The passion I first felt for Spanish cuisine was abruptly silenced today when my host mother served rabbit for lunch. I am no animal rights activist; I do not flinch when my grandmother wears fur or when my mother marinates steak before family dinners. I’m a carnivore, a meat eater, a burger lover! It was thus not the taste of rabbit which offended my taste buds and twisted my stomach. Rather, it was my host mother’s portrayal of the small, helpless hopping rabbit that churned my insides and sickened my conscience. After Pepita (my host mother) referenced its white cotton tail and floppy ears through charade like gestures Shelby shouted “BUNNY!” I immediately slapped my hand to my lips while Pepita giggled hilariously and asked “te gusta?” (Do you like it). As I chugged every drop of water left in my glass my host mother compared it to chicken and pointed to the half eaten bone of white meat on my plate.
WHEN IN SPAIN.
This was quite the experience. Pepita went about this in somewhat of a sadistic way which really shocking. She sat there asking Paige if she liked it, Paige would say in spanish what is it, then Pepita would say do you like it. This went on for several cycles until Paige finally said, "YES I DO, WHAT IS IT?!" Then Pepita chuckled having no mercy motioning bunny ears. After I shouted BUNNY! Pepita added "BUNNY!" "BUNNY!" "BUNNY!" to her routine of charades. By adding bunny "shoulder" to our mix of chicken, SHE TRICKED US INTO EATING PETER COTTONTAIL. These are the moments that it takes a solid day for us to be able to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar experience recently with my host family. I asked during dinner when they put down the meat, “Oh what is that?” They replied, “Chicken.” Afterwards to my dismay, I was told that it was not like a chicken, but more like pigeon. The children then proceeded to make cooing sounds like a pigeon after dinner. Luckily your host mother told you during the dinner, I figure out I ate Roman pigeon after it was already in my stomach. What else have you eaten in Spain that has been out of the ordinary?
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