From East to West: Everyone Eats.
A Bite of China by the Office of International Affairs
I had the unique experience to participate in a almost cooking expo/seminar put on by the Office of International Affairs. Four Master Chefs came from the Confucius Institute in Guangdong Province Shunde district in China to cook and teach this art to all who came out to the event.
This event provided a unique time to allow students and other guest a chance to immerse themselves in activities (in this case cooking) and divulge themselves into this art from China. These Chefs used techniques developed in the Shunde district in China. There they have limited resources in terms of cooking materials. This results in a dependence upon local foods; many of which are raw. However, not only were these chefs experts in cooking, but they were also expert nutritionists. They discussed the importance of variation among the food groups and proper dietary requirements in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The event consisted of the cooking expo, during which each chef presented two dishes that they chose from their specialties. The audience watched and was encouraged to ask questions. They were called up and were able to try dishes, and there were translators present to answer questions and explain any processes going on. Further, they were able to discuss the cultural importance behind the certain dishes. It was much more a cultural event opposed to a cooking class. I think that aspect made this much more interesting. From the geography of the Shunde District, where there are many rivers and many rice paddies that provide a large amount of the basis for the diet of the region to the fish and chicken that is used in unison with this grain. It was interesting to see the reasons behind each food was selected and used.
It was interesting to see the wide variety of spices and other additives used by these chefs to add flavor and panache. An interesting thing to note was that the chefs did not measure any ingredients once. They knew what they were doing so much that they trusted themselves without question. I tasted a chicken ball with a ginger type sauce that was prepared with milk. It was a very interesting experience to taste chicken, which I know, and have it taste so foreign and unique. I thoroughly enjoy cooking and it was a truly eye opening experience.
Flyer Link: http://oia.ncsu.edu/confucius/bite-china
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
More Love: Art, Politics and Sharing Since the 1990s
Presented by the Ackland Art Museum
I ventured way outside of my comfort zone and my normal interests with a Visit to the Ackland Art Museum. While there, I was able to view one of their current exhibits entitled "More Love: Art, Politics, and Sharing Since the 1990s". It was a rather unique view of how the world has addressed love as a political force. It also discussed social interaction and equality through love. It addressed these issues through imagery and the ever evolving medium that is social media.
Two pieces I found very interesting were Love for Love by Gregory Sale, and the other was a collection by Chris Barr.
Love for Love by Gregory Sale
Gregory Sales piece Love for Love was incredibly interesting. Sale's art consists of white signs posted all around Chapel Hill as well as the museum with poetry on it. His signs are reminders of love and intimacy. While I do not necessarily understand how a sign that says "I guess I was wrong" might bring back feelings of love and romance, he says it does so I take him at his word. It is interesting these unique street signs can be so prevalent in such a small town and have such a profound meaning to certain people.
Sale gets most of his poetry from slam poetry and spoken word groups. Chapel Hill residents have joined in on this process and program. Sale's signs can be see around Chapel Hill (White circles with green writing are Sale's work and White Circles with Red writing are Chapel Hill residents).
No Time for Love: Worldwide Regrets Counter for Misplaced Priorities by Chris Barr
This exhibit did not strike me as art initially until I understood what it was. This is a collection of explanations for regrets due to circumstances. This text is written by Chapel Hill and other surrounding area natives. In it, they release their voices which might normally never be heard. Anyone can submit their statements online, and at his website you see voices from all over. "I could have told you to your face but instead I left you like a coward", and I could have had the baby but instead I didn't. In Barr's own words, "No Time for Love collects stories of regret from people dealing with the delicate balance of life, love, and labor. In a reality where time is finite, prioritizing love, in any form, can be challenging. This project acknowledges that struggle." Many of the comments I saw were problems I have had before and this was by far my favorite exhibit. I recommend that anyone who has a chance to go should go for just this exhibit alone.
