"Savor the Flavor"

Happy Monday (so some say)!

I have slowly been trying to venture out in the food department, anyone who knows me knows I am an extremely picky eater. I told myself that I would try lots of new things (minus seafood) while living in a different country, but some things are just a little too much for me. Coffee is my favorite thing in the world to drink and here in Abu Dhabi, it is not the same as I am use to. Mt. Dew tastes so different here because it is missing Bromine (not even exactly sure what that is, but its enough to change the flavor). So now I have to find something to love to drink that's not tequila or Bud Light (which they don't have Bud Light in this country anywhere) and I am not the biggest fan of flavorless water. So let the taste testing begin.

And that is just the beginning....

Today after work I really wanted to make soup, specifically vegetable beef soup. I had all the veggies, hamburger, a few spices that I am able to find here, so I just needed beef broth and rotel. Well.... I searched everywhere for beef broth and rotel and was unsuccessful. So, what did I do? Well, I made my own (sort of) and chopped a tomato. Definitely didn't taste the same, wasn't bad, but not the same. I was just wanting one thing to be the same. I'm not able to make Gumbo because I can't get the essential ingredients (essential to me) so I figured I would make one of my favorite soups instead. Not trying to complain, but just explain the massive amounts of differences from America to here, even the saltine crackers are different. HOW CAN CRACKERS BE DIFFERENT EVEN!!

On a positive note the groceries here (even though they are extremely different) are so much better than they are in America since they aren't pumped with all the preservatives and additives. Growing up on all of those is something that I became accustom to, so naturally everything is going to taste completely different to me, to most. They are so much healthier for you so I shouldn't be such a big baby. When your favorite soup (one of them anyway) tastes so much different, it kind of makes you feel some kind of way.

Am I the only one who has experienced such a difference? I can't be the only one! I have thought about it and feel I find it more overwhelming since I know I am not just on vacation, but making meals that I would have always made and they are just DIFFERENT.

For anyone thinking of moving abroad, eat all of your favorites until you are sick of them. Enjoy the very small details of your life prior to diving head first into a new country, the small things will be missed the most. Within time you will see all the small things will create a catastrophic disaster in your mind and you will realize how dependent you were on minor details in your life as you knew it. But something I suggest and I am trying to do myself, take it all in and enjoy all the new moments in your life. Some of these moments may never happen again and they will allow you to appreciate much much more of a life you once knew.

Have a wonderful rest of your Monday.