How to keep your tummy full,
Wednesday, September 28th, 2005A guide for overseas students (especially those single guys).
Getting food is basic survivor skill. You can’t survive too long without food. Without good (enough) food, there could be a sharp drop in Quality of Life.
Being overseas students in developed country, the main stumbling block to getting good enough food is money. It cost at least £10 to eat out in a Chinese restaurant in Belfast. £10 can be a lot of money for most students.
I am going to tell you all stories of friends (or ppl whom I know), and how they go about getting fed without spending too much money or effort. For confidentiality, no name will be mention, will call them by nick name 
Talking about getting free food, the first person who spring into my mind is Rhino. Being a Medic, there are plenty of free “drug lunch” which you can attend. Representative of drug companies are always keen to influence doctors prescribing habit. One of the ways to achieve this is by inviting doctors to their presentations over lunch time. Obviously, lunch will be catered for; usually there will be plenty of sandwiches, finger food, and fruits. Rhino, being a hungry student (and later junior doc) would always be around during this drug lunch. He will fill himself up, and fill up his bag!! Most of the other Malaysian Doc would be ashamed to be associated with him, especially during drug lunch! But he gets his tummy full, and collected enough food for dinner, supper and breakfast the next day. It is survivor, but without style.
On the other hand, Mr Dolphin, a guy who cannot bother to put effort into cooking. Being quite a sociable person, sometime others do not mind asking him over for dinner for his company (or out of sympathy? His is skinny…). However, you cannot expect people to feed him everyday. Then again, it is not a bad way of getting free food.
When I first came to Belfast, there were quite a number of invitations to dinner parties, organised by local “Friendship” groups. With free food as bait, cultural exchange as excuse, it was difficult to refuse their invitation/temptation. Before long, I realised that it was not worth the free food, to sit there enduring hours of evangelism and attempt conversion. I think they realised too that I was not worth the effort; it has been a long long time since I was invited again, what a relief.
Having Pot Luck party is an easy way to get many people to visit, and food is usually good. It is nice to have a change, eating food prepared by others. The important thing is that u have a good relationship with others, and never be left out of a party. Another tips is to master one or two dishes that no one else in the group know how to make. When planning for Pot Luck party, people will remember your food if not you. I specialty was “Tofu Egg”, basically steam eggs that taste like tofu, prepared in 5 mins. You want the recipe? Email me
Other practical ways to get your tummy filled is obviously learn how to cook. Cooking in turns is also a good idea, but it will only work, if all members of the group are not too fussy and willing to put in effort when their turns come.
Obviously, there are some lucky fellas out there with GF, and never need to cook… Also out there are some who still refused to learn to cook, and choose to eat instant noodles everyday.
