Signs of the Times - March 2023

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FA IT H

Seeing beauty and strength in so much diversity can be difficult—but if we embrace it, there is much richness to be had!

A TASTE FOR

UNITY

BY KIRSTEN OSTER LUNDQVIST

MELITAS—GETTY IMAGES

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SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MARCH 2023

hen was the first time you realised not everyone was like you? For me, it started in primary school. In Denmark, kids bring packed lunches to school consisting of bread and toppings. One day, my classmates asked me what I was eating. This was the 1970s, so food was bland and international cuisine hadn’t made it that far north—no American burger chains or pizza places existed where I grew up. Vegetarian food was seldom available in restaurants, let alone in shops. Here, my packed lunch had fig rolls and a vegetarian peanut product called Nutolene. Everyone I knew loved it, but my classmates had never heard of it and made fun of me for it. Food is something that sustains all our bodies, regardless of whether it is a taco or taro, a pizza or potato. As I grew up a little more, I was blessed to be exposed to various cultures and learned to love cooking different dishes. I enjoyed it so much that it got to the point where I hardly ever cooked food from my own culture. Throughout its 12-season history, MasterChef Australia alone has been broadcast in more than 170 countries (and that’s not even counting its American and UK counterparts). We wouldn’t watch it if all the

contestants cooked the same thing! If you have watched any of these programs you know that contestants cook food reflecting many different cultures. Aside from challenges where they all must cook one dish, we are continually treated to a rich diversity of dishes every episode. Some of them occasionally look “out of this world”, but the contestants are always being pushed by the judges to create artistic and exceptional gastronomical creations. Living in Wellington—a city with a rich variety of culinary delights from around the globe—resonates well with my appreciation for a more international palate. Whether the country of origin is Ethiopia, Japan, Brazil or even New Zealand itself, there’s always an exciting cultural journey to be had when stepping into one of my city’s many restaurants. I find diversity a blessing and at times I have been nudged by friends to try new foods that looked a bit out of my comfort zone. It’s a healthy experience because it forces me to try new things and gain a new appreciation for different cultures. It’s easy to recognise the richness diversity brings to our lives when we talk about food, but what about our communities? We seek out belonging MARCH 2023 • SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU

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