I Eat Everything

I eat everything.  Well, strictly speaking, what I should say is I try everything, and I usually eat at least a little of everything served to me at someone’s house.  This has come in very handy living in Germany since I am often served food I wouldn’t cook myself.  One piece of advice I would give to all of you travelers though is to keep a roll of antacids in your purse.

My Austrian mother-in-law for instance serves (beef) tongue sandwiches once in awhile, and if I had never tasted it, I wouldn’t have known how good it was.  I can’t actually talk to her about what I’m eating though.  I’m afraid if anyone actually said the word “tongue” as I was eating it, I would gag, so usually I just say, “Thanks, it’s delicious. Now, let’s not talk about it,” as I reach for seconds.

Usually if I'm served something I don't like, I don't comment on what I'm eating.  Last week though I was having lunch at a restaurant with a friend, and the waitress brought over a basket of bread and a bowl of olive spread. I pushed the spread closer to my friend and said, “yuck, this is all for you.”  She looked surprised and asked if I liked olives, and I told her I didn’t. Then it hit me that she’s had me over to her house twice for dinner, and both times served me olives, which I ate.  She felt bad that she’d served me something I don’t like, and I felt bad that I’d made her feel bad. 

So if you’re planning a trip anywhere that might serve something new to you, my advice is to try it, and if you don’t like it, don’t make a big deal about it.  Unless you have a very weak stomach, you can keep just about anything down so long as you don't talk about it.  But just in case, keep the Tums handy at all times.

Do have questions about running a small business and a household or selling your self-published books? Please feel free to write to me here or at www.jexbo.com. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.