Anything & Everything

Having a pen pal to learn a new language is a convenient way of practising it in use, as well as a means to make friends. Diligent Sis#2, endeavouring to master the Korean language, took this to heart, and, through a mutual friend, got in touch with a student in Korea online, and began to exchange texts and emails - and, after some months of correspondence and gradually learning not only the language but also the culture, came to an agreement to mail each other local treats and snacks from their country. Any food exchange, in my opinion, is fantastic. I consider food and meals to be the best way to learn of other cultures and how they live, perhaps less so in the way of snacks, but even cheap, processed food can give insight to pop culture and ideals of convenience. So following a gathering of various Kiwi snackfoods, she shipped the box over, and in return, received a box larger than anticipated. I was excited. Asian snacks have always appealed to me as they are often not too ...

Vegan food. Need I say more? An increasing trend with growing groups of both supporters and opposers, it does have some perks: I am acutely aware that I consume perhaps more meat than I should, my love for eggs strong and unrelenting, and with a risk of high cholesterol running in the family it leads me to wonder whether I should reduce my intake of meat, or at least become a lot more aware of it. The other day I bought a portion of pork to cook, and a serving of 100g for a meal between my sister and me cost a minimal $1.70 - cheaper than a head of broccoli, or a portion of green beans at the best of times. Sure, mass-by-mass $17 per kilogram of meat had nothing on $3 for carrots, but it was one of very few times I considered the cost it takes to raise an animal, to feed it and transport it for slaughter, to prepare it for consumption and have profit left over, and it only reminded me of the huge issues regarding meat-eating that surpasses just animal rights . And yes, eati...