Being a young vegetarian can be a challenge, sometimes

20 Nov 2010 1 Comment

by suminch in Uncategorized

” Oh, you are a vegetarian?”

” Why did you become a vegetarian?”

” When did you decide to be a vegetarian?” 

” I can’t imagine my life without meat.”

“Is your boyfriend a vegetarian as well?”

 

This is the common questions that I have to answer whenever I meet new people. My standard answers as follow:

*Blushing* ” Yeah I am”

” For health and religion”

“Since 10 years old”

“Haha, I just get used to it”

” I wish sometimes, but he is not. But it is okay, he gets to choose what he want to put inside his mouth”

It was 11 years ago when I last tasted meat. Well, to be accurate, I should say tasted meat INTENTIONALLY. Along the 11 years, there were few times ( just few) where I ACCIDENTALLY swallowed meat.

I remember when I first decided to be a vegetarian, my mom is the only one supported me. My uncle thought I won’t be able to sustain days without meat for long ( because I was once a carnivor and “vege-phobic”) ; My relatives try to tempt me with their fantastic “Fu CHAO” dishes every time I went to their house for dinner (till today) ; My brother (sometimes, sometimes) complains about it because I can’t taste good food anymore… But I don’t care, I eat what I want

Though being a vegetarian seems miserable to some ppl. But to me, being vegetarian is not all that bad.

 Firstof all, I am always the first person to get my food in the plane, or during any special events. Secondly, I sometimes get special dishes that is different from everyone else. Then , during camp I get much better food than other participants. ETC ETC Sometimes, I am being labelled as the vegetarian girl. I don’t mind at all, as long as it is not offensive.

Of course, there can be some challenge in maintaining my “special diet”. Years ago, a jerk said this to me

” It is so annoying to eat out with you. It makes me lose my appetite” ( I have a good reason to call that fella a jerk *wink*)

Now I have new challenge. I am being labelled as THE BIG VEGETARIAN GIRL in my work place. It is a mixed feeling. They took good care of me, cook some vegetable dishes just for me. But sometimes, some of their words can be little offensive. (maybe i am just being sensitive). They made fun of me which I don’t mind MOST of the time, not all the time. The worst comment that I have received was

” Hmm..You are quite big for a vegetarian huh..”

(That is very sweet of you babe)

Sometimes I really feel like telling them off. Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean that you will have the skinny-anorexic-20-inches-waist look. I still take carbohydrate… Quite a few times, they ask me things as if I am not human (some funny creature who survived without meat). Annoying annoying annoying. However, it can be a good motivation for me to lose weight, HOPEFULLY..Hehe..

The worst is sometimes someone may joked (let me stress on this, it was really a joke without thought) that I am fake vegetarian because I sometimes eat food that is cooked with oil that has been used to fry meat.( Whatever, that is because I don’t not restrict myself so much. Isn’t it good to be bit flexible?). Quite frustrating but I don’t blame them as I am the first young vegetarian that they have met.

It can be a challenge sometimes to be a young vegetarian. Some chinese people have the impression that vegetarians are often religious old ladies who always stay at home, do nothing else but pray.

Though it is frustrating trying to be seen as “normal” in front of SOME people, I will still eat what I want. I am not different from the rest just because I eliminate meat from my diet. I still have the right to put on weight and have enough flesh. ( I wish I am slim too!!!!##$%$^%&**&^*^)

Guess what someone asked me today.

“ How do you get your big muscle if you have not been eating meat for years?’

 

zzzzzzZZZZZ ( 3 drops of sweat + a flying crow)