By Katy

For the Kentucky Kitchen Table assignment, Baylee, Katelyn, and I teamed up to host a dinner on Western Kentucky University’s campus for ourselves and other students. Including Baylee, Katelyn, and myself, eight people attended. Each team-member invited guests from various groups. Baylee invited her friend Seth, Katelyn invited Jill and Anne, and I invited Theresa and Tucker. We were also unexpectedly joined by Yujen, who is involved with the Christian Student Fellowship on campus. Although each attendee, aside from Yujen, is currently a freshman at WKU, everyone had very different backgrounds, personalities, and opinions. While most of us were part of the Honors College and live in Minton Hall, very few of us knew the other host’s guests, which lead to interesting and eventful conversation.

For dinner, Katelyn, Baylee, and I made pasta with alfredo and marinara sauce, salad, and bread, which was a fairly difficult menu to execute from within a dorm kitchen. Although we had the menu planned, it was difficult to find a “kitchen table” on campus. Thankfully, the Christian Student Fellowship allowed us to use their basement and tables for the evening. With the help of some nice lighting, a mason jar of fake flowers, and paper plates, the meal all came together, thanks to each host’s efforts and collaboration.

While we ate, we discussed our college experiences, our different backgrounds, and the cities we call home. Everyone agreed college came with its pros and cons, which brought about a lot of laughter and connection within the group. Most of the attendants were from Kentucky, but Baylee and Katelyn reside in Tennessee, which provided a “hometown” connection for them. They were not the only people who call the same place home. Tucker and Anne both live in Frankfort, but had never met, which allowed them to have easy conversation about their hometown.

Although most of the conversation was fairly light-hearted, people’s personalities and interests began to surface as we continued to talk. Every attendant was invested in academics as well as extracurricular activities or organizations. Baylee, for example, is part of a sorority, and devotes a lot of time to her responsibilities within that group. Theresa plays clarinet in WKU’s marching band and invests her time in individual and group practice. Although there were differences in people’s interests, everyone was interested in learning about everyone else, rather than focusing on themselves.

Through conversing with the attendants, I learned a few interesting things. First, talking to strangers isn’t always bad, it can actually introduce you to new ways of thinking and understanding. Second, having a good team makes all of the difference. Without the help of Baylee and Katelyn, this event would have been a complete disaster. They were willing to do their part and were always willing to do more. Third, and finally, I learned that even though people who may be walking the same road, many begin and arrive at very different destinations.

I believe this assignment related to Citizen and Self in multiple ways. One of the main purposes of the class, is to allow students the freedom to express, communicate, and discuss their opinions, ideas, and beliefs, but in a way that is considerate of others. This practice is extremely important in the “real world,” because being able to communicate clearly and gracefully is a rare skill. It also relates to one of the main questions asked in class, “how do we live well together?” Although people have different experiences and backgrounds, it is important to listen to their stories in order to develop your own ideas, opinions, and character. Only focusing on how you can live well, will lead to a sad life, but investing time in learning how other’s live with enhance your quality of life.

I enjoyed this assignment because it forced me to talk to new people and engage in meaningful conversation, which is not something at which I excel. It also took a lot of patience to organize and cook a dinner for eight people within the restrictions of a dorm kitchen. Although it would have been easier to order pizza, I loved being able to cook with Katelyn and Baylee and see people enjoy the food and enjoy each other’s company.

By Katelyn

Going into this assignment, I was very nervous. I was not sure how I was going to find almost complete, or complete, strangers to have dinner and discuss citizenship with me. However, I completed the Kentucky Kitchen Table dinner with two girls (Katy and Baylee) from my class. We each asked two people to attend the dinner. There were nine people at the dinner. Katy, Baylee, and I prepared garlic bread, salad, pasta, and brownies for our guests. We each provided equal effort to the dinner, going to the store purchase food items and kitchenware and also cooking the meal together.

