Today we have a guest blog from Aussie writer Matthew Lang. I was very excited about the fact he's from Australia until I realized he doesn't "Crikey", not even once. Now I'm just excited. I jest. I think this blog is awesome, informative and lets us in on some of Matthew's inner workings. His frank discussion about how people communicate through food in his life is touching and hits close to home. My Nana couldn't have a meaningful conversation with anyone unless she was feeding them at the same time. Plus you can't go wrong if someone else is doing the work for you, am I right? I'm right. I know I am because this gives me an excuse not to post for another few days! - Real Life Dean
Soul Food to Go.
(this is supposed to be an embedded video. It refuses to embed.
Enjoy the link instead. In another tab)
Hi, this is Matthew Lang, and I’m
hijacking Dean’s blog for a bit. I’m not entirely certain what
I’m talking about but I’ve given myself the topic of food
because...well, I like food. I’ve been accused of liking it a bit
too much actually. I really need to like exercise as much as I like
food, but as has been recently pointed out, you
can out eat just about any exercise regimen, so loving food and
eating it responsibly is supposedly the main issue people have to
tackle when it comes to staying svelt.
You’ll notice that post is from
News.com.au, which is one of Rupert Murdoch’s websites, so I
recommend reading it with a hyperbole filter—which I call a
bullshit filter. Basically, ignore the headline, read the actual
article and take the news out of the sensationalism. Or just go read
something less tabloidy. You’ll also have noticed that it’s an
Australian website, and that’s because, well, I’m an Aussie.
Maybe you guessed that already from my spelling.
We’re a strange lot, us Aussies. We
take pride in our ability to guzzle down beer, and the average BBQ
will have more snags (that’s sausages) of questionable meat product
than anything else. On the other hand, we’ve started filling our
sausage skins with the flavours of San Choi Bao. Our
television screens are filled with more celebrity chefs, and reality
cooking shows than nearly anything else. I live in a food obsessed
nation. Or maybe I’m just making excuses for my own obsessions. And
still trying to find a reason why I’m writing about what I’m
writing about.
I used to complain—I guess I still
do—that my family only communicates over food. I think it’s a
Chinese thing. It’s funny when cultures blur. Australia is a young
country—one of the youngest. I don’t know if we’ve managed to
overcome colonial attitudes because we don’t have as long a history
of it to fight against—although
certainly no less painful for those affected by it—or because
we haven’t had the length of time to create an entrenched cultural
inertia, which allows us to cherry pick the best of all the others
that come to our shores. In essence, Australia could well be the
national equivalent of the baglady who doesn’t throw away anything
useful. And if the current state of discourse on Marriage Equality or
Climate Change here is any indication, we probably don’t throw out
things until they’re at least several years parts their expiry date
either, but then, no place is perfect. Anyway, returning to the first
point. People communicate in very different ways. Some people use
words. Some people use touch. Some people use food.
Words can nourish. Touch can nourish.
Food can nourish. And somewhere in there I’m trying to make a point
about words and touch being food, and it’s really not clear. This
is what happens when I ramble, seriously, there’s a reason authors
need editors. I am an author who loves words. I am a man who loves
touch, and I certainly feel that in western culture we are starved of
touch—so more hugs people—and I love my food. I write to touch
people. I write so that people can find a connection with something.
I want people to know they aren’t alone. That the stories that they
feel they can never have are ones that I thought I could never have.
Of course, part of me also hopes that eventually I can live one of
them as well as writing many more, but that would be a bonus fillip.
Of course, that’s a whole heap of pretentious twaddle, but at the
end of the day, our ambitions are always bigger than our
achievements. All I can say is I hope to nourish, I hope to share and
I hope that I can reach you with my work. And whether I do, or
whether I don’t, share something of you. If you’re a writer—share
a story, whether it’s true or it’s fiction. Let someone else know
that they’re not alone and that their dreams are as real and valid
as anyone else’s. Let them know that what they’re feeling is
normal, and shared by countless others. If you’re any good in the
kitchen, share some food with someone you are about. Or head out and
meet someone for lunch or dinner who you haven’t seen in a while.
Or hug someone. Take time today to say thank you to someone you
should thank but haven’t yet because it’s been too long, or
because it’s never the right time, or because it’s for something
so small that it feels silly to thank them for it.
It’s not silly, it’s not too small.
You’re not alone, and if you’re going to be a hifaluting big
pretentious dreamer go for it. And hope you manage to get
somewhere—anywhere—close to where you’re aiming, and if you
don’t, take another shot. You’re only defeated if you give up—and
if you think it’s too hard, or that you can’t do it, read this.
This is me giving you a virtual hug, because every scared boy or girl
needs to know that it’s not just you. You’re not alone. And
sometimes you just need a bit of nourishment.
Matthew has a number of stories to
share, but his most recent, The Way You Are, follows college
student Leon as he struggles with life, boys and regional Australia.
It is available now from Dreamspinner Press.
Matthew himself is a twenty something
Australian from Melbourne. Author, home cook and sometime amateur
theatre performer, Over
the years he has dabbled in marketing, advertising, event management
and the sale of light fittings, but his first love is and has always
been that of the written word and is rarely too far from a good book.
He likes his men hot and spunky, his mysteries fantastical, his
fantasies real and his vampires to combust when exposed to sunlight.
Other than that he’s pretty normal. One day we may even take him
out of the straight jacket.
You can find Matthew Long at the following Internet Locations near you: www.matthew-lang.com/ Facebook and everyone's favorite: Twitter
So what we have learned here is that Matthew is awesome. He cooks, which is great considering I can't and now I'm hungry. Yes, I am still banned from the stove. Actually I recently got RE-BANNED. There was no fire involved, but I did ruin a pot. And that Food as Conversation is not just an American thing, or a British thing (in the case of my family) or even an Australian thing...it's a human thing. Hope you guys enjoyed and make sure to go check out Matthew's work, it's worth your time, Promise! - Real Life Dean
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