first challenges he faced were how to get the huge amount of fresh camel meat approved by the FDA, how to cover the cost because camel meat is so expensive, how he could make a big amount of camel on a stick in a very short time to serve on opening day of the fair.
He was able to work out everything. He got a deal for importing a couple of fresh pallets of camel from Australia.
The following challenges were that the sprinkler system of his kitchen went off and his ribs were broken during the preparation time in his kitchen on the day before the grand opening of the fair. He did not give up and continued to lead the team to prepare camel on a sticks in the kitchen of his neighbor.
Nomads
I’d like to put the focus on nomadic cultures, particularly the Gitanos (Spanish Roma people). Their lifestyle is moving from place to place (this is called peripatetic nomads). Their journey began in India (originally from the Rajasthan region) around the 10th-11th century. They migrated through Persia, the Balkans, and into Western Europe, to eventually arrive in Spain in the 15th century and adapt to Spanish culture.
Actually, there were two waves of gypsy populations in Spain. The second one arrived at the end of the 20th century, coming from Eastern Europe, mostly Romania and Bulgaria. Unfortunately, this second wave has suffered most discrimination, in addition to the stereotypes of being gypsy people, they also have difficulties adapting to Spain coming from a foreign country. In the past, they traveled in caravans, trading, and offering services. They have contributed enormously to Spanish culture with flamenco music and dance.
Their community values are: strong family ties, respect for elders, and loyalty.
Historically they have suffered Anti-Gitano laws for the Catholic Monarchs’ edicts (1499), and have been discriminated against by Franco’s dictatorship (20th century). Therefore, there are still lots of stereotypes and discrimination around these people.
There are many Gitanos today settled in cities like Seville, Granada, and Madrid. Some of them still live in caravans, but traditional nomadism has disappeared in Spain.
Nowadays they often struggle to integrate and balance for integration while conserving their identity.
I’d like to conclude with a video of Camarón de la Isla, one of Spain’s most legendary flamenco singers. His voice and songs are deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of my country.
Camel is to Somalia as paella is to my culture
When I think about food memories, the first thing that comes to mind is paella.
Cooking paella is more than just making a typical Spanish dish; it’s about gatherings, conversations, teamwork, and organization.
We usually eat paella on Sundays, always for lunch. The process starts early with what we call mise en place—all the ingredients should be ready (cleaned and chopped) as soon as possible.
I still remember those interesting conversations on sunny Sundays, drinking a cold beer and snacking on olives with chips while my dad stirred the yellow rice, surrounded by the aromatic scent of thyme, rosemary, and garlic.
When I moved to the States, I found similar traditions at barbecue gatherings – talking with good friends, drinking wine, and savoring delicious brisket has been one of the most delightful experiences since I arrived here. Last summer, we made paella with friends because some of them had brought ingredients from Spain. The result was amazing.
This is a helpful video of the Paella process.
Camel is to Somalia as buuzy is to Buryatia
In my region, Buryatia, the most common dish is Buuzy. Buuzy is like a large dumpling steamed in a large multi-layered pot. This dish consists of ground beef with onions, salt and pepper in a simple flour dough. The finished buuzy has a delicious meat broth and is usually eaten with a sauce (soy sauce, mayonnaise or mustard). Also, the correct way to eat is with your hands, no spoons or forks.
When I was a child, my family would make buuzy at certain holidays where it was the main dish on the table. I still make buuzy for my family here in New York because the aroma and taste transport me back to my childhood in Buryatia. I think that in changing life situations, such as moving to other countries, people need something that can connect them to their familiar life to feel safe and comfortable. So one of those things is food, and for me, that is buuzy.
Look inside of yourself and describe the personality you think you have
I think Jamal didn’t give up and showed his perseverance on the State Fair because he had a strong understanding of his goal. Also he was responsible for the crew and his failure meant their failure. I believe if a person has a dream and knows the subsequent steps to make this dream close he can achieve it. In my opinion, consistency, persistent and discipline can lead to the desired result. Despite this, we are human beings and have our weaknesses and face life obstacles that can stop us.
I position myself as persistent person who tries to make decisions thoroughly without rushing. Therefore when I face obstacles, I need some time to figure them out because many of them are only in our heads. If I realize that the goal is really important to me or my family, I will never give up to achieve it. Of course, sometimes I’m not sure that I can handle difficulties and sometimes I’m in a bad mood and don’t believe in myself, but it’s not permanent and after a while I’m able to see on the problem from another point of view and try again.
In conclusion, I want to share with you these inspiring lines from the song “Try” by Pink.
Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame, someone’s bound to get burned
But just because it burns doesn’t mean you’re gonna die
You’ve gotta get up and try, try, try
Gotta get up and try, try, try
Gotta get up and try, try, try.
Camel is to Somalia as the crayfish is to a typical Don kitchen
I am from the southern part of Russia. My hometown is Rostov on Don. Don is a river. Our district is one of the oldest. And living here were Cossacks, Don Cossacks. Many small towns are located along the Don River. And so, our kitchen is rich in fish food. But the crayfish is the most famous of fish. We cooked the crayfish ourselves. You need to boil live crayfish in the pan with salt and dill. When the crayfish is red, they are ready.
There is a famous restaurant in Rostov where the chef prepares them using 40 different recipes. And it is wonderful. We can try fried, boiled, baked crayfish, with different flavors there. I don’t eat the crayfish here, because I don’t see them in the stores, and I miss this food.
Perseverance
Jamal is a person who is a role model. His persistence motivates us not to give up. What about me? – I always start determined, but my mood changes if I have challenges, and I start to be looking for motivation to continue.
In my country my family and friends supported me, but here this is difficult. My family has challenges. too, and we try to exchange advice or experiences, but sometimes it works badly here. Each of us doesn’t have enough experience. And we use motivation videos or articles about famous people who were in the same situation, and it works. Now this video is one of the motivation videos for us.
What is a nomad? Are you?
A nomad is a person who does not live a sedentary lifestyle, that is, they do not stay in one place for long. Nomads often move from one place to another, usually for subsistence reasons such as searching for food, water, or pasture for their animals.
This means that this person is part of a family or group that has lived nomadically for many generations. This may imply that they inherited traditions. Recognizing yourself in being a nomad can mean that you identify with this way of life, its values and its traditions. It can also involve a sense of belonging to a community that shares this lifestyle, as well as a deep connection to the history and experiences of one’s ancestors.
It’s true that I’m not a nomad, but my great grandparents were. They lived a life full of adventure and unique experiences. It must be fascinating to learn where you come from and how it influenced the family.
Perseverance
It’s inspiring to hear about Jamal/Jibril and his determination! I think I would describe myself as someone who is persistent too. When things get difficult, I try to stay the course and find solutions. Giving up easily is not really in my nature.
I have seen the video about the NY State Fair on YouTube and the site about it.
As I understood it, the NYS Fair will last from August 20 till September 1 in Syracuse, NY. There will be exhibitions of agriculture, food and beverages Also there will be shows, attractions and educational information. I don’t generally like places where there are so many people, and I don’t go to them without necessity. But – just once – I would like to go to the NYS Fair. By the summer, I will know whether I can go there or not.
My life seems nomadic. . .
Since I was 21 years old, I’m traveling from city to city to find a place that could be my home. I lived in 4 cities in Kazakhstan, then I immigrated to Russia, and I lived there in 2 cities. Now I immigrated again to the United States and I’m living in New York City.
I’m afraid that it isn’t the last city I’m living in. I like NYC but I don’t like cold weather. Maybe in the future, we will move to California if everything goes well.
Camel is to Somalia as lamb is to Buryatia
In Buryat culture, lamb holds significant importance. It is a staple food at celebrations, family gatherings, and religious events. One of the traditional ways to prepare lamb is by making khorkhog (a Mongolian and Buryat lamb barbecue cooked using hot stones) or buuz (steamed dumplings filled with seasoned lamb meat).
Lamb broth is also a common dish, symbolizing hospitality and tradition. In my homeland, we often ate lamb, especially during holidays or special events. Since I now live in New York, I don’t eat it as often, but I miss it. Whenever I do have lamb here, it reminds me of my cultural roots and the flavors of home.
Nomads and My Connection to Nomadic Life.
A nomad is a person who moves from place to place, often in search of resources like food, water, or pasture for livestock. Jamal talks about his ancestors being nomads, constantly adapting to survive.
I can relate to this in my own way, as I am Buryat-Mongol, a people who have traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle. My grandparents were among the last nomadic generations in Buryatia. They would move from one location to another depending on the season, living in different areas in summer and winter.
However, with the arrival of Soviet rule, the nomadic way of life started to fade in Buryatia. Today, the tradition of nomadism remains active in Mongolia, but for many Buryats, it’s a part of history. Despite this, the spirit of adaptation and movement still influences Buryat culture, and I carry that adaptability with me even in modern life.
