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fandomhigh2024-10-14 11:31 pm
carbsliftthespirit) wrote in fandomhigh2024-10-14 11:31 pm
Entry tags:
Food & Cultural Appreciation, Tuesday Third Period
"All right, folks!" Raiden said with an enthusiastic clap of his hands once everyone had assembled. "This week we're heading to my country of origin, although I've never actually been where we're going today, because one of my brothers is...dramatic." No, not that one. "See, I'm from Corinth, which is a little bit west of where we'll be going today: Athens, Greece! Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a recorded history going back almost three and a half thousand years, and evidence of people living in the area going back to...like...thirteen thousand years ago. In ancient times, Athens was one of the most powerful city-states in what is now Greece, and it's considered the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of what we consider Western civilization. In modern times, the metropolitan area is home to almost a third of the population of Greece, home to numerous museums and historical sites like the Acropolis...and they've got some very delicious food.
"Greek food is a Mediterranean diet, which means that it's based on certain things: wheat; olive oil, wine, and seafood traditionally more than red meat, although these days meat is more common...though usually sheep or goat over beef, because the terrain in most of Greece isn't overly suited to cattle. Greece was one of the earliest wine-producing areas in the world, and the olive oil and yogurt from Greece are renowned worldwide. They use a lot of phyllo, which is very thin sheets of dough used for making pastries, both sweet like baklava and savory like spanakopita. Some other Greek foods you may be familiar with include feta cheese, moussaka, which is a delicious baked eggplant casserole with ground lamb, horiatiki, more commonly known in English as 'Greek salad,' tzatziki, a sauce made of that delicious Greek yogurt and cucumber, and gyros or souvlaki, the Greek version of fast food made from meat roasted on a spit. While we're in Athens I would also encourage you to try retsina, a wine made with pine resin that's been produced since ancient times, or ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit." If you did try both of these, you might be left with the suspicion that Raiden was secretly evil. Or you might like them. Who could say?
"I'm starving, so let's head through our portal to Athens and get started on our self-guided food tour!"
"Greek food is a Mediterranean diet, which means that it's based on certain things: wheat; olive oil, wine, and seafood traditionally more than red meat, although these days meat is more common...though usually sheep or goat over beef, because the terrain in most of Greece isn't overly suited to cattle. Greece was one of the earliest wine-producing areas in the world, and the olive oil and yogurt from Greece are renowned worldwide. They use a lot of phyllo, which is very thin sheets of dough used for making pastries, both sweet like baklava and savory like spanakopita. Some other Greek foods you may be familiar with include feta cheese, moussaka, which is a delicious baked eggplant casserole with ground lamb, horiatiki, more commonly known in English as 'Greek salad,' tzatziki, a sauce made of that delicious Greek yogurt and cucumber, and gyros or souvlaki, the Greek version of fast food made from meat roasted on a spit. While we're in Athens I would also encourage you to try retsina, a wine made with pine resin that's been produced since ancient times, or ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit." If you did try both of these, you might be left with the suspicion that Raiden was secretly evil. Or you might like them. Who could say?
"I'm starving, so let's head through our portal to Athens and get started on our self-guided food tour!"
Re: Athens but NFB
"Because you are my friend and I lied to you," Arden said. "I can have good reasons to do something and still feel bad for doing it." She had a complex inner narrative that allowed for contradictions! "Or maybe it's better to say that, while I felt I had to lie to keep myself and other people safe, I didn't like lying to people I care about and who trusted me. And if you're hurt by this or angry or whatever, then I'm really sorry to have caused that to happen."
Did that make more sense, hopefully?
(Also, Lydia, not recognizing her as magical was the point! Camouflage to help her survive!)
Re: Athens but NFB
"I promise I'm not upset," she said. "If you couldn't tell me, then that's that. I just wish that you hadn't gotten hurt!"
And hoped that if and when Arden found out Lydia's secrets she still liked her.
Re: Athens but NFB
"Bronze is poisonous to Elementals," she explained. "It hurts, it cuts us off from our magic, and if we stay in contact with enough of it for long enough, we can die. So that's what I meant when I say I was poisoned. But at least it's over now," she said, matter-of-factly. "And she's allowing me to stay till I graduate, so I don't have to worry about her finding me and dragging me home again. So that's kind of a win, right? Even with me getting hurt?"
She extended a hand to Lydia's, intending to clasp it if she was allowed. "I'm really glad you're not upset. And that I decided to tell you. I was scared you'd be so mad that maybe you wouldn't want to be friends anymore."
She'd had that fear with everyone. That they would hear the truth and leave, but... nobody had. She wasn't sure what to make of it. It was wonderful, yes, but also hurt in a different way.
Re: Athens but NFB
Re: Athens but NFB
"Oh good," she said, expression flooding with relief. "That makes me so happy, Lydia, thank you."
Re: Athens but NFB
Did she have questions? Yes. Was she asking them? Lord, no. What if Arden started asking her questions back?
Re: Athens but NFB