June 15: Out of My Comfort Zone

I have been a vegetarian since 1988. In advance of my trip to Japan, I went out for a couple of meals eating Japanese food and adding in a few things I haven’t eaten in over 30 years. I wanted to make sure that I could digest them without issue because I know that tasting Japanese food is a huge part of this trip and because I didn’t want to disrespect or create additional work during the program.

All Technos materials note that participants are expected to try everything and that dietary restrictions cannot necessarily be honored. 

When they asked on an informational form about dietary restrictions before the trip, I noted that I was willing to try pretty much anything but that I have been vegetarian for over 30 years and confess to feeling a bit hesitaxxnt about meat. I did not expect this to influence the food that was prepared for me, but I wanted to explain why I might not always finish everything given to me. 

Out of the kindness of their hearts, the Technos staff have gone out of their way to provide options for me that did not require me to eat meat or fish. At times, I have really felt like I was missing out. So when members of the faculty decided they wanted to go out for sushi and Matt Rollo took us to his favorite conveyor belt sushi place, I decided it was time for me to try at least one order of fish sashimi. I ordered a lightly seared salmon. It was honestly divine - one of those bites of food that lingers with you and makes you want more. Over the course of the evening I had another seared salmon, this one with miso paste, and some shrimp tempura sushi, and then a roll with pickled gourd and wasabi leaves. It was all amazing. 

I cannot imagine I will order fish sashimi once I return to the states - the bit that I tried in advance of the trip was all something that I got through but did not enjoy. But I am really glad that I had the chance to try some of the foods for which Japan is so known.

Other highlights:

• Attending a discussion with Technos faculty about how to inspire students.

• Attending a class about how we can understand similarities and differences between American and Japanese cultures through things like emojis, demons, and ghosts.

• Attending a workshop run by music students in a small black box theatre and seeing arts students from all over jumping up and down with excitement.