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athenas-atlas 2 years
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I have a thing for learning languages. Ideally I prefer months to years between studying reasons for grammar and things like that but the world is topsy turvy right now. I have a goal to be conversational in Swahili because I want to volunteer in Kenya. I'm getting there. Everything with Afghanistan made me start learning Pashto. It's the most commonly spoken language in that country and I didn't know where people were going. I thought if we started to see an influx of Afghanis that were thrown into our country, the least I could do was learn a few phrases to help break down that barrier. I'm no where close to conversational but I know a few words to read and more to speak. I didn't expect something like this war on Ukraine to happen. For the same reasons I'm dividing my language learning time up to learn some Ukrainian phrases. When I was in Prague we were taught some of the Cryillic alphabet and some basic sounds during our TEFL classes. They aren't as hard to learn as you think they are. I would like to spread some kind of knowledge for those interested in breaking further barriers. These pics won't make you fluent but maybe they might make someone feel like less of an outsider while their world is on fire. This is something we can all do to do better and be better. I learn languages for fun but these two have been for helping someone. Just think about it. A little is better then nothing. https://www.instagram.com/p/CabaZKFLwg7/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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December 1 First day of Advent 馃巹馃巹馃巹馃巹馃巹 https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_wjiSvBkm/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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Every year on the first snow fall we go get Tim's coffee. The last two years I discovered International Delight peppermint mocha creamer, Elf edition. With my MudLove cup, to the first snow fall! It's the most wonderful Tim's of the year! https://www.instagram.com/p/CWTvMqxPOIv/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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Perogy for breakfast, why not? 馃槈 This is a secret sort of post. I will post my instagram link also to this post. I am writing a cook book. It is 50 recipes I use in my house. Some are made up by my family, some are renditions of other peoples. Some are tweaked. Some are worldly that I have tried on my travels and recreated at home. There will be some cooking tips on each page, some methods you may not have used before. All of these are tried and true to what I use. It doesn鈥檛 really have a flow. This is my first attempt. It鈥檚 just stuff from my home to yours. So the secret is this; For all of those who message me, get a free copy. There isn鈥檛 a definite release date but I am expecting probably around Spring. It is an Amazon e-book that will cost the general public 5CAD. It is about half way done. So message here for your free copy! One day I will republish it and more as an actual physical book but for now, an e book. Insta link- https://www.instagram.com/p/CWOj66gv85C/?utm_medium=copy_link Handle is athenas_atlas.
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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Stocked back up on my favourite Nespresso(Odacio), Kyle's favourite(Stormio), the Vanilla Pie one was one we liked last year and then a new flavour we've never had. I also got an advent calendar!!! So excited for that. Day 24 is a gift. I don't do surprises but I'm letting this one happen. https://www.instagram.com/p/CWM8LMhlecs/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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The food swap I did was half of the Polish stuff I made for some Chinese food. My girlfriend is Chinese and makes a lot of actual Chinese stuff, not the stuff in our Western restaurants lol some of that was a 5 spice pork belly, soy sauce chicken wings, sweet and sour ribs, boiled bok choy, garlic mushrooms, and salted duck egg.
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We did our swaps a week apart. When I dropped mine off, she also gave me some sushi. Spicy salmon and egg salad. Of course it was delish. Think we need to do more of these 馃榿馃榿
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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I am super Polish. Like half English, half Polish and a bunch of random stuff but in such small percentages that they almost don't count. Growing up I thought I was mostly German as my bio father's family claimed it so. Turns out, It's less then 2%. Jokes on them. My mother grew up with a very Euro house hold. Mostly English style but Euro influence. Me growing up, a lot of both. My mom made food from a lot of different countries. We were not sheltered at all in that aspect. It's probably where my love of food came from. I'm not a good baker but pretty good cook and I can make almost anything. There has been a Polish dish I've wanted to make for a very long time. The national dish; Golonka. Side dishes of ziemniaki z cebul膮 i koperkiem (boiled potatoes with onion and dill) and pierogi. But those weren't cooked. They were chillin in the fridge. First thing is the Golonka. Pork hock boiled to hell then baked and basted until pretty and sweet.
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You gotta skim off the foam as it boils then baste it with a beer and honey mix.
The potatoes are boiled until soft, tossed with caramelized onions(I like a LOT) and preferably fresh dill but I used some that was dried from my moms garden.
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Pierogies will be made and posted tomorrow.
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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Haven't made a post in a while. I've been debating moving my blog but think it'll stick around for a while. Been a few crazy weeks. The husband has been off work for a herniated disc since late September. Lots of at home time with the kids which is kind of nice. He can't do a lot though. He gets to go for an MRI next week because the physio guy thinks there is more going on then just a slipped disc 馃槵馃槵馃槵 guess we will find out. In other news, I did a food swap with a very good friend that I will get into next post. I did a partial with a friend from Poland, still waiting on his box. Global post is wild, It's been in transit for over a month now. Both his and mine. So when that comes in, I'll post about it. For now, enjoy the next post on food.
