I'm trying to be a "yes" person, but today I just had to say "no thank you."

I've been pretty open about eating different food while I've been here and have tried pretty much everything when I've gone out to dinner with my coworkers. I even tried something yesterday my supervisor offered me after she warned me it was extremely spicy. I didn't think it was too bad, but one of the girls I work with asked if I was alright because my face was red.

Today did me in. I've been eating lunch at the school because it's free and a lot easier than trying to find somewhere nearby with workers who would understand me. I've also been avoiding the Mcdonalds across the street because I figure that would be much too easy and I don't want to become addicted. (I did however see a scooter thing this morning that was yellow and said McDelivery... I really wanted to take a picture but I needed to get to work. I was excited nonetheless).

Anyway, I went to the kitchen and filled my tray with a bunch of random foods (since I never really know what they are). I went back to my classroom, opened my book (yes, I read during lunchtime) and got my chopsticks ready to take a bite of some brown something on my tray that looked somewhat similiar to something I had eaten the other day. Since I'm now a chopstick professional, I picked some of it up and was bringing it up to my mouth when I noticed some eyes starting back at me. Ew. It was some little fish or something, but I was so grossed out I really couldn't finish eating. I thought I was going to puke. Then, I got the bright idea I should take a picture to show you, but I didn't want to offend anyone else nearby who might have been eating the nasty little creatures.

Needless to say I came home and scarfed a sandwich and some chips. I'm now eating some chocolate chip cookies and couldn't be happier. I might just have to go ahead and give in to Mcdonalds from now on. My appetite has been all messed up anyway since I've been here, I'm not sure if I'll be able to eat random food anymore without carfully examining it. I have found I really like chips. I've never been a big chip person, but I ate pizza chips the other day and bought some barbeque type ones today and love them. Yum.

I'm not evern going to talk about the kids today. If I come home with grey hair, you'll know why. I really think I could like this job if some of the little devils wouldn't act so rude and spoiled. It'll get better.... it'll get better... it'll get better....

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

This quote made me think of how everytime a student sneezes here I really badly want to say "bless you." I said it once and got a crazy look, so I'm thinking the saying doesn't apply here. I feel really bad when I don't say it though. Not that I'm religious in the least bit... but considering it was only a few years ago that I learned I was suppsed to say "bless you" and not "bleshu," I feel like it's mandatory. Oh well. I guess we don't really serve food with eyes at our schools back home either, some things I'll just have to get used to.

"And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven't yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food?" -- Bill Bryson