It's a fact: one of America's favorite pets is one of Vietnam's unique foods. I had to try it...
Long (pronounced "Lome"), a friend of Jamie's family, took me to the local place. The real deal. A super shady little restaurant off the main road with the kitchen right there when you walk in and people seated on the floor around little platters. All I wanted was a tiny piece and asked if I could get it to go (ya know - dog in a doggy bag), but it wasn't that type of place.
They asked me how I wanted it - fried? steamed? raw? in a soup? grilled? and so on...After asking Long which looked least and tasted least like the actual animal, grilled it was.
Luckily, it wasn't like eating lobster where they often show you what will soon be on your plate. They simply brought out a dish of little pieces, sprinkled with some spices and looking like pork, I told myself. We were the only white people in the restaurant, by the way. Meaning I had a group of spectators watching/cracking up as I released the chopsticks over my mouth and immediately washed the bite down with soda. While I was thoroughly digusted, they were utterly entertained.
Taking photos before, during, and after took longer than the actual event. And the verdict: it was actually decent...except that it was DOG!!! I soon saw them coming towards me with a spread of cold cuts, which I quickly rejected. Check please!
Most people, often times in large groups, spend at least an hour huddled around their canine feasts, but it was one little bite (and documentation of that bite) and goodbye.
On the way to a real lunch, the guilt trip began. Even though Jamie has eaten dog 3 times before (and once raw even), he told me stories about pets not going near their owners afterwards. A 6th sense. So let's hope Dasher doesn't know. Otherwise, I'm in the dog house...
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on Tuesday, August 30th, 2005 at 6:04 am in II. Vietnam.
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I just can’t. I won’t. I’m done. Sorry, bro.
August 30th, 2005 at 9:15 amit’s been a while since i’ve posted and there is much to say: 1) stay away from bink…he knows… 2) went to zen zoo yesterday and decided to have a dragon in your honor (even though you know i’m not such a fan) 3) nice haikus…that was insane 4) where are the pictures??? 5) miss you lots, hope everything continues to go well and represent…what?!
August 30th, 2005 at 9:19 amCharlie Melvoin, how could you?? You know, you are what you eat and soon you will start looking fondly at fire hydrants(if there are such things where you are traveling, probalbly not), chasing your tail for no reason and licking yourself in unspeakable places. Please restrain your adventures to travel or otherwise when you go to Africa you might come home thinking Hanibel Lector was just a misunderstood gastronome.
August 30th, 2005 at 1:33 pmAuntie Kerwin
omg how could u? No interesting cuisine stories from charlottesville but I will keep you posted. Have fun I have to go do homework wahh-i wish I was you right now xo
August 30th, 2005 at 6:15 pmHey Charlie!
August 30th, 2005 at 10:11 pmI was trying to avoid my Econ reading, and I thought looking at your website is the perfect way to procrastinate. Anyway, I just looked at your journal entries, and your trip sounds absolutely amazzzing. I am SO jealous! Mad props for eating dog, by the way, seriously. I am enjoying Cornell; it was HUGE and overwhelming at first, but I am beginning to find my place. There are so many Harvard-Westlake people here, so I don’t feel that far from home (and it is a lot closer than France). Even while you’re missing all the college life stuff, I can promise you that what you will gain doing an alternative year abroad is an experience unlike anything you will find in a classroom. Anyway, you know I am here when you face American culture shock and repatriation. — stay safe and stay in touch!
xox,
Alli
Amy and Elise -
Here are some brief answers to those questions. Feel free to quote anything from the Introduction part of the site too. Did you get the photos I emailed?
1. My trip so far has already exceeded the high expectations I had for it. What I wanted was to see more of the world, learning about different cultures and experiencing other lifestyles. The past 2 weeks in Vietnam have felt like months, I’ve been traveling non-stop and been exposed to so much. It’s overwhelming, in a good way. And it’s surreal to think I have an entire year with no commitments, no deadlines, no stress really. How could that be bad?
2. Homesick? I haven’t had time to be homesick! In addition to the the constant traveling and interaction with people, I have a companion in each country that shares my passion for travel. So I’m never alone. Furthermore, the website has made me feel much closer to home. I’ve had access to internet in every place so far (even in the remote mountain village I’m in right now) and it’s been great to keep in touch that way, especially as friends go off to college. Of course it’d be nice to have friends/family come visit (and some may eventually), but I couldn’t go home.
3. Renting motorcycles and riding along the coast of Mui Ne, a beach town in Vietnam, has been my favorite experience thus far. It was such an awesome, liberating feeling to be able to turn down any side road, pass through tiny villages (that hardly ever see white people), and worry about nothing but gas and water.
4. Interesting thing I’ve learned? Dogs are better pets than food. But seriously, I’ve learned that taking a year off was, without a doubt, the best decision of my life. After 13 years of school, the 3 months of summer were simply not enough of a break before starting 4 more. I have time now to actually think about what I’ve learned in the classroom, and, at the same time, receive a different kind of education.
August 31st, 2005 at 7:36 am