To plov or not to plov

So, as many of you know I'm about to embark on a pretty exciting adventure to the country of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. If you don't know where it is, here's a little map.

It's south of Kazakhstan, West of China and North of Tajikistan. So now that we have that all cleared up.

The reason for my trip is to work with a research team from the University of Washington to conduct in depth interviews and a method known as design ethnography. The whole point of why we're going is to get to try and talk to and understand the people who live in this country (and region) so we can see how technology can be deployed (if it should be at all) in a way that is relevant, appropriate, and helpful instead of harmful.

Much of our research relies on the generosity of people to talk to us (and our locally based researchers). To be generous with their time, their willingness to answer our questions. We, as researchers much try honor their thoughts, opinions and culture. So as you can imagine, I could talk in great detail about what we'll do and what we hope to learn and the challenges of trying to do this research. But I'll save that for another time (or place).

What I've been struggling with for the past couple of weeks and this trip and looked more and more like it would happen, is this: my vegetarianism.

So I've been one form or another of vegetarian since about 1989 (my how time flies). Most of that time being Pesco-Ovo-Lacto, which is a pretty flexible form, but as of the more recent time the Pesco has swam off to the sea. So it's been no animals at all. I managed to stay meat free the year I was living in Prague, which wasn't an easy feat and required an unfortunate amount of Smažený Sýr, pictured here.

Don't get me wrong a slab of fried of cheese is nothing to mock and is darn tasty - in moderation. Think of this dish as one enormous mozzarella stick. But after it being the only vegetarian option on the menu at most traditional places I got a bit tired of it. Not to mentioned that it's typically served with potatoes that are fried. There's probably a pretty good reason that I didn't lose any weight when I lived there. Well there was that and the fact that the gym I went to had a smoking section (no kidding).

Anyway, while thinking about my upcoming travels and especially the nature of our work, I was thinking about the prospects of traveling with my vegetarianism. I've come to the conclusion that it's just not feasible. If I was traveling for pleasure, I might consider it. But the fact that our work may very well take us into people's homes and the culture is well known for it's rituals and exchange of gifts. I can't imagine being the one American asshole to say, "no thanks, I don't eat meat" when offered the gift of a meal in someone's home. So I'm taking a culturally sensitive hiatus from not eating meat.

We are now in the time of the meat-ramp-up, cause as Jeremy (the more recent vegetarian convertee among amoung us) insists, you don't want to get sick while you're over there from eating meat for the first time in 15 years. So there have been two related meat ups since the decision was made. On July 4th I had a hamburger (it was from whole foods, so at least it was responsible meat), and the first bite or two were actually kind of amazingly good - but that was about all I could take. Much to Sass' delight since she got the remaining portion.

Meat up number two was last night, when we visited what will now be referred to as the most delicious place in Seattle. It's a Vietnamese restaurant in the International District called Tamarind Tree. Holy mother of nearly departed meat eating savior, it was a celebration of taste. I'm not sure how many types of meat I laid to rest but it was considerable (also noting that they have tons of vegetarian stuff so even when the meat-off is off, i can go back). I also think if you wrap anything plus cilantro, basil, lettuce, fish sauce in rice paper you know you are in for a tasty treat. This morning I think my temple (aka body) was complaining a bit. It felt like I had three orders of czech fried cheese in my stomach. But I persevered and the horror of eating something smarter than Sassy (since I ate pork) subsided.

Anyway, so I plov when I'm in Kyrgyzstan. I imagine that I can revert to veggie ways when I'm
in Italy. But you know, I've never had prosciutto and if someone offers me some, it would be just rude to refuse. Right?