Me, myself, & I
Well, I take it if you made it here, you are curious to learn about who‘s behind LiveEatTravel, so let me introduce myself. My name is Issa, and I would describe myself as a travel enthusiast, adrenaline junkie, foodie, and the list goes on. I am an Aerospace Engineer by profession (or as most people would say, a rocket scientist), and I am working as a Technical Lead (don‘t ask) for a small but international company in the aviation tech industry.
I am currently based in Abu Dhabi (think Dubai) but I am usually somewhere around the planet. I was born and raised there, spent 15 years in Ottawa, Canada, then moved back as I realized I was not built for winter (also to be with my family).
Things I like to do include trying out new experiences, whether cultural, food, historical, or a mix of both. You will likely find me trying out something new to eat, or bringing those flavour back to my kitchen, meeting some new people to expand my worldwide network, and/or visiting a new (or old) place for a change of scenery. You‘re equally likely to find me spinning as well.
Other things to note about myself - honestly not sure. But I should probably talk about this blog. It all started because I realized I always have lots of stories to tell, be it through conversations, food, or photos. Clearly, it only made sense to start writing about it and publishing it online.
Full disclosure - I am by no means a philosopher. This has never prevented me from having my own ideas about how life is, or should be though. To me, life is a journey of becoming the best version of yourself. If you think about it, this is also the core of all religions. The most common theme is always about being the best version of yourself that you can be. Personally, I believe that this is done by all experiences you collect through your life and through all the people you meet. I caught on early that I always take the best of each person, irregardless of culture, beliefs, or values, and usually find a way to integrate it into myself. Throughout my journey, I have become this mix-and-match of cultures, values, thoughts, etc. But it makes me who I am. And it actually makes everyone who they are. I guess what I am trying to say is always be open to any conversation, experience, or person. You never know how it will affect your journey of self development, on the road to living a full and meaningful life. If you think something will make you feel uncomfortable, then that is most certainly the thing that you should be trying. After all, the first step is the hardest, but it is also the most important.
My Life Philosophy
My Food Philosophy
Time for my ultimate passion, travel. Growing up in the UAE, it was always a very diverse place. Your classmates, friends, neighbours, etc… were each from a different corner of the world. So naturally, I was exposed to lots of different cultures and traditions. Moving to Canada, even though it was also a multicultural place, it was missing the different cultures aspect of things, and left me longing for it even more. These things together are responsible for my uncontrollable urge to travel and see new things. Through lots of travel, I have learned to be open-minded to new things, considerate of other cultures, and most importantly, respect people for the way they act. Wherever I go, I ensure that I learn the history of the place, as it is responsible for shaping how the people in that particular place are. As I mentioned before, we humans are based on all our experiences. I hate coming off as ignorant or disrespectful to anyone, especially to people who‘s land I am visiting. It is the same idea as if you were to have a guest over who did not respect your way of life in your own home. Another thing that I find important as a travel is to not be the “check box” traveller. Take the time to actually experience the place you are in and soak in the culture. I know it sounds very cliché, but it is also very true. I know that seeing a place is not the same as experiencing it - the former does not really engage me much or help me grow in any way or the other, while the other stimulates my brain in a hundred different ways. One more part of my travel philosophy is don’t wait. I remember waiting ages for friends to be able to travel and was always disappointed. I took that leap of faith and travelled alone, and since then, it seems I continue to do so. While I have the odd trip here and there with a friend, most of the time it is my preference to travel alone. It does not really mean I am alone though and in fact, it is seldom the case. I usually am meeting people from every corner of the world in any place I go - like minded individuals who I get along with better than some people I have known my entire life. All this to say, do not worry about being alone for you will never actually be that way. Don’t waste your time waiting for others, and instead just go ahead and do what you want, and you will not regret it. I know that I have yet to do so.
Anyways, enough taking about myself, and my philosophies, whatever that means anyway. The best way to actually understand my philosophies is to read my posts. Regardless of the category they fit in, they are all a mix of one another. So click the button here and begin reading, and I can only hope that my stories will give you a new perspective and can help you become a better version of yourself, and unlock a part of you that has just been waiting to be unleashed.
Food. Possibly my favourite subject. Possibly everyone‘s favourite subject. Really, all our lives revolve around it, for better or for worse. It is also the core of one of the five senses - taste. But here‘s the ironic thing, me talking about food. I was possibly the pickiest eater growing up. This was actually true until my late teens. I am the guy who went to Japan and did not have sushi, traveled through Italy and avoided eggplant, spent every summer on the Mediterranean but did not go near a fig. I honestly am not sure what I was thinking, and I am happy I am not like that anymore (at least, no where near as bad as I used to be). It was baby steps though, and a long journey to try new things, in texture, shape, colour, and flavour, and I do not regret it for a single moment. It opened my eyes (and my tastebuds) to a complete new world, and allowed me to experiment with the randomness combinations. Have you ever had a strawberry soup? I know, does not sound appetizing and makes no sense. But experiences like this are worthwhile, and they allow me to be creative in my kitchen. That is part of my food philosophy - give everything a try on your journey to new flavours. The second part is that any meal should be a social affair. Whether with your partner, a family member, or friend, whether in-person or remotely. Growing up in a Mediterranean household, every meal was (and still is) a social affair. Breakfasts, although often rushed, were a chance for everyone to greet one another. Dinners were the time when we all caught up, exchanged thoughts, and had the few arguments that could not be avoided. I wouldn‘t have it any other way though. Not only is it just a cultural thing though, it is actually healthier. According to research, having a meal over conversation is much better than having a meal watching something, as a longer meal means you take a longer time to eat, get full earlier, and end up eating much less. All in all, make each meal a social affair. And when alone, do what I do and call someone up. The beauty of having family and friends scattered across the world means I can always call someone up to have my meal with.
