So...Do You Eat Dog?

My family and friends often ask about the eating situation here. Being a non-meat eater has proven a little tricky but I have managed so far.

At traditional Korean restaurants the table is covered with side dishes. Most are vegetables and always a side of kimchi. Kimchi is a fermented dish (usually cabbage) that Koreans have with every meal. I ate it for the first month I was here and haven't touched it since. And I absolutely despise kimchi breathe. It makes me want to vomit.

My favorite dish for the first six months was beebimbap. Beebimbap is rice with assorted vegetables and gochu (or sometimes pronounced kochu) sauce. The sauce pulls it all together but it's made with really spicy peppers so most waitresses warn foreigners about putting too much on. Depending on what is ordered, sometimes miso or another kind of soup comes with the meal.

My favorite thing to eat right now is a gochu based tofu soup. It's called Soondooboochikae. It has some eggs in it and it comes with a side of rice. Sometimes, it also has clams of some sort. I haven't decided if I like those yet or not.

At home, I normally have vegetables and gochu sauce with rice or noodles. Lately, I have been trying to cook without rice or noodles because I am a little burnt out. Sometimes I eat raw veggies with a salty bean paste dip. I include tofu with just about every meal for protein.

At home and at restaurants, I regularly sit on the floor. Koreans have ondol floors (heated floors) so many people eat, sleep, and sit on the floor. Thus, shoes must be left at the door. I don't have a table anyways so there is no other option.

I eat lunch at school. It's probably the most difficult meal. Many of the meals they serve contain meat. They also have foods that I can't bring myself to eat...such as octopus, dried squid, shrimp in shell and little tiny fish that resemble worms. Also, rice and kimchi everyday. Ehhh.

At restaurants and at school I eat with chopsticks. I can say confidently that I have mastered this! But at home, I still use forks, most of the time.

A popular korean dessert is rice cakes. I really tried to like them as well but they are so bland and thick. I have yet to try one that is sweet and delicious. Koreans frequently eat fruit for dessert as well.

I am a pretty adventurous eater but I know that I probably will not be trying dog while I am here. From what I have observed, presently it is not very common but I do have friends that have tried it both on purpose and accidentally. My teacher explained to me that the dogs are raised specifically to eat and it's not as though they are anyone's pets. I am pretty opened-minded but I just don't think I could bring myself to try it even if I was eating meat these days.