Xine Xu hails from Edmonton, Alberta. But before settling in, she lived in Shanghai for the first 7 years of her life. That’s where she grew up and got her taste of the vibrant food culture. Since moving to Edmonton, she has fallen in love with international cuisine. If there’s a new restaurant in town, she would be the first to line up outside the door. At home, you can find her experimenting with recipes around the world. She hopes to share these experiences with all who care to listen.
In her spare time, Xin cares for 6 rescue budgies. Many of which she found stranded in parks or her backyard. On weekends, she drives out to Banff or Jasper where she can be found hiking new trails. She’s thankful Athabasca University has allowed her to work full-time as a researcher while taking courses that interest her such as abnormal psychology.
The first thought that crosses most people’s minds when the word ramen is mentioned is college students, especially students who have moved out and are living independently in a college dorm. However, another time that ramen might become a household favorite is during a time such as the global pandemic. Since the early weeks of… Read more »
Every year I host a backyard barbecue for my family, but this year I had to enjoy the entire feast myself. For those who are working or studying from home, backyard barbecues are usually a great way to enjoy the company of your loved ones. And with the current loosening of public health quarantine measures,… Read more »
Bored of your classic cereal for breakfast? Want some flair without having to prepare an extravagant breakfast? COVID-19 has given me the opportunity to explore more diverse breakfast options without resorting to the most efficient, bland-tasting breakfast. Lately, having the urge to try something different for breakfast, I’ve created several recipes that might help with… Read more »
Hike recommendations near Canmore With the re-opening of provincial parks within Alberta, I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of the province’s incredible provincial parks. Over the long weekend, I went on a solo hike through the Peter Lougheed Provincial park in Canmore, Alberta. Despite the mountains being a popular hangout location, I steered clear… Read more »
As a significant portion of the population spends more time indoors amid the viral pandemic, we are also snacking more in our time at home. I often find myself hoarding multitudes of snacks to help pass the time without regard for the calorie intake or the unhealthy ingredients in these snacks. How do we strike… Read more »
One of my favorite past-times recently has been baking. With the stress of COVID-19 hanging over our heads, baking can be a therapeutic activity. In distracting myself, I’ve found a sense of peace whenever I hear the rhythmic sound of the electric mixer or the scent of freshly-baked cookies. Moreover, with reduced trips to the… Read more »
During this strangely apocalyptic time that appears straight out of a dystopian thriller movie, social distancing has been the centre of everyone’s daily vocabulary. Social distancing is critical and could be the key to our future of reuniting with friends and our communities. However, in the meantime, social activities are still very possible using technology. … Read more »
The question I often ask myself when choosing to work at home (or in an alternate setting like libraries or cafes) is whether my productivity is increased when I take my work elsewhere. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become the norm to work or learn from home. Of course, for many of us, working… Read more »
There’s been a lot of fear and panic surrounding the worldwide pandemic taking place. While AU students are not unfamiliar to online classroom’s and learning indoors, students still may face challenges when obtaining groceries. Specifically, grocery shopping is turning into a headache for myself as I take many careful precautions before shopping for the ingredients… Read more »
Recently with the public health precautions taking place worldwide with the outbreak of COVID-19, I’ve been living a life not unlike that of a hermit. Some of you may have already shopped for a month’s worth of food items and non-perishables, but others may have not. For the latter half of the audience, I’ve compiled… Read more »