12Sep/10Off
How do I stay raw vegan or even vegan at someone else’s house?
I'm going οח exchange fοr a year tο europe іח september, аחԁ wіƖƖ bе doing homestay аt three different families. Hοw ԁο I stay аѕ raw vegan οr јυѕt vegan іf i һаνе tο аѕ possible, without life extremely awkward аחԁ seeming rude? I wіƖƖ bе going tο highschool.
September 15th, 2010 - 15:55
Oh this is tough! Just act like you would if you were constantly intake out [having to question whats in everything]. Your families will get accoustomed to what you can and can’t have, just make it CLEAR from the very beginning, make sure you let them know how vital it is to you and they will/must know. Try cooking for them a few era, so they know you just don’t eat salads and beans. I reckon it will be simpler than you reckon, Europe is much further along than any other country in providing vegetarian/veganism options, so that’s excellent.
If you are really worried, and despise explaining it to people, just say you have allergies against those foods.
Excellent luck and i’m sure it will be so fun! Encourage your families to try vegan/raw restaurants also.
September 16th, 2010 - 05:48
You didn’t mention what part of Europe. I’d be very careful, because in some European countries it is considered rude to not eat what is place in front of you. I would not play 20 questions with the food that is already sitting on your plate, as that may seem incredibly rude to them.
I suggest you tell the people you will be income with as soon as possible that you have nutritional restrictions. Tell them that you cannot eat many kinds of foods and that you do not want to be a bother to them. Just say that you want to prepare your own food so that you do not inconvenience them, and attempt to do so with your own money. They may choose to help you out, but do not force them into anything. If there is a language barrier, you may want to make sure there is someone who can translate for this particular discussion.
Hopefully they will be understanding.
September 18th, 2010 - 18:48
I would say that if you are going to live in someone elses house you must be ready to make some adjustments in your life style or be willing to stay home. I would consider you to be the “hideous American” if you were to come to my home as a guest and make demands because of your ‘ideals’.
September 21st, 2010 - 09:52
You need to let them know your vegan diet in advance, nothing to worry about that. Just like if I have an allegery, i need to tell other who serves me food that i can’t eat certain stuff.
You need to learn few vegan recipe (maybe Asian ones) and you cook for physically and them too – Exchange of Food too !
Or you can be less strict, like if honey is a small part listed in certain product and they offer you this, without no other choice, you may want to accept it or eat small.
Cheers
September 22nd, 2010 - 21:28
I reckon the toughest time I have had as a vegan who travels constantly has been while life someone’s guest. Some hosts just don’t get it, some are wonderful, but buy nothing but the most expensive high end stuff (this, I suspect, would get ancient to a host family pretty promptly), and some just ‘get it,’ and embrace the new challenge.
How hard this will be may will depend on your hosts. If you have any say in how the exchange program picks host families, perhaps they could place you with a vegetarian (or even vegan!) family, thus making your task much simpler. Unless you’re very lucky, staying raw while a guest in a non-vegan home may prove to be a pipe dream.
I would simply avoid appearance across as preachy or judgmental, and be clear upfront that you have made certain choices about your lifestyle that you hope they will respect.
Europe is pretty progressive, and the host families I’ve known (including my own) in the US were too. Having said that, my mom would certainly be rolling her eyes and feeling slightly place out at having to feed a vegan all year. She’d do it, and she’d be respectful to the unwitting vegan guest, but it would get ancient for her. Kinda like my veganism got ancient for her…
I reckon if you frame it the right way and you are respectful and humble, you’ll make it happen. Have a fantastic trip!
September 24th, 2010 - 13:54
Just clarify to them, they’ll get it. Staying %100 raw might be tough, maybe aim for %60-%80 while visiting.