#there's a local dim sum place that makes their own lao gan ma

[not-poignant]

45 43 36 48

I love that this looks like a secret code to something e.e

45 can you remember what happened yesterday?

Yes, actually! This is a novelty for me because I can't always, and there was a period of my life where I couldn't at all (thanks DID). But I can remember yesterday pretty well, I can remember what I ate and what I did and what I watched. That's actually pretty amazing :D

43 what’s your take on spicy foods?

Love them. (I'm going to assume that spicy here means 'heat' and not 'general spices from all over the world' but I love both).

I actually lost the ability to eat them completely during head/neck radiotherapy for cancer, because it killed my tastebuds. And then when you're tastebuds start to grow back after radiotherapy, it's like your mouth is 'baby mouth' and you have as much spice tolerance as a newborn. I had to really kind of slowly condition my mouth again. (Like literally, my mouth would burn and ulcer and bleed if I tried to eat spicy food, even foods with too much salt or pepper could cause injuries to the tender skin).

One of my favourite dishes in the whole world is bun bo hue, which is a Vietnamese spicy noodle soup that is one of the most amazing comfort food dishes ever (especially in winter). I'm back to my previous radiotherapy spice tolerance so I can now really enjoy this dish (with extra chilli even) again and I'm happy.

I'm not one of those people who kind of attaches symbolism to the ability to tolerate spice (i.e. the machismo of some dudes around being able to handle hot sauce is honestly like... :/ like just say you're a masochist and go). And I don't like foods so hot you can no longer appreciate or taste the original food. But I do think chilli and hot sauces and chilli oils etc. can add layers of flavour and complexity that weren't there before.

I'm also not one of those people who thinks everyone should appreciate spice? I don't really like folks who are like 'omg just TRY it' or 'you'll get used to it.' No, let people enjoy what they enjoy. Some people just don't want to hurt or feel any discomfort when they eat, and that's normal.

36 how many times have you changed your url?

Never!

48 when did you first try an alcohol beverage?

Gosh, probably when I was like 2 or 3 years old. I was raised with Dutch grandparents who always had port and beer in the house, and had a very casual attitude towards letting young children taste a shandy that's mostly lemonade with a little beer, or having a sip of port with ice cream.

I've never actually liked the taste of alcohol much, and I don't drink now, but I was definitely exposed at a really young age, and probably encouraged to drink a little on the weekends I saw them. It was never more than a sip, like I wasn't being given whole glasses of anything (though I think I was given a glass of shandy when I was around 8-9, I just didn't like it, lol).

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From this meme!