Cambodia Pictures and TBF

My friends Kasha, Rachel, Mary and Luisa made a website for their media project called Thinking Beyond Food. I think it's pretty awesome, so I encourage you to check it out and read the blogs they have written. They intend to keep up with it throughout the rest of the trip, as well as during the summer.

On another note, I have a computer tonight, so I wanted to put some Cambodia pictures up! So...yeah. Enjoy!

One of the temples in Angkor Thom

Rayn and Rach being silly.

"Tomb Raider Temple"--super cool.

Girl Band photo. Rachel, Mary, Mckinley, and Hannah.
Yeah we're pretty awesome, we know. :)

Top Twelve Things I've Learned in India

Yes this is a top twelve.
Enjoy.

12. It has not been this cold in Rajasthan since 1905. According to my host mom at least.

11. I know how to carry cow poop. I am actually a master at this now. If you need any help making organic fertilizer from animal excrete, I’m your girl.

However, I will only explain what to do, I will not, repeat, WILL NOT, take part in the process.

10. Want to get somewhere? Speak in an Indian accent. It helps get you where you need to go. (Can you see me talking to an auto rickshaw driver in an Indian accent, headbob and all? No? Well I have. And I do.)

9. I am obsessed with peanut butter, and it’s possible that I can’t live without it. (Thanks to Shopper’s Paradise, I don’t have to!)

8. I know how to juice, cut, and gel aloe vera plants. I also know how to slice up my fingers in the process.

7. I am capable of not eating meat for an extended period of time.

6. The headbob is essential for communication. A simple wiggle or shake of the head can communicate acceptance, appreciation, happiness, that you’re fine. Surprisingly though, this form of communication is never used for, “no.”

5. Anokhi is the place to eat. End of story.

4. You must honk your horn. If you don’t, you will get hit by another vehicle, and you will die.

3. You have to go to the bathroom? And you’re male? Don’t worry about walking all the way to a bathroom! Just grab a bit of wall and face away from the road—problem solved!

2. Staring is okay. Like really—it’s fine. You can stare at the foreign white girl walking down the road. Actually, you know what, just go ahead and leer. That’s what really floats my boat.

1. Grow organic. Eat organic…SAVE THE EARTH!

Ask yourself once...Ask yourself twice...Ask yourself three times...**

Here are some questions I've been asking myself about food. I'd encourage you to consider them for you and your family as well. I still don't know the answers to most of these questions--they will require a lot of research for me when i get home. But i think they're important questions to ask!

1. Where does my food come from?
-if I get it at the grocery store, it's likely being imported to the store--meaning that there are severe environmental impacts when they ship it here--SO
2. What can I get locally? And what would be the benefits of getting my food locally?
-i've realized that it supports local, small-scale farmers; AND it has less of an environmental impact (not as much transportation, meaning less fuel used, etc.)
-if i get my food locally, it's building community--a relationship with the farmer and perhaps other regulars at a farmer's market
-as a believer, i think those relationships could lead to sweet friendships and GREAT opportunity for the gospel--that's something i couldn't get if i'm getting my vegetables from a farmer in Chile!
3. When asking WHERE food is grown, you also have to ask HOW is my food grown?? (This obviously relates primarily to fruits and veggies)
-is my food being sprayed with pesticides? Are farmers using chemical fertilizer?
-if you eat locally, it's easier to figure out what your farmer is using on his crops.
4. What are the benefits/harms of pesticides and chemical fertilizers?
-do the benefits (more food and faster) outweigh the damage it could/does do to my body?
5. Where does my meat come from/how is it fed?
-is it grass-fed? (did you know that the majority of US cows are fed corn--cows don't even naturally eat corn)
-are the animals given hormones to make them grow faster?
-is my meat being treated humanely?
okay, with this one, you may be saying, "I don't care how it's treated, I just want meat." BUT in my readings here, it's generally shown that places where the animals are grass-fed/free range and are treated better produce better meat. Also, you have to ask:
-as a part of God's creation, don't animals deserve a little better? And as stewards and caretakers of God's creation, shouldn't we be ensuring that we treat God's creatures well--without giving them things that aren't natural and that could potentially bring harm to OUR bodies?
6. What is my responsibility as a Christian to ensure that I am being a good steward of God's creation? And what does that mean for my life with regard to food?
7. What is my aversion to eating organically grown or prepared food? Is it because I'm uncomfortable with the changes it would make to my lifestyle? Or is it because I consider organic food to be the realm of "hippy liberals?"
8. HOW can I become a responsible steward of the creation around me? and how can I change my lifestyle to support more sustainable practices of growing/producing food?



**The title of this post is a shoutout to the TAR class of 2010. Don't you miss Mrs. Cox?? :D

What Does Food Mean to You?

**I've been asking myself a lot of questions about food since I've been here. One of them being, "What does food mean to me?" These are just some thoughts I've had.**

Family dinners are common in my house. Granted, the past 3 years have been insanely and unfortunately busy, so they have become a little less frequent. However, I am lucky to have a family where it is important to eat dinner together. We sit down all together at the kitchen table, maybe turn on some music, and eat.
And I've realized from shoveling cow poop every day (and I suppose from our seminars as well...) (okay mainly from our seminars, but still!) that food is somewhat essential in bringing us together. Dinner is where I have some of my favorite memories growing up. Dinner is where I learned how to think for myself. Dinner is where my family and I learn about what's going on in each person's life. And dinner is where we share food together.
It's a food culture, you see. And I think it's very important in the US.  At least in my circle of friends at home, when there's a party or social gathering, there's typically some sort of food involved, whether it's a meal or snacks or dessert. When you want to get to know someone or catch up with them, you invite them to dinner or lunch. On birthdays, we look forward to cake. During the holidays, there are certain foods we can't wait to eat.
This is just one part of our food culture in the US, but it's one that I really appreciate. Food is a way to bring people together. It's a bond we share. That's what food means to me.
So I'd like to ask you too: what does food mean to YOU?
Just thinking out loud. :)