Posts By: Xin Xu

Cassandra Wang

Cassandra Wang hails from Edmonton, Alberta. But before settling in, she lived in Shanghai for the first 7 years of her life. That’s where she grew up and got her taste of the vibrant food culture. Since moving to Edmonton, she has fallen in love with international cuisine. If there’s a new restaurant in town, she would be the first to line up outside the door. At home, you can find her experimenting with recipes around the world. She hopes to share these experiences with all who care to listen.

In her spare time, Xin cares for 6 rescue budgies. Many of which she found stranded in parks or her backyard. On weekends, she drives out to Banff or Jasper where she can be found hiking new trails. She’s thankful Athabasca University has allowed her to work full-time as a researcher while taking courses that interest her such as abnormal psychology.

Five Apps every Student Should Have

Compared to the average university student, AU students are busy bees that multi-task at every opportunity.  We have commitments beyond just school, sometimes including supporting families, working at part- or full-time jobs, running our own businesses, or developing a new hobby or skill.  With all these responsibilities in mind, reviewing for coursework might look a… Read more »

The Not-So Starving Student—Five Foodie Shows to Binge

August is the perfect time to binge watch Netflix shows, lay back and get inspired before the Fall term.  For foodies, there’s always room to grow in learning about cuisines, appreciating the meticulous detail behind each culinary masterpiece or simply watching celebrity chefs scream at rookie chefs which never seems to lose its entertainment value. … Read more »

The Not-So-Starving Student—DIY Guacamole

“Guacamole for extra?”  is the phrase I hear the most at the local fast food chain or burger joint.  But why pay extra for guacamole when you can do it yourself? Moreover, many fast food chains’ guacamole is heavily watered down and loses the richness and nutrients that homemade guacamole contains. Guacamole is simple to… Read more »

The Not-So Starving Student—Kitchen Appliance Review

As I was casually browsing Amazon for nifty kitchen appliances to add to my stash (and to deal with my chef’s block—the equivalent of writer’s block except one grumbles over the next meal to create), I found a surprising number of highly rated tools to reignite my love for cooking. I decided to buckle down… Read more »

The Not-So Starving Student

When it comes to barbecue season, Canadians only have about four months of the year to truly enjoy feasting in the lush green carpet of our backyard.  For students, hosting barbecues can be a fantastic way to entertain family and friends.  Backyard barbecues don’t have to be a big fuss when you plan ahead and… Read more »

Eight Reasons to Have a Pet Budgie

Since starting to adopt stray budgies into my home three years ago, I have had the blessing of witnessing the growth of these feathery creatures over time, including, recently, the death of a beloved budgie as well as the birth of eight newborns chicks.  Their existence has provided me with much joy and taught me… Read more »

The Not-So Starving Student

Being a student is hard, especially when many students today are drowning in student loans.  How do we make the most of our lives and make every penny count? Here are five tips that might change your financial strategy and boost your savings. Stock up on everyday items while they are on sale.  For items… Read more »