The nine dinner guests were as follows:

1. Seth was very funny and talkative. He provided much of the conversation, and kept it going. Seth is a unique fellow. This is mainly random information, but, unlike the rest of us, he has a tattoo.
2. Tucker was much quieter than Seth, but was still very funny. He is one of those people who is funny, but isn’t recognized as a class clown.
3. Anne was a quirky person. When we asked the questions recommended in the packet, she offered insightful and reflective responses.
4. Jill, Anne’s roommate, offered some spunk to the group. She was also the only one who had a vegan diet.
5. Teresa was one of the quieter people in the group. She and Seth actually went to the same high school, but never knew each other very well. Although she was quiet, she offered some sarcastic humor to the dinner.
6. Yugen, almost a celebrity on campus, randomly popped into our dinner when he heard us from upstairs in the CSF building. He has a rather large personality and a very loud voice.
7. Baylee was a very funny addition to the group. She is one of those people who make you feel welcome no matter who you are.
8. Katy was also one of the quieter people. She actually made the pasta. While we were eating dinner, she was very kind and considerate, making sure everyone had enough to eat and to drink.
9. Me! (Katelyn) I’m not really sure how to describe myself. I made the brownies and provided the drinks for the evening. I also read a few of the questions from the packet.

I was not sure how well the conversation would flow among all these college students, the majority of us freshmen. However, our group had some very good conversation. Even though some of us would be considered introverts, everyone participated in the conversation and seemed to be getting along very well. Baylee and her friend Seth were extremely helpful in keeping the conversation going, as they are both openly funny and loud people. Also, in the middle of our dinner, a graduate student named Yugen (more commonly known as “Loud Asian”) walked into our dinner and asked to eat with us. He provided some extra diversity to the group. After Yugen left (because he shoveled that pasta in as if it was going to escape him), even more conversation was provided among our group. We discussed all the entertainment and diversity Yugen brings to the campus of Western Kentucky University. He can often be found wondering around campus in his martial arts gi, meandering outside the Downing Student Union talking loudly on the phone, or even found watching martial arts videos in the computer lab in Mass Media and Technology Hall.

When Katy, Baylee, and I presented the question, “Beyond voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you,” there were a few different answers, but one of the most memorable, and one that all of us seemed to agree with was as follows. Anne shared that she viewed citizenship as being able to voice your opinions and values publicly, without fear of being reprimanded by all those around you; as a United States citizen, we are allowed certain rights and freedoms, and this is part of what makes us a diverse nation that can be one of the most unified. We also discussed whether or not we knew our neighbors (from back home, not in the dorms), and there was a variety of answers. Some of us lived in rural areas where our houses were not close enough to really know your neighbor while other of us knew our neighbors very well. Some even shared that they and their neighbors do not get along for various reasons.

As we discussed some of the recommended questions at dinner, we realized how well the Kentucky Kitchen Table dinner was connecting with our class. When discussing citizenship, we related it back to the idea in our class that we have desires to see and be part of a better world. Looking at the bridge illustration, we see our world and how we would like it to be, but we are not always sure how to get from one side to the other. At our dinner, we discussed that one of the only ways to change our condition is to be a better, more involved citizen. People must exercise their rights to change the world, and they need to be willing to listen to another person’s point of view rather than lashing out and ignoring it. This is something we practice in every class meeting. Our Honors 251 class discusses different readings and social issues presented in the class curriculum on a weekly basis. These deliberations have taught us to be better communicators. Even though many of us have similar backgrounds, we were respectful of differing views presented during open discussions. While an opinion different from ours may not have changed our minds about our opinions or views, we have learned to be very open and considerate when listening to others.

Baylee, Katy, and I reflected on the assignment while we were cleaning up after the dinner. We all were nervous about the assignment at first. It was a very pleasant surprise. We all seemed to share the same feelings, wishing we could share a meal with a different group of diverse people at least once a month. It was a nice and enjoyable experience to be able to meet different people in a friendly environment while sharing a meal together.

(Not pictured: Katy, Yugen)

By Caroline

In November, I went to my friend Allie’s house in Bowling Green to talk to her family and some family friends about democracy and their role in today’s world. Our table consisted of Trent, Allie’s dad, who works in sales, is strongly opinionated, and is good at persuading others; Lee, Allie’s mom, who works at a church in Bowling Green and is very nurturing and accepting; Becky, a family friend, who works in the business world and is quiet and compassionate; Ed, Becky’s husband, who is a high school English teacher and is very passionate and involved; and myself & Allie, both freshmen in the Honors College at Western Kentucky University. I am studying public relations and she is studying middle grade education. I was the only one from outside of Bowling Green; I’m from Louisville.

We had green beans, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken, rolls, and salad, with angel cake, ice cream, and caramel sauce for dessert. This has by far been the best food I have had since I have been here. It was something I eat frequently at home, and I was so excited for this meal. Allie’s mom even packed us some to take back to our dorms and I am still so grateful.