Presented by the Ackland Art Museum
I ventured way outside of my comfort zone and my normal interests with a Visit to the Ackland Art Museum. While there, I was able to view one of their current exhibits entitled "More Love: Art, Politics, and Sharing Since the 1990s". It was a rather unique view of how the world has addressed love as a political force. It also discussed social interaction and equality through love. It addressed these issues through imagery and the ever evolving medium that is social media.
Two pieces I found very interesting were Love for Love by Gregory Sale, and the other was a collection by Chris Barr.
Love for Love by Gregory Sale
Gregory Sales piece Love for Love was incredibly interesting. Sale's art consists of white signs posted all around Chapel Hill as well as the museum with poetry on it. His signs are reminders of love and intimacy. While I do not necessarily understand how a sign that says "I guess I was wrong" might bring back feelings of love and romance, he says it does so I take him at his word. It is interesting these unique street signs can be so prevalent in such a small town and have such a profound meaning to certain people.
Sale gets most of his poetry from slam poetry and spoken word groups. Chapel Hill residents have joined in on this process and program. Sale's signs can be see around Chapel Hill (White circles with green writing are Sale's work and White Circles with Red writing are Chapel Hill residents).
No Time for Love: Worldwide Regrets Counter for Misplaced Priorities by Chris Barr
This exhibit did not strike me as art initially until I understood what it was. This is a collection of explanations for regrets due to circumstances. This text is written by Chapel Hill and other surrounding area natives. In it, they release their voices which might normally never be heard. Anyone can submit their statements online, and at his website you see voices from all over. "I could have told you to your face but instead I left you like a coward", and I could have had the baby but instead I didn't. In Barr's own words, "No Time for Love collects stories of regret from people dealing with the delicate balance of life, love, and labor. In a reality where time is finite, prioritizing love, in any form, can be challenging. This project acknowledges that struggle." Many of the comments I saw were problems I have had before and this was by far my favorite exhibit. I recommend that anyone who has a chance to go should go for just this exhibit alone.
Friday, February 8, 2013
"The Honest Answer is nobody has a clue" H.E. Jim McLay, New NZ Ambassador Visits NCSU
"In the words of David Callaman, "The Honest Answer is nobody has a clue"." - H.E. Jim McLay
This idea rang true but also painted a picture of how the world works. At the end of the day, we can do out best and hope for change and success in hurting regions of the world. Until then, nobody has a clue about the outcome of countries, regions and world issues. This was the idea I took away from Jim McLay's speech at NCSU.
This may sound pessimistic but it is also optimistic. It makes you appreciate what you have, and inspires the idea to do more. With that, we can hope to influence others in the ultimate search for the goal of finding "a clue"
Ambassador Jim McLay visited NCSU to speak on a multitude of issues in mid-January. His speech was both interesting and stirring. He asked many fundamental yet overlooked questions facing the world, especially Africa and the Middle East, in the coming years and the later 21st century.
McLay is a career politician. He has been Deputy Prime Minister, National Party and Opposition Party Leader. Currently he is the permanent Ambassador to the United Nations. A first for New Zealand.
Africa:
McLay lectured on several topics. He discussed Africa and the issues facing the global community regarding the continent. Currently, African occupies two-thirds of the UN security counsel's time. It has for quiet some time. McLay listed Rwanda, the DRC, Somalia and Darfur as prime examples on how this region has affected the world. Many UN peacekeeping missions have gone into Africa, along with much of its effort, time and money and the picture remains bleak to this day. McLay also stated that Mali and other regions in the future will join this long list of warring states and radical nations with little or no law. "There is a moral imperative to stop that misery", McLay said in regards to Africa. McLay lists Somalia specifically as an international scandal that has proceeded for two decades. The country has been lawless since the early nineties.
However, there is hope. McLay discusses that the future of Africa is dependent upon its own recent success. That comes in a multitude of different mediums. He cites the African Union specifically for its recent success in organizing and promoting development and growth from within. Africa is young, and increasing in population. It has untapped mineral wealth. It has a developing education system. These factors make it a continent for unique and optimistic speculation for the future.
