So I thought that I loved all types of hispanic food, but I found a dish that makes me absolutely sick. It probably didn't help that day that we had already eaten lunch when a member we were visiting wanted to feed us. She brought out a bowl of soup, which I love, so I started digging in. A few minutes later she brought out these huge plates that had what looked like a mountain of rice heaped on top. Then she put the plate in front of me. I didn't notice everything that was on it at first. I just saw a TON of rice and some shrimp and a mussel. At second glance, though