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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I pick up languages fairly quick but this one has been kicking my ass. It's the easiest African language for an English speaker to learn and some how I have a lot of difficulties with it. I wanted to be conversational for when I go to Ghana and Kenya in about 2 years. I bought this book to light a fire. In one week I will let you know how far I've come. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVdbsavPR78/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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The annual Zajic Corn Maze. The tradition we started when Billy was still a little potato. He was about 6 weeks old during the first one we ever did. This is Maples first year. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUQViShP0Go/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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6 years ago roughly today I was back in Spain drinking sangria. Normal times 馃槩馃槩 (at Valencia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUI-i7gvyqT/?utm_medium=tumblr
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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The last of Morocco 馃様馃様 I'll just have to go there I suppose.
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athenas-atlas 2 years
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To finish up our Morocco box, this is what we got;
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The pop was like a really good, less sweet sprite. I've been looking for places in Canada to get it and haven't had any luck unless I go to Toronto. No where ships to me 馃槶馃槶馃槶
Other notable mention was the hazelnut chocolate sticks. Tasted like a raw hazelnut sort of flavour. Not sweet like Nutella or Kraft spread. It grew on me.
Morocco was my favourite box so far 鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍鉂わ笍
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athenas-atlas 3 years
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Sto imparando l'Italiano.
That means I am learning Italian. I really am, and a few other languages all at the same time. I have a thing about not knowing something. I don't like going to countries and not understanding the basics. When I do go and don't know a lot(Czech) I immerse myself. I become a local. I do what they do and eat what they eat. I look up basic phrases so I don't stick out. I learn what not to do very quick. The first time I had culture shock was when I came back to Canada after my tour of South Africa. We went to Toronto for 2 days upon coming back, drove to New York city where I continued to walk in the streets weaving between cars like we had done in Cape Town. It actually took a few days to readjust to our street laws. My only dangerous experience was in that same New York visit. Stopped at a McDonalds to use the washroom in Brooklyn. A lot of them require you to make a purchase to use their services. At the entrance I was looking for the sign that said so and found it. As I was turning to my brother to say "there's the sign", about 12 dudes who were previously sitting down, all stood up at once and started walking towards us with an air of aggression. So we bolted pretty quick. Jumped in the car and actually sped off as best as we could as they flooded out to the street. No idea what would have happened but I don't think we were going to braid each others hair.
Second time I had culture shock was also coming back to Canada, from Czech Republic. I did a TEFL course there and had a little apartment. I went for a couple weeks before it started to get a feel for the place and I stayed a week after the course. Us students had the greetings drilled into us so hard that we would greet each other in Czech and carry on our conversation in English. When Facetiming with my mom, I'd drop random Czech words that we were taught in our language learning classes we used all the time. Little known fact, Prague is a big tourist area. But outside of the main square, no one really speaks English and they will refuse to serve you if you walk into their shop with English even if you switch to Czech. So we got good at the phrases we needed. We didn't live in the square. We were in some old Prague. When I got back to Edmonton, I had a girlfriend pick me up from the airport. I stayed in her guest room and she drove me home the next day. Before that though we went to the mall. It was so incredibly weird to hear English that I couldn't focus on her talking to me. I was listening to everyone's conversations because I could actually understand people. We went to a restaurant and the waitress was POLITE. She greeted us like she actually cared. I just stared at her for a moment. Grocery shopping. Oh boy. They are so aggressive as tellers. You don't do your whole two weeks of shopping in one day. They will yell and swear at you until you leave. You speed pack your groceries and then go to the table outside of the store to fix your bags. We would shop in groups so one person could help you pack and then haul your stuff away while you paid. You did not want to buy more then a few items at once or hold up the line. It took me almost a year to break my speed shopping habit. Now this all sounds insane but I legit didn't want to leave and returned a year later for a visit. Loved it. We have plans for another trip back one day.
So back to the original reason for this post. Italian Espresso Romano. Take a shot of espresso, rub the rim with lemon and put a little peel in it. You'd be surprised what citrus does to a coffee. One day I will have one in Italy. All over Italy maybe. And I will order it in well spoken Italian.
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Grazie e buona giornata!
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athenas-atlas 3 years
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Known for everything wanting to kill you or being poisonous, next up we are doing Australia. Home to the famous friendship rock-Uluru. The Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, some of the best beaches in the world and having only 1 recession in the last 30 years.
The Australian Flat White is the Canadian Double Double.
Very similar to Argentina's Lagrima.
Double shot of espresso into a glass
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Froth some steamed milk(my frother folds out from the side of my Ninja coffee maker. It's awesome)
You have to fold some of the milk in onto itself so you create foam and milk.
And pour that 4 ounces of milk into the centre of your espresso.
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athenas-atlas 3 years
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This country has both the highest and lowest points in the Southern Hemisphere, produced the worlds first animated feature film in 1917 and has the face of the most famous First Lady they've ever had on their money.
If you guessed Argentina, you would be correct!
They also have a great coffee called Cafe Lagrima.
Warm 200ml of milk(I didn't. I wanted it cold) and add some espresso to it. That's all.
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It is about how you'd expect. Milked down espresso. Easy to drink and simple to make.
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athenas-atlas 3 years
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Korea's Morning Coffee
Includes adding an egg yolk, salt, sesame oil and pine nuts.
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So I topped the egg with the pine nuts and salt and oil. Dropped it in the cup of hot coffee. It just tasted like coffee with sesame oil. After stirring in the egg, it was totally different. It actually tasted creamy and the pine nuts are so good in coffee. It completely changed it.
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