The Middle East/Democracy
Much of the future world effort will continue to be focused on the Middle East/North Africa. There are global implications there while Africa only results in regional implications. The Arab Spring, the democratic revolution of 2010-2011, proves to be the main focus around the world still. McLay asked several questions on this topic: Will democracy prevail in Egypt? Will any other regions be able to adopt democracy? Syria, Yemen, or Libya? What will happen with the monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan? Will Israel face a peaceful future or will danger increase? Will the Gulf states continue their success of peaceful coexistence? Will Al Asad relinquish power? How close is Iran to a Nuclear Weapon and will the security council ever step in? These were just a few of the questions
McLay made the point that any single issue in the world will demand the worlds full attention. If all of these issues were to come at the world simultaneously, it would be the biggest challenge faced since the start of the cold war. Our success in the face of this adversity will be determined by how well global leaders and the world community understands the issues at hand and addresses them correctly.
McLay was one of the best speakers I have seen in quiet sometime. He blew me away with his basic yet astute analysis of the world, both past and present, and how they were dealt with successfully or unsuccessfully. McLay is an asset to the world at the UN, and should do many good things there for years to come.
-Christian
This idea rang true but also painted a picture of how the world works. At the end of the day, we can do out best and hope for change and success in hurting regions of the world. Until then, nobody has a clue about the outcome of countries, regions and world issues. This was the idea I took away from Jim McLay's speech at NCSU.
This may sound pessimistic but it is also optimistic. It makes you appreciate what you have, and inspires the idea to do more. With that, we can hope to influence others in the ultimate search for the goal of finding "a clue"
Ambassador Jim McLay visited NCSU to speak on a multitude of issues in mid-January. His speech was both interesting and stirring. He asked many fundamental yet overlooked questions facing the world, especially Africa and the Middle East, in the coming years and the later 21st century.
McLay is a career politician. He has been Deputy Prime Minister, National Party and Opposition Party Leader. Currently he is the permanent Ambassador to the United Nations. A first for New Zealand. Africa:
McLay lectured on several topics. He discussed Africa and the issues facing the global community regarding the continent. Currently, African occupies two-thirds of the UN security counsel's time. It has for quiet some time. McLay listed Rwanda, the DRC, Somalia and Darfur as prime examples on how this region has affected the world. Many UN peacekeeping missions have gone into Africa, along with much of its effort, time and money and the picture remains bleak to this day. McLay also stated that Mali and other regions in the future will join this long list of warring states and radical nations with little or no law. "There is a moral imperative to stop that misery", McLay said in regards to Africa. McLay lists Somalia specifically as an international scandal that has proceeded for two decades. The country has been lawless since the early nineties.
However, there is hope. McLay discusses that the future of Africa is dependent upon its own recent success. That comes in a multitude of different mediums. He cites the African Union specifically for its recent success in organizing and promoting development and growth from within. Africa is young, and increasing in population. It has untapped mineral wealth. It has a developing education system. These factors make it a continent for unique and optimistic speculation for the future.
The Middle East/Democracy
Much of the future world effort will continue to be focused on the Middle East/North Africa. There are global implications there while Africa only results in regional implications. The Arab Spring, the democratic revolution of 2010-2011, proves to be the main focus around the world still. McLay asked several questions on this topic: Will democracy prevail in Egypt? Will any other regions be able to adopt democracy? Syria, Yemen, or Libya? What will happen with the monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan? Will Israel face a peaceful future or will danger increase? Will the Gulf states continue their success of peaceful coexistence? Will Al Asad relinquish power? How close is Iran to a Nuclear Weapon and will the security council ever step in? These were just a few of the questions
McLay made the point that any single issue in the world will demand the worlds full attention. If all of these issues were to come at the world simultaneously, it would be the biggest challenge faced since the start of the cold war. Our success in the face of this adversity will be determined by how well global leaders and the world community understands the issues at hand and addresses them correctly.
McLay was one of the best speakers I have seen in quiet sometime. He blew me away with his basic yet astute analysis of the world, both past and present, and how they were dealt with successfully or unsuccessfully. McLay is an asset to the world at the UN, and should do many good things there for years to come.
-Christian
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