There are a number of vegetarians here, all with different rules about what they do when they travel. One weaned from vegan to eating meat to prepare; one is still pretty staunch egg/dairy vegetarian; another will break only if it's a home made meal, where you can pretty much assume they killed what you’re eating for you and it would be terribly impolite. One person also doesn’t eat beef, just chicken and fish.
It's funny, reflecting on my own time as a vegetarian and then vegan, to think that I pretty thoughtlessly eat meat these days. In some ways meat here is better, or at least more "natural" in that it’s not factory farmed, plumped up on hormones, etc. Not to say that it's actually good quality meat, but that it's not artificial. And yet, it's also weird being so close to what you're eating. I'm seeing now more than ever how much I take for granted to the entire process of going from coop to package.
Yesterday in the market, there was this goat who got tied up near the row of the main meat vendors, and as he was being put down he made this weird sound that none of us had heard before. But it was clear as day: this goat was making the universal 'oh shit, I know what’s coming next' noise. One had just been slaughtered and skinned as we walked past; it’s head was sitting the chopping block with fresh blood all around. People are often walking around with live chickens, often with that same docile, having already submitted to what’s happening look.
In some ways, being here really makes me want to be vegetarian again. I don't want that goat to have to die so I can eat it. And yet, not eating meat here would be an exceptionally boring and poorly nutritious diet; at home, I may just make better decisions about how much and often I eat it. In the meantime, off to dinner. The chicken is usually delicious. [note: there was no chicken. Only fish, that looked like the dried fish from the market. Subnote: will remember to take a picture of the fish section and post soon. If I could make it scratch and sniff, I totally would.]
It's funny, reflecting on my own time as a vegetarian and then vegan, to think that I pretty thoughtlessly eat meat these days. In some ways meat here is better, or at least more "natural" in that it’s not factory farmed, plumped up on hormones, etc. Not to say that it's actually good quality meat, but that it's not artificial. And yet, it's also weird being so close to what you're eating. I'm seeing now more than ever how much I take for granted to the entire process of going from coop to package.
Yesterday in the market, there was this goat who got tied up near the row of the main meat vendors, and as he was being put down he made this weird sound that none of us had heard before. But it was clear as day: this goat was making the universal 'oh shit, I know what’s coming next' noise. One had just been slaughtered and skinned as we walked past; it’s head was sitting the chopping block with fresh blood all around. People are often walking around with live chickens, often with that same docile, having already submitted to what’s happening look.
In some ways, being here really makes me want to be vegetarian again. I don't want that goat to have to die so I can eat it. And yet, not eating meat here would be an exceptionally boring and poorly nutritious diet; at home, I may just make better decisions about how much and often I eat it. In the meantime, off to dinner. The chicken is usually delicious. [note: there was no chicken. Only fish, that looked like the dried fish from the market. Subnote: will remember to take a picture of the fish section and post soon. If I could make it scratch and sniff, I totally would.]
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