In this project I have chosen to explore thirty-six different cultures through their cuisines. I selected my topic based on my favorite hobby: cooking. Cooking brings creativity, fun and experimentation. Learning about different cultures is an essential life skill: “It is important to develop an appreciation for different cultures to become a well-rounded person sensitive to the unique qualities of others. One way to develop this appreciation is to try to learn about other cultures around the world” (Solis). My goal for my personal project was to cook all the recipes in an international cookbook, learn about the different cuisines of each country, and ultimately become more culturally aware. I wanted to create a cookbook with written notes about my experience with the dish and suggestions for the next person who creates it. Through “36 Different Spoons,” I also wanted to become more culturally aware of the different types of people I come into contact with every day, and I thought cooking dishes from their home country would help me achieve this. Cooking is a hobby for me and I thought it would be easier to demonstrate and learn what I researched through my favorite hobby, rather than through a different method. My inspiration for this project came mainly from my teachers, colleagues and family. They helped me brainstorm and define my topic, but I was the one who created the idea for my final product. Once I told my family my topic and what I planned to do, they supported me through the entire process. My mentor, Ms. Rogers, had a huge impact on my project and helped guide me throughout the process, ensuring deadlines and answering any questions I had. My personal project explores the personal and cultural experience......of paper......is not with me, and I think anyone who uses this cookbook in the future will experience a similar benefit. Inviting friends and family during my Personal Project to come and enjoy the food with me allowed me to explain and share the foods of different cultures with them and allow them to have the same experience I had. After telling friends and family about my project and what my final product would be, I receive calls and emails from them wanting to know when they can receive a copy of my cookbook. The decision to photocopy the pages of my cookbook and print several copies to distribute was because I would like families to appreciate unfamiliar cultures like my family did. Once this project is completed, I will continue to learn about this topic because my mother and I have set a goal to create a new recipe from a new country once a week.