My opinion about camel meat
I was surprised that selling camel meat is allowed in the U.S. In some cultures, camels help people survive in the desert. They are not just animals, but loyal companions and helpers. For me, it feels wrong to eat an animal that has been a friend to humans for so many years. Of course, every culture has its own traditions, and I don’t judge others, but in America, there is no real need to eat camel meat. This is just my personal opinion.
Camel is to Somalia as Joloff rice is to Senegal
In Senegal, our main Dish is called Thièbou dièn, some call it Joloff rice. It’s prepared with rice, fish, vegetables, and seasonings. People eat Thièbou dièn almost (3) times a week even (5) times for others.
There are (2) types of Thièbou dièn: the red and the white. The red one is cooked with tomato pasta while the white one doesn’t have tomato, but all share the same ingredients, cooking and same seasoning.
Here in America, you can eat Thièbou Dièn in Senegalese restaurants, but I hardly eat Thièbou Dièn except at a few ceremonies or special occasions.
Honestly I’m missing the real Thièbou Dièn which my mom made. . .
It’s a traditional Senegalese dish made with rice, fish, vegetables, and spices, and you might also see it spelled Tiep Djeun or Thieboudienne.
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I have my own recipe – I’m happy to share it if you ask me.
It’s best served hot – it’s a rich and flavorful dish!
I can almost guarantee that you’ll love it if you try it!
My favourite kalmyk dish is lamb entrails (Dotur).
The liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, tongue, and intestines are thoroughly cleaned, washed 5-7 times with running water, then boiled for an hour and a half. Then finely chop, add broth and fresh onion.
I ate it in my homeland every week or 2.
I ate Dotur in December, when it was our Kalmyk holiday – Zul. I miss it.
Dotur is very tasty, helpful dish. It has only one flaw – specific smell 🤣🤣🤣.
Nomads
Nomads are my ancestors 💯 they lived in Kalmyk steppe and grew up a sheep and horses 🐎. I’m a nomad, too.
22 years ago I moved from Kalmykia to Moscow. 2 years ago I moved from Moscow to Serbia. Two months later, I moved to the Filipinos islands. In September, 2023, I moved to Vietnam and in April 2024, I came to America. I hope I will stay here for a long time, minimum 5-7 years.
“All you need is food. . .”
There is something about food.
I’d rather not be looking for analogues of Camels in my culture’s cuisine, but instead, I was sitting and thinking how strange this dish’s name may sound for the people who did not come across Somalian traditional plates.
Let’s imagine that a Bizarre Restaurant was opened around the corner. So, you are just walking back home from your office, see a new place and decide to check it out. You see the menu… and you are shocked.
[IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER from Alina:
All the pictures below were created by an AI and have nothing in common with reality. No animals suffered during the preparation of this menu! Do not try to cook these at home!]
What I am trying to say, is that there are so many different recipes in the world, it’s almost impossible to be familiar will all of them. As soon as you find something that sounds weird, don’t be afraid to taste it!
Challenges and how Jamal overcame them
Having watched the movie, I was very impressed about the difficulties that Jamal had faced and the ways he had overcome them.
While watching the problems occurred during camel meat delivery, I was frightened, as I can clearly imagine the problems of keeping the refrigerated shipment intact. It reminds me of the situation when my cargo with medical products was stuck at the airport of transshipment, and neither the forwarder, nor the airline were able to tell me if the perishable cargo was put into refrigerator. Such situation can really drive someone crazy.
Thankfully, Jamal’s order arrived in good condition.
BTW, he was really blessed that he found the meat approved by FDA. This organization may be really nasty. From my experience, I know that sometimes, American IVD manufacturers prefer to get CE mark (“conformité européenne” or “European conformity”) and approval from Health Canada, prior to getting FDA approval for their products.
Okay, one obstacle is behind, but there are many ahead.
Of course, two broken ribs is not what you expect when you need all your strength, all your energy and all your dexterity while making tons of food. You cannot simply easily move, and the more so you may not lift heavy objects – like huge buckets with mayonnaise. It is not an irresistible obstacle, but for sure, it does not help you to go towards your goal.
What else can happen I guess. . . Wasn’t there enough troubles for one single person?
Oh no, if you decided to dive into a big affair, be prepared that everything will not go as planned. Even the sprinkler system, which might fail on any day and at any time decided to show its power exactly on the fair’s eve, when nobody expected such a dirty trick.
It was nice to see that Jamal was able to find another kitchen (I see a direct parallel with Cookie Lady) and managed to prepare the dishes. I’m pretty sure that a lot of people would have given up much earlier.
And besides – no matter how busy he was, Jamal was to maintain the relations with his community. Well. . . it helped, I guess.
