Deep in the jungles of Ecuador...

[HeraHero]

Hi there,
I need some advice, in a couple of weeks I will be going on a missions trip to Ecuador in the jungle actually. While I'm there I'm a bit at a loss as to what I should eat. The village I will be in is pretty much smack dab in the middle of the jungle and the way in is only accessible by plane or a VERY long hike. I really don't know how I will be able to stay vegetarian there. A girl who was vegetarian went there before but she just ate whatever. My dad who is also going has suggested that I start trying some dead animals (dead animals is my wording) now. Yeah I'm not doing that. So basically, has anyone ever been in this position before? What should I do? Help!

[wickedrodent]

How long are you going to be there?

I really don't know if this is possible.. but maybe bring along a ton of vegetarian non-parishable food items?

[HeraHero]

We will be in the jungle part for two weeks. Thats a good idea wicked the problem is we will have a weight, size and amount limit as to what I can bring in and I'm already pretty much there. Believe me it's all essentials! Supposedly they have oranges galore there, I wonder how long I could live off oranges, bananas and the occasional edible tuber... Plus I'm not supposed to "affend them" so to speak. *sigh* Right now everyone on the team seems to assume I'll eat what's put in front of me. They have cooks for us there -some woman who have been shown/trained by the missionarys how not to give us squeemish americans food poisoning- so I wouldn't want to offend them. I wonder what I'll do on "fishing" day.

[CF#5]

Bring some multi vitamins for basic nutrients and just eat fruit. You should be fine for two weeks. If they have any grains, that will be a big help. I would not eat an animal no matter how offensive it is to others to not eat one. Them not only eating animals but also expecting me to accept their way of life while not accepting mine is a lot more offensive. If they're offended, that's their problem, not yours. Let them think you're a spoiled, entitled, arrogant American. It doesn't matter what they think. Be strong and remember the animals don't have a voice, so you have to speak on their behalf. Never give in and never compromise.

[thalestral]

I'd recommend having a look on VeggieBoards - Vegetarian and vegan forum, message board, recipes. - one of the moderators there is vegan and currently in Bolivia

[Weatherlight]

Beyond telling you that there's oranges and bananas, they won't give you ANY idea of what's available??

I'd rather offend a human who thinks I dislike their cooking than "offend" an animal by killing hir.

Living in a village in a jungle in Bolivia? o.o

[HeraHero]

Bring some multi vitamins for basic nutrients and just eat fruit. You should be fine for two weeks. If they have any grains, that will be a big help. I would not eat an animal no matter how offensive it is to others to not eat one. Them not only eating animals but also expecting me to accept their way of life while not accepting mine is a lot more offensive. If they're offended, that's their problem, not yours. Let them think you're a spoiled, entitled, arrogant American. It doesn't matter what they think. Be strong and remember the animals don't have a voice, so you have to speak on their behalf. Never give in and never compromise.

CF#5: Thank you, I wouldn't have thought about bringing multi-vitamins even though it seems obvious. I wouldn't mind if they thought I was an arrogant idoit the problem is I'm supposed to be there to show that I care about them and want to help them, I'm not sure if I will be doing that by refusing some food. To me it doesn't seem like a big deal, I mean really I'm there to build bunkhouses not critique cooking skills. However the "leader" of the trip seems to think it might be a problem, and is just assuming I'll eat whatever.

I'd recommend having a look on VeggieBoards - Vegetarian and vegan forum, message board, recipes. - one of the moderators there is vegan and currently in Bolivia

thalestral: Thanks! I'll definantly give it a look.

Beyond telling you that there's oranges and bananas, they won't give you ANY idea of what's available??

I'd rather offend a human who thinks I dislike their cooking than "offend" an animal by killing hir.

Living in a village in a jungle in Bolivia? o.o

Weatherlight: They probobly would, but again the assumption is I will eat whatever. I agree I'd rather slightly offend a person than kill an animal. The person can get over it the animal can't.

*sigh* I still don't know what I'm going to do. Thanks all!

[CF#5]

This might be why the trip leader might think it's going to be a problem.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/283020-post17.html

However, I wouldn't simply assume the people there are too dumb to understand why you'd reject their food. I don't know about you, but I'd rather starve to death than ever eat another animal. I'm assuming there will be a translator for you who can explain to them why you won't eat meat, so if you write up a few short paragraphs explaining your beliefs, everything should be fine. Make it clear that you're not rejecting them and you appreciate their gratitude, but you're not willing to compromise your own beliefs either. If they still get insulted, then so be it. All you can do is give them the opportunity to try to understand, and if you do, I think you'll have a good chance of getting positive results.

[Weatherlight]

I wouldn't try to hide it from the trip leader now. Everyone will find out the moment you try to excuse yourself from eating a corpse, anyway.

Explain now that you don't eat animals, discuss methods of respectfully refusing animals on a plate, and ask for more detail about what foods will be available.

