What We Learned From Mr. Anthony Bourdain

Each night before we go to bed, Calvin reads Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential to me. This wasn’t always the case. For the longest time, I would pick up a book and read aloud as background noise for Calvin’s Instagram doomscrolling. We were only a chapter or two into this book when he decided that it was his turn. How could a girl say no? This is my dream! I thought to myself. My handsome, caring partner reading me to sleep? Somebody pinch me! Book clubs are always fun but I promise it’s even better when it’s with your partner. I dare you to try it. These are a few excerpts and quotes that stuck out to us. They helped guide our mindset into nomad mode.

“Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.” -pg. 73, Kitchen Confidential

For some context, Bourdain goes into great detail on how disgusting food preparation truly is. How gruesome meat production can get but how rewarding it is to one’s tastebuds. He reminded us that we should become comfortable in the uncomfortable. To indulge in the new experiences and sensations we’ll come across. To enjoy getting lost in foreign tastes… even if it does leave our tongue a little confused. Delicacies in one country may be frowned upon here but, we give ourselves permission to grasp the world with open arms. No judgement. Just enjoying the ride.

“Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don’t have. Bigfoot understood that there are two types of people in the world; those who do what they say they’re going to do – and everyone else.” -pg. 96, Kitchen Confidential

When we’re traveling, we’re going to meet a lot of cool and unique characters. We’re excited to find genuine connections out in different countries. We hope that we can build upon these connections and find some once-in-a-lifetime friends. People that are like us. The curious and avant-garde. When we first told friends and family about this trip, some kind of looked at us in confused awe. Most can comprehend a month or two trip but eight?! I could see Are they insane? written across their faces. We are the type of people that when we put our mind to something, we need to see it come into fruition. We hope to find others out there like us.

"All of us, when we travel, look at the places we go, the things we see, through different eyes. And how we see the is shaped by our previous lives, the books we've read, the films we've seen, the baggage we carry." -pg. 63, World Travel

Calvin and I come from very different backgrounds. Sure, we grew up in a Minnesota suburb but our up-bringing couldn't be anymore different. One of my favorite things about each other is that we have different interests that we love to pick-up from one another. I have an inclination towards film, he has one towards music. We can both agree that puzzles are one of our favorite past times. Navigating this journey will definitely be a challenge but we're ready for it! We're going to of course see the the world differently while also knowing this trip is going to change us forever. Together.

I write this as we are currently sitting in the MSP lounge waiting to board our 12 hour flight. Thank goodness for free continental breakfast or I'd be starving and bored beyond belief. If you'd like to follow our flight we are taking DL0121 MSP to HAN. We unfortunately did not win the seat lottery with Calvin in row 44 and me in 33. Wish us luck!