Camel is to Somalia as buuzy is to Buryat culture
The buuzy is traditional dish in my culture. They are like dumplings filled with minced meat, mixed with onions. They are wrapped in dough and traditionally pinched at the top, forming a round shape with an opening in the center.
The buuza should have exactly 33 pleats. They are cooked in a steamer and eaten by hand.
We are eating buuzy for all celebrations. After moving to New York, I cook them often.
Camel is to Somalia as pelmeni are to Russia
Pelmeni are dumplings of Russian cuisine that consist of a filling wrapped in thin, unleavened dough. The filling can be minced meat (pork, lamb, beef, chicken or any other kind of meat), or mushrooms, or a combination of the two. They are considered to be a national dish.
I rarely cooked them in Russia, but sometimes I bought frozen ones. I don’t eat onions, and most frozen dumplings contain a lot of onions.
I was surprised, that in NY it is possible to buy frozen pelmeni with chicken meat and it is without onion. The chicken-filled pelmeni taste just like the meat ones. I love them!
What were some of Jamal’s challenges once he got accepted into the State Fair?
Jamal faced several challenges when he was accepted into the Minnesota State Fair. He struggled to find enough camel meat, but he solved this by working with a company to import it from Australia. Then, the night before the fair, a sprinkler system flooded the kitchen, and Jamal broke two ribs. Despite the pain, he kept working, feeling responsible for his staff and the event’s success. When the fair opened, there were long lines, but Jamal kept his team calm by focusing on serving “one person at a time.” Despite these difficulties, Jamal’s hard work and determination led to the success of his camel on a stick.
Camel is to Somalia as Kholodets is to my culture
Kholodets is a traditional dish made of meat and jelly.
Here is a link to a recipe for Kholodets!
What were some of Jamal’s challenges once he got accepted into the State Fair?
When Jamal was accepted in the fair, he had many problems: no money, no time to prepare, and broken ribs. He didn’t give up and kept going, even with the pain. He finished and showed his dish.
Nomads
Nomads are people who move all the time and don’t stay in one place. He meant his ancestors, who lived like nomads. And – yes! I can relate because I changed country and I’m planning to change my profession.
Would you call yourself determined and persistent?
When I see a goal, I can be determined, but sometimes I can’t do it because of stress, bad planning, or perfectionism.
Camel is to Somalia as pies are to Russian culture
Pies occupy a prominent and always important place on the Russian table. These national products have come down to us from ancient times, having avoided any foreign influence.
Pies are a symbol of hospitality, goodwill and generosity in Russia. Since ancient times, Russians have had a tradition of treating guests with pies. A pie is a festive bread with a filling. A pie with fish is called rybnik, with chicken it is called kurnik, from meat, cabbage or mushrooms it is called kulebyaka. In addition to hearty pies, there are pies with a variety of berry fillings, which are served with tea.
Russian ritual dishes were unthinkable without pies. Especially when it comes to family celebrations and rituals. No birthday table, for example, could do without a cabbage pie. And on Epiphany holidays, cross pies were baked from sour dough. A karavai was always baked for a wedding. It was a specially baked bread, essentially a pie, but without a filling. The karavai was decorated with braids, animal figures and flowers made of dough, as well as berries. Each element had its own symbolic meaning. For example, berries symbolized beauty, and ears of corn symbolized wealth. And the round shape symbolized the sun. The wedding karavai was essentially a blessing to the young family for a long and happy life.
In ancient times, pies were considered exclusively festive dishes. Gradually, the presence of pies became common not only on festive tables, but also on everyday tables. Traditionally, any products that are consumed daily by every person were used for their preparation. Small pies, or pirozhki, became especially popular. Russian cuisine has preserved many pie recipes that have been perfected over centuries and passed down from generation to generation.
Nomads
A nomad is someone who doesn’t have a permanent home. Instead of settling in one place, they move from place to place.
They travel around, usually following food sources for their animals, or looking for better places to live depending on the season. Historically, many nomadic groups were shepherds or herders, moving their sheep, goats, or other animals to different grazing lands. They often live in tents or other temporary shelters that they can easily pack up and move.
When Jamal says he’s from a “long line of nomads,” he likely means that his ancestors were nomads. It could mean a few things:
He’s proud of his heritage: He might see the nomadic lifestyle as a connection to nature, freedom, and self-sufficiency.
He still has a connection to that lifestyle: Maybe he doesn’t live like a full nomad, but he might value travel, adventure, or owning a few possessions.
– Actually, since I don’t have my own home . . . I, too, am a nomad!