Bite-Sized Culture

One of the unique aspects of studying abroad is the opportunities you have to develop an international perspective.  Not only have I been learning about the Finns and their culture, but through interactions with other exchange students, I have also experienced bits and pieces of the rest of the world.  Two Saturdays ago is a prime example.  In the afternoon, some friends came over for a pancake extravaganza.  Together, we enjoyed American, Finnish and Polish pancakes with an assortment of different toppings.  This meal was rounded off with a few Turkish and Chinese cookies. 

The culinary adventures did not stop there.  In early February, my German friends discovered I had never tried marzipan (a common German treat).  To ameliorate this situation, we recently made blueberry muffins.  The muffins were special for two reasons: (a) they contained chunks of marzipan, and (b) the blueberries turned the batter plum purple.  Both the taste and appearance were a colorful adventure.