Learning and doing and becoming

The sushi kit I bought.

Learning and doing are entirely different things, of course. The importance of one or the other, or their powers combined, are another thing altogether. I’m an example of that.

Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I went to get sushi for lunch, and I told her how I remembered that I used to see sushi making kits (with the mat and starter amounts of ingredients) at the supermarket, but I hadn't noticed any kits in ages. Turns out brands of both our supermarket companies, specifically, Countdown and New World, sell the kits (and also the supplies by themselves). Today I bought a starter kit.

I've wanted to try making sushi for ages and ages, but just never did, though there’s no real reason for that. The important thing is, now I can. As always, I'm looking forward to experimenting to make what I like the most. At the same time, I'll still go out for authentic Japanese meals, just like I still have authentic Thai and Indian meals, too. I just want to be able to make sushi when I feel like having it and not have to go out. After all, I can make burgers at home, but that doesn't mean I never go to a burger joint.

At any rate, this is part of where I'm at these days—trying new things and seeing how it goes. Last year, I wrote in a blog post that "What I’m going through is a bit like being an adolescent all over again: I’m finding my identity as an individual, I’m testing my limits, and I’m finding the things I’m good at and not so good at." That's what's behind all my many projects, including cooking experiments. I also said in that same post, "…it’s in the attempts—and maybe especially the failures—that I’ll find my way into the new life I don’t yet have. The reason is simple: I need to find out who I can be on order to become whoever that is."

There you have it: The real reason I'm trying so many things I've never done before (including making sushi). I'm doing a lot of this stuff simply because I have to, yes, but I also wish I'd done this experimenting years ago, because there's no one I'd want to share it all with more than Nigel. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the ride enough for the both of us.

Update – September 22: Tonight I had my first attempt at making sushi, and it was an incomplete success. I should’ve watched a video first, but I eventually worked it out. It was far messier than I expected, and really fiddly. Honestly, there was a point where I thought to myself that it was far more trouble than it was worth, especially because my kitchen was left a disaster zone. Still, I know more now, and next time will go better, though whether it’ll go well enough to be photographed is anyone’s guess (I’ll guess no… maybe the time after that). It tasted right, though, so, half a victory? A third of one, maybe?