HealthyBea

Adapting

The first hour of the journey to Zanzibar for my honeymoon has influenced today’s post. I am writing on our Qatar airlines flight while reflecting on the importance of adapting – both to circumstances and to cultures.  

It all started with the lunch I packed to eat in the airport. We had some ingredients left in the fridge, so instead of purchasing a full salad, I decided to throw them in a disposable container (a rare habit, I promise!) and add protein once we arrived. Let’s just say, my plan didn’t unfold as expected; the airport didn’t have what I wanted. So, did I stop for a second to calmly reconsider what my options were? Nope. I panicked and defaulted to moody – obviously. Was there a perfectly fine alternative yet to be determined? Of course – I was at an airport not in the middle of a deserted island.

Once we got on the flight, I had coffee in hand, dark chocolate at my side, and laptop set up to begin writing (about a different topic, which I will now get to in a few weeks). Sipping my coffee slowly to ensure it lasted as long as possible, I quickly realised that I had to relinquish my latte during take-off because it was in an open container. If my packed lunch fiasco didn’t already clue you in, I feel very uncomfortable wasting. I was upset with myself for not having thought this through a bit more.

But my issues didn’t stop there. As I was considering my dinner options, I quickly weighed not only what sounded good, of course, but also what would fuel me and make me feel my best during our long travel ahead. After saying no to a traditional lemon mint beverage at the start of the flight, deciding against the hummus and tabouleh salad as my starter, and opting for the beef tenderloin instead of Qatari spiced chicken machboos with daqoos sauce or lamb kofta sandwich, it hit me: I am not even attempting to adapt to the wonderful culture I have stepped into. Not to mention the rich and beautiful world I would be experiencing for the next 7 days.

Don’t get me wrong, I normally go out of my way to eat diversely while dining out, and each of these menu options sounded incredible. However, I wasn’t specifically seeking the dishes I don’t get to experience daily, or even during my normal European travel. I hadn’t yet paused to think about the need, or more accurately, the chance to adapt to this unique adventure.

Yes, I am going to be confident in my decisions for the day and enjoy them fully (because it would be silly otherwise). But these small moments have served as the perfect wake up call to embrace the difference. The difference in daily activities, in customs, in people, in landscapes, and in food, all of which I am so lucky to be able to enjoy for the next week.

Lucky (or not) for you, depending on how obligated you feel to keep up with this blog, my dedication to and enjoyment in writing weekly will be holding me accountable. I owe you a recount next Sunday as to the ways in which I have adapted to unforeseen changes in my plans. But most importantly, to the ways in which I have adapted to the local habits I have embraced of not only Qatar as I fly on their airline, but also Tanzania as I become a guest on their island of Zanzibar. Let’s see how I do!

In the meantime, perhaps you can use my wakeup call as a reminder to pause and calmly reconsider your plan when it’s been disrupted. And separately, maybe this is your moment to step outside of your routine to experience a different way of life. Try a new cuisine, speak to your neighbour who doesn’t look like you, watch a foreign film. Actively lean into “adapting” by seeking a little less comfort in “different” so that you can ultimately find more.

Much love,

Bea ❤