So I just put up a new batch of kimchi, and I felt so ridiculously happy I figured I’d best ponder that for a minute. Here’s the answer: Making kimchi requires enough time and specific resources—ingredients, containers, etc.—that if I can pull it off, it’s a good indicator that I feel settled. That’s why my first batch of kimchi in Berlin felt like a major victory: those jars in the pic above are a recycled horseradish pickle jar from Spreewald and a 1€ flea market find; not pictured, the 3 Asian markets I had to find and navigate to get the right ingredients. And, that’s why the batch I just put up felt like a proper homecoming.
So, what’s your Kimchi Index? (It certainly doesn’t have to involve kimchi, though here’s the recipe I use if you’re interested.) What puts you on notice that all is right and good with your world?
The Rookery 
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