We started the conversation by asking beyond voting, paying taxes, and following laws, what does citizenship mean to you? The answer started generically, suggesting that as citizens we must attempt to do the morally right and kind thing, but grew more specific with examples. Becky and Lee explained a project their church leads each year with Room In the Inn, a homeless shelter in Bowling Green. The members of the church offer their time and resources to the shelter in the winter months, learning a lot about themselves as well as the people around them. They explained that this project helps them earn to be more accepting of others and not being quick to judge.

Room In the Inn has allowed them to build relationships with the people at the shelter; one in particular, Ernest. Becky explained that through Room In the Inn, some of the people who volunteered were able to get Ernest a job at the White Squirrel Brewery in Bowling Green as a dishwasher. Although this didn’t seem like much, it has allowed Ernest to build those connections with the White Squirrel employer, as well as customers that come through. This also allowed him to save money to go to a home or apartment of his own, instead of staying at the Room In the Inn shelter.

Our next question was what do you think are the best things about our world today? The answer that was most prominent was technology, but was discussed in two different ways: science technology and more social media type technology. Trent was more so impressed with the advancements in medicine. He felt as though the way we understand our world in a more scientific way has grew tremendously. On a slightly different note, Lee felt as though the way social media has grown over the past years has made us a smaller community, making it easier to communicate and understand one another. She explained that even though we feel more connected to one another, we still have some work to do when it comes to better understanding and accepting others.

Our third question was what is the thing you love most about living where you do? Becky said she enjoyed the fact that Bowling Green was big enough to where there is always something to do; there’s always new things to explore and people to talk to. But, she also enjoyed that it was small enough to be involved in the community and know a good amount of people around her. Ed enjoyed that the economy would always be stable here to an extent. He explained that the Corvette plant always offers jobs because there will almost always be people who buy those cars.

Our next question was do you see your job as serving a greater purpose? Ed responded quickly with yes because he is a teacher and he influences younger minds everyday. Lee also agreed, since she works at a church, she feels good about being able to serve others. The table agreed that Ed had the upper hand in serving a greater purpose, as they felt as though the influence he had on future generations was much stronger.

The next question we asked was what advice would you give to people running for office in our country? We felt like this was a very appropriate and very relevant questions, as the presidential election was less than a week away. The answers started simple and not very political. Be nice. Be a respectful person. Lee explained that we have strayed away from basic kindness towards one another, especially in the past few debates. She explained that rather than picking out what the opponent is doing wrong or tearing down their character, they should building upon the policies they want to implement. Ed wished that people running for office today be a statesman, not a politician. He feels as though the people running need to do this for the people and for the better of the community or group he/she is representing, not solely for a career or focused on reelection, and wants power brought back to the states. Trent thought those running should be informed before being opinionated. This was something the whole table agreed upon for the general population, but especially for those running for office.

The final question we asked was what social issue is closest to your heart and why? Becky answered first with animal abuse. She explained there’s no reason to abuse animals, as they can’t defend themselves and aren’t doing tremendous amount of harm. Lee said homelessness, relating back to some of the things she experienced at Room In the Inn. She explained sometimes they aren’t making enough money to pay for housing even with a job. We explained to her that this is something we discussed in class and that this is a wicked problem.

This really helped me learn how a sample of people originally from Bowling Green viewed not only national problems, but ones within their own community. As someone coming from a larger city, it was hard for me to understand some of the opinions people from Bowling Green had, as the culture here is much different. This gave me a deeper understanding as well as more of an appreciating for the things Bowling Green has to offer.

I think ending the conversation on a connection to something we learned in class really helped Allie’s parents and friends better understand not only what we learned in class, but why we asked some of the things we did. By discussing them, I think it was easier for me to identify the parts of homelessness that makes it identify with a wicked problem.

I really enjoyed this activity overall, especially the food.

By Allie

When I first heard of the Kentucky Kitchen Table project I was a little apprehensive. Growing up I was used to sitting around the dinner table for meals, but I was never provided with a list of questions to ask. Conversation flowed naturally without someone directing it. When reading through the handout I realized I was going to have to ask questions about citizenship and democracy and the people I was eating with were going to look back at me with blank stares. Thankfully, the dinner went the complete opposite way. The people I ate with were very intrigued and interested with what I was learning in class and they kept encouraging us to ask more questions

I ate with five people besides myself and it took place in Bowling Green, KY. First was Caroline, who on the surface may be seen as similar to me, but we are actually quite different in our beliefs. Caroline and I are in the Honors College together as well as the same sorority, but Caroline comes from a much larger city than me and has different political views as well. The next two people were my parents, Lee and Trent. My mom is very nurturing and accepting and works at a church where she is in charge of planning worship as well as visiting people in the hospital and nursing homes. My dad on the other hand holds much stronger opinions and doesn’t always know when to stop talking. He works in sales and is very good at persuading others. The last couple that joined us was Becky and Ed. Ed is a high school English teacher who is very passionate about what he does. He was also very interested in the conversations we were having and didn’t want the conversation to stop. Becky works in the business world and was much quieter than her husband throughout the night, but her motherly qualities were very apparent in all that she said. Everyone who came to the dinner was very interested in the topics discussed and they all had different and interesting takes on the subjects.