People have very different reactions to things like being told someone is veg*n when they don't have a clue what that's about, never met a veg*n before, or perhaps not even heard of it at all. I've had that in South Korea, from late 1999 to late 2003. Some people were polite, respectful, confused, and intrigued :P They wanted to know more about why I wouldn't eat meat; they also asked what sorts of things I could eat and liked to eat, and looked over what they had available, trying to accomodate me.

[HeraHero]

CF#5: That is almost exactly it. They aren't really starving but they will have worked much harder and taken more care with our food than with their food. Yes I think I will just have to try and explain to them why and hope for the best.

Weatherlight: Sorry I'm really bad at explaining myself. The trip leader knows (when he doesn't forget if that makes any sense) that I am a vegetarian. Because another girl who went a couple years ago and was a veg*n ate meat, most people on the team who know me feel that once I get there I will decide to toss aside my morals and succomb to the smell of freshly killed flesh wafting through the air.

[hydrohoki]

"If they still get insulted, then so be it."

I'd say don't go if this is your attitude. Keep in mind in many of these rural villages life is very different. You are a guest in their home. You will also have a different language and customs to deal with. Part of all mission trips I have been involved with are a learning experience for you as well as to help (although with these short trips I think the learning is more for the attendee). Talk to people who have been there and see if there is a way to respectfully eat something else or abstain from eating meat (branch out from this group if you need to). I would strongly encourage you to not explain why you are a vegetarian unless asked. Keep in mind this is a different culture and many live in poverty.

[CF#5]

Originally Posted by hydrohoki

"If they still get insulted, then so be it."

I'd say don't go if this is your attitude.

She's going there to HELP these people. She shouldn't have to compromise her own personal ethics to do that. They deserve a chance to be told about her lifestyle choices. She's not going to run around pointing her finger at people while they're eating meat and condemning their behavior. She's simply not going to eat it herself. If they ask her why, they'll be told that she doesn't eat it when she's home, and she won't eat it in Ecuador either. You can't assume they'll be too dumb to understand. They deserve more credit than that. They'll be given every opportunity to have it explained to them that she means no insult or disrespect. To suggest she shouldn't even make the trip is like saying it's better to give up now, rather than possibly fail later. There's nothing to be ashamed about failure, but there is about not trying.

And another thing to keep in mind is that unlike in Haiti where VoodooJoint was given chicken and dove, in Ecuador the species of meat will likely be something much more familiar and familial to us all. Involuntarily vomiting might be the result for any of us in that situation, regardless of whether our original intent was to eat the "food" presented or not.

[Weatherlight]

HeraHero, same idea. I wouldn't try to hide that you plan to not eat meat; I would announce it clearly. Everyone will find out anyway, you should explain and discuss now, yada yada.

hydrohoki, if they wouldn't like her as a guest, she should just find out now. If they'll tolerate it, good for everyone. Just because someone invited you as a guest doesn't mean you should stay there as long as possible and obey their every whim even if it means contributing to the murder of dogs, toddlers, cavies, or birds.

When in Rome, do as morality tells you to. Some people will think you intolerably strange/rude/crazy/whatever. Some will be more or less indifferent. Some will enjoy talking honestly with you, be delighted at the opportunity to learn about about something completely novel and exciting to them, and find you interesting and likeable. Whichever the case, you'll be doing the best you can.

CF#5, awesome point about vomiting. I completely forgot about that aspect.

[hydrohoki]

CF#5 etc, yes she's going to help but good intentions aren't always enough. She needs to approach this with a "how can I make this work" rather than a "this is how I am and if you don't like it tough" attitude.

I've been to several places with similar purposes. My whole point is that she needs to know EXACTLY what culture shock she is going to experience and they appropriate ways to deal with it.

These people may not be dumb, but they may be proud. That's something that can be dealt with if you know what you are doing. It's something that you have to deal with carefully. In order to go and have a good experience, she needs to do more research now from people who have been to the rural villages in this area.

I actually think of Ecuador as having more exotic meats than Haiti.

[HeraHero]

hydrohoki:

"If they still get insulted, then so be it."

no I am not going there with that idea.

She needs to approach this with a "how can I make this work" rather than a "this is how I am and if you don't like it tough" attitude.

Yes I will most certainly try to keep that attitude, I do want to make this work, that is one of the reasons I started this thread. I could have just decided to be rude about it, or eat meat, or I could have even just decided to spare myself the trouble and stay home watch some tv, go to the mall, go swimming whatever.

These people may not be dumb, but they may be proud. That's something that can be dealt with if you know what you are doing. It's something that you have to deal with carefully. In order to go and have a good experience, she needs to do more research now from people who have been to the rural villages in this area.

I agree of course their not stupid. There are not many people around here who have been down there. However the people who have are largely inaccesible at the moment being away in other parts of the country right now, and no I do not have phone numbers or e-mail addresses. Other than that thank you for giving your input it's nice to hear another persons opinion who has been on missions trips before.

Okay I would like to reply to you CF#5 and you Weatherlight but at the moment I don't have the time to reply, sorry . Thanks all anyway!