Thursday, February 24, 2011

I Ate Meat: Reality is Setting In

Yes. The title of this post is true. All true. Operation Bacon has finally commenced and I have eaten meat again. I started with the token white meat - chicken. Additionally, I made sure to purchase meat that I felt ethical consuming here. It was...well...not that good. But I can add partial blame to my poor cooking skills. No, I am not domestic and I will probably never try to be. Future husband - if you exist - you must be the cook in the house. In return I offer to be the bread winner. STRIKE THAT. I am joining the Peace Corps for two years. Then probably going to graduate school. So, I can't even offer to be the money maker. Oh well. I am never getting married. Man- this post has taken quite the turn. Back to the meat...

The positive side is that there were no bad reactions. Everything went as well as it could for the first time eating meat. I can be happy about that. Of course, I would have liked a little more enthusiasm from my mother. All she did was say "That's it." No applause. No congratulations - you took a big step. So anti-climatic. I guess until I eat some huge portion I do not get this satisfaction. Geez. Little steps people. Plus I have until July! The next phase: still deciding. Where do you go after chicken?!

So this has made my July departure a little more real to me. I have also been studying my Espanol. Side note: The Mexican man who often shares a treadmill next to me is really no help. I asked him to speak to me in Spanish. But he just wants to talk about my beauty (read- inner thoughts: is he serious...?!..I am currently dripping sweat). Mental note: seek woman Spanish tutor. Si se puede.

Life in Newark, Delaware is going. I am just working at the grocery store where my mom does in order to save time getting hired and we can car pool sometimes. It is not a grand experience but it gets me out of the house and I make some money. I also just got an email from my professor from last semester and he wants me to help him with a research project on the Islamic perspective on the concept of power using Raul Manglapus' concept of people power. I am so excited to work with this professor again and to do something academic. Plus, he wants to pay me $12 an hour. This is sweet.

Oh and in other Newark, Delaware news. I have found out that there are 2 other volunteers living here who leave this summer. Seriously. Way to represent my small home state. I love this. Hopefully we can all meet up soon. It would be nice to connect with people who understand the Peace Corps syndrome.

I think this is all for now. I really need to sign up for a marathon soon. They make life fun and I like getting medals. :) Oh and I have decided to self teach myself guitar prior to departure. This comes with the following self taught skills and topics I am currently working on: Spanish, break dancing, singing like Rachel Berry, GRE skills, El Salvador, Peace Corps service, eating meat, drawing, and selling things/giving things away (does anyone want to buy the following items: TY Beanie Babies, Pokemon Cards, a clarinet, field hockey sticks, two tennis rackets, or random books, dvds, or movies.) Yeah, I did not think so...

Wow. Is this post an example of what the inside of my brain looks like?! I sure hope not. What a mess!

Until next time,
Paz.

3 comments:

  1. Okay okay so I have to do the "reintroduce meat into my diet" thing too. So we can hang out in Newark, Delaware (read- most boring place on the planet), hablar some espaƱol, and try to convince ourselves to actually bring the meat close to our mouths. Because I can't even bring myself to consider eating beef yet which is a Mongolia staple. Ick. Tangent aside, I like my plan :)

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  2. Ashley! I actually just wrote to Jenn 5 minutes ago about us getting together when you are not too busy with school! She said she would write to you about when you are free and try get all three of us together! Your plan sounds wonderful and I like it too.

    On Operation Bacon: HAHA I am so glad that other people are doing the meat battle with me. I havent made it passed chicken...but I am working on it. Let's see if we can inspire one another!

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  3. Hello fellow Delawarians!

    I ate chicken once in the past 6 months; haven't gotten further than that, yet. When the chicken didn't cause any GI issues, I figured I'd be good and just take it in stride once I get "in country". It seems I can maintain my vegetarian lifestyle in the Swaz but, for cultural reasons / integration, I will partake if someone offers. It's not the animal thing that gets me, well it kind of is, it's the mass production thing moreso.

    Anyway, we should toss around some dates to get together at chat!

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