Unification: How a touch of spice makes everything nice

Food unifies us.

Don't believe me? When was the last time your parents invited the in-laws over to your house without the promise of food.

And what gives food it's rich, bold flavor? Spice. See spices are both universal, and uniquely regional. We all use spice to enrich our food, yet the specific spices that we use depends on our geographic locations or culture.

Culture is the spice that enriches our lives. It brings unique flavors into the equation. It's the reason that we're alike and different at the same time. Therefore it is symbolic that food brings us together, because when we make an effort to partake in another person's culture, we become more united as a world. I mean, if it works for in-laws, it HAS to work right?

I've found that as I attempt to assimilate to the culture here in Greece, all of my previous cultural experiences, whether American, Spanish, or Chinese, all begin to emerge. I've gathered "spice" from all these cultures over the course of my 21 years, and as I am currently adding some Greek pesto, I am finding that the more spices I add to my life, the more comfortable I feel with the world. Yet food and culture are the same: once you start collecting spices to your cabinet, you can't just stop at 3 or 4, once you get to this point, you're itching to expand your collection.

I'm now feeling that itch. Coming to Greece has solidified the urge in my heart to travel the world. Whether that's as a missionary or a businessman, I will end up traveling around the world because I love culture, and I want to have an extensive "spice" cabinet.

I'll end with this. Would you rather be limited to cooking with salt and pepper, or do you find yourself having urges for cinnamon or oregano some days? All of us are born into certain cultures, and grow accustom to certain spices. Yet when we observe other cultures and get a taste for the different spices they have, we then expand our palette. We become better cooks, and better citizens of the world.

That's the stage I'm in now. Someday, I hope to cook with all the spices in the world.