Pandemic feelings & language, dumplings, and food travel shows

In this episode, Christina and Anurag discuss the inadequacies of new terms in American English to describe life during the pandemic. If you’re also sick of ‘pandemic wall,’ Christina gives examples of words in other languages that better capture complex, emotional responses to world events.

Anurag takes you on a 15 minute world tour of dumplings. We discuss the origin of dumplings and talk about some lesser known dumplings from around the world.

Lastly, Christina talks about the most recent slate of food travel shows by American hosts trying to understand a “nation of immigrants” through its food. What are they trying to tell us, and what gets left unsaid?

Links to words:
Neijuan (内卷)
Weltschmerz

Links to dumplings:
Ethiopian dumplings: Tihlo
Georgian dumplings: Khinkali

Links to recommendations:
Salt Fat Acid Heat: Episode 2 on salt (on Netflix)
Georgian folk singers: Trio Mandili
Chinese vlogger: Liziqi