When we all sat down to dinner we were patiently awaiting Caroline. She arrived a couple minutes late and apologized about a hundred times before we actually dug in to our food. Caroline and I first began to explain why we had to talk about democracy and citizenship and we told everyone what this Honors 251 class was all about. After we got all of that out of the way we began to ask everyone some questions. We started with the question of what citizenship means to you. Almost everyone’s responses revolved around doing the right and kind thing. They also discussed the importance of accepting people who are different than you. This led to a discussion of Room in the Inn.

Room in the Inn is a homeless ministry that the church’s in Bowling Green implemented. My home church participates in this program, but through the conversation this night I learned a lot more about it. There was one man in particular that everyone talked about. His name was Ernest and he often stayed at church’s through the Room in the Inn program. I learned that people from my church had actually helped him get a job washing dishes at White Squirrel. He also has begun to earn more money and is currently trying to find somewhere he can afford to live. Everyone at the dinner said this was a perfect example of good citizenship being played out. Helping others, who may not have as much as you, is an easy way to be a good citizen to those around you.

We later asked everyone if they thought their job was serving a greater purpose. Almost immediately everyone gave their one-word answer. Ed, the high school teacher, discussed the question for a while. He believes that what he teaches his students can really impact them in their future. I agree with this whole-heartedly. I am planning on going into education and one of the main reasons is so that I can be a positive role model for kids and make an impact on their lives. He said exactly this and he believes that is what he does every day.

Another thing we talked about was the election. This dinner occurred before Donald Trump was the President Elect. When asked about what advice they would give to our nominees one thing really stuck out to me. Ed stated that he suggests that our nominees should act like statesmen not politicians. He said he wanted to vote for someone who was going to do the right thing for our nation without worrying about being reelected. Such a big problem in politics today is that there are so many people behind the scenes pulling strings that the people who hold office aren’t the ones with the power. They are being told what to do and are too worried about being reelected rather than trying to get legislation passed. Trent also gave the advice that they should know what they are talking about before they speak. This led to a discussion about how neither candidate really knows what they are talking about. Hillary may be the better communicator but she still makes mistakes, and it’s obvious that Trump is blatantly wrong with some of the facts he gives. Again at this time we were still in the middle of the election. I just hope that Trump takes the advice everyone gave him.

Another thing we talked about was social issues. This was where I thought the conversation may go south, but actually this was my favorite part of the night. I anticipated an uncomfortable talk about abortion or gun rights or LGBTQ rights. Thankfully Becky began with saying animal cruelty hit home for her. She just couldn’t believe that people could be so cruel to animals and live with themselves. We all pretty much agreed with this strongly and our conversation was successfully veered away from the dangerous cliff we could have fallen over.

At this point in the conversation Caroline and I pulled the wicked problem conversation on them and we started to discuss that. We were able to relate this to the class and we told them about the different wicked problems we had studied like poverty and education. They kept getting annoyed when we asked them if they had any solutions to homelessness because they realized there was no easy solution. They were very intrigued with the discussion of wicked problems because they finally had a name to use for all the problems that surround us.

Throughout the dinner we also discussed the best things about our world today. Lee talked about the advances in technology and medicine as well as how our world is “smaller”. Because of all the advances people across the world can be contacted with a click of a button. We also talked about how great of a town/city BG was. Caroline talked about how it was very different from Louisville, but she liked it a lot. Bowling Green has a small town feel while still having enough interesting things going. During this conversation I realized how important WKU was to our community. Without the university the city of Bowling Green would be nothing. It was interesting to hear everyone’s opinions of Bowling Green and what they liked and didn’t like about it.

Overall the night was filled with enriching conversation rather than the awkward pauses that I thought would ensue. Caroline and I got to enjoy a home-cooked meal and we even learned a thing or two. The awkward dinner turned into a cultivating Kentucky Kitchen Table.