I grew up vegetarian. (Well, with the exception of seafood, so whatever you choose to call that...) As an adult with choices, my reasons for not eating meat are mostly taste and health, which makes eating meat all the more difficult. It's not like I love a good steak but really don't want cows to suffer. I mostly just don't like the taste, and not growing up around meat being cooked has me looking at most meat with an element of disgust. What is all of that white stuff on the edge? What in gods name is that texture? And do you really expect me to put this piece of what used to be a furry animal in my mouth? Some people hate brussel sprouts and broccoli, I'm not a fan of most meats.
However, I chose option A. This seems to be the most popular choice as the other two are a bit difficult if you've signed on for a year as an EPIK teacher. However, be warned--
for just as you've decided that you'll sacrifice your regular eating habits out of a sense of adventure and, well, hunger, as you approach the restaurant you find yourself staring into the eyes of the cute little animal that you and your friends are about to devour. That's right-- if you plan on eating duck that evening, there will be a picture of little Huey right outside the door of the restaurant to welcome you in. Pig? Little piglet waves at you from the neon sign. While I assume that really these signs are a way of allowing the animals to brag a bit ("that's right-- I'm cute AND edible...") if you are a vegetarian it definitely doesn't help you forget what you're about to indulge in. Or, if you look at it another way, perhaps it does help. The cute little animals are always smiling, assuring you that they were in no way treated cruelly before their death. They are happy to be eaten by you, and hope you enjoy your dinner.
Another thing I noticed today while lunching at my rural middle school-- (eating at school is the biggest obstacle for a vegetarian, as you're expected to eat school lunch with the teachers as well as join in the occasional teachers dinner at a restaurant, cute animal assuredly in its place..) in America, if you state that you are a vegetarian, its understood that there are many varieties of vegetarian and people choose this lifestyle for different reasons. Religious, animal rights, health, simple preference. Attitudes of vegetarians can range from I try not to eat too much meat but have the occasional burger of piece of bacon, I still eat seafood (pescatarian, I have heard this somewhat pretentiously labeled), I have been vegetarian for a year and am still deciding, I've been strict a vegetarian for seven years and am quite happier and healthier because of my lifestyle choice, and finally oh my god did you know that hamburger used to be a living thing you how could you eat that you demon of Satan.
In Korea, vegetarianism seems to be such a foreign concept that no one really believes it. (Probably like veganism is to me-- you don't eat CHEESE?? Out of CHOICE?? If you say so...) My eating strategy in Korea so as not to starve has been to eat as much of the school lunch as I can without touching the meat, and then depending on how scary it looks give it a try if I'm still hungry. This has worked surprisingly well so far as rice fills me up and there are usually several side dishes consisting of vegetables, and with the soup I can usually spoon out the broth around the chunks of who knows what. My fellow teachers at my Elementary school take this in stride. My co teacher at my middle school, however, first broadcasted to the rest of the staff that I am a vegetarian and then proceeded to insist that I try a piece of pork. In a different, later discussion she asked me if I ever cooked at home and after describing several different vegetable and tofu dishes I like to whip up, she asks don't I ever cook beef or pork. Nope, still a vegetarian.
Ah, well.
