I don't claim to either. But its super fun to just go to the grocery store and the ability to actually try to replicate a few dishes with local ingredients (as

I don't claim to either. But its super fun to just go to the grocery store and the ability to actually try to replicate a few dishes with local ingredients (as opposed to whatever substitute is available back home) is really fun for a lot of people. For example, I've taken cooking classes in places like Thailand where they even take you to the market and show you what to buy. Since you know what to buy and you've already been taught to cook several dishes, its not that hard to go back to the same market the next day to whip up some more Pad Thai.