Cultures & cuisine: my love languages

May 22nd, 2022 You know when your spouse just has to tell that story? You know the one: it is partially funny, partially embarrassing, but true. It makes you both laugh and brings you back to a palpable memory...Drew might argue smellable! When you're a foodie like me who loves what many (or at least my husband) consider 'weird food,' there is no shortage of these foodie-related stories. If anyone mentions Lisbon to Drew, he will undoubtedly speak of squid ink pasta I found last minute and had tightly packaged for a plane ride back to Germany. I was delighted to have this long-lost meal I grew to love when I lived in Spain! Unfortunately for us, I had no appetite before takeoff, as I had just eaten a less-than-desirable last dinner in Portugal. After landing, I couldn't wait any longer and may have grabbed a bite (windows rolled up due to pretty cold weather) in the car ride home from the airport. Did I mention I was thrilled? Drew was not! Drew jokes that he's not sure why the third date happened after seeing me eat a fried fish on our second. "Whole, head and everything!" he exclaims. My good friend Jason, whom I've known my entire adult life, states I can remember the meal portion of any memory, yet everything else is questionable! When planning a solo trip to Vietnam nine years ago, I had three food tours and one cooking class booked before my hotels. "Wow, you're going to do a lot of eating!" my dad said. And I did…, and it was good! Having a Vietnamese mom and an American dad and spending a year in Saudi Arabia as a child, I was exposed to various foods at a young age. Growing up in Lawton, OK, however, I had pretty standard American fare when eating at restaurants with my friends and family. Let's be honest, dinner at Applebees or Outback was a good night out! My palate began to expand again when I was in college and in the few years following, as I traveled from the Northeast to the Southeast and back to the South Central United States. Then, in 2007, I received my dream assignment to Rota, Spain. My love for travel and learning about other cultures continued to grow. I came back to the States in 2009 and then, after a few more moves, found myself back in Germany (this time with Drew) in 2014. Like any good foodie, I planned our vacations around meals and, as much as possible, tried to eat local fare in local establishments. Of course, we visited many historic sites during each trip (in between our meals!). We traveled to over 15 countries in two years. Driving, flying, and cruising together around Europe was a time we will never forget. Our daughter was born a few months before coming back to the States, and our work schedules have not allowed us to go back overseas since...but that will change in 2023. Though we have months to go yet, I can already smell the grilled meat and pho cooking on the streets of Vietnam. I can't wait to walk along the El Puerto de Santa Maria beach and eat grilled squid at a chiringuito. My mouth waters for cataplana along the Algarve Coast in Portugal. And I promised Abby we would learn to make macaroons in Paris. The idea of traveling as a family and sharing new meals, cultures, and landmarks seems too good to be true. I can't express how grateful I am for this opportunity, and I hope that we use this time in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, a blessing to those we meet, and refreshing to our family. Drew's only stipulation is to take it easy with the food in the car, especially when it's too cold to let some fresh air in!