The year is almost over, which is a big deal for my family. Once January 2018 hits, we’re 3 to 5 months away from selling it all and moving abroad. We will be nomads… digital nomads? Slow travel nomads? Nomad family? Or… maybe Gastronomads?!
What is a gastronomad?
According to Mike Elgan, author of Gastronomad, it’s a “foodie who travels a lot.”
Gastronomad living is craft—and art. And most of what I learned, I learned the hard way: through trial and error (mostly error). I wrote this book so you can learn the easy way. Everything I know about living as a gastronomad is contained in these pages.
Being a gastronomad … yes, food is involved; and, yes, travel, obviously, but it’s a deep connection to people and cultures from around the world through food. Gastronomadism is meaningful and life-changing.
This passage from the book says it all to me…
The gastronomad mindset says to the world: I want deep empathy with you. I want to live the way you live. I want to understand you, by immersing myself into your community. I want to taste your climate and culture and history. I want to break bread with you, sit at your table, hear your stories.
Page by page I was saying to myself, “Gotta jot that down. Oh! Remember that, too. Hey, Greg, listen to what Mike wrote here.” I ended up reading much of the book aloud to my husband. Later one night after finishing the book, my 7-year old daughter said, “Mom, can you read some of those chapters to me too, you know the safety parts and the food parts? It all sounded so interesting. I want to be prepared, too.”
Various quotes and ideas I’ve come across that inspire me.
From Only Love Today – a good book by the author of Hands Free Mama (another favorite book)
I still need reminding for this 😳
When I’m still, quiet, sitting and simply listening … I get the most peace and clarity. But, I need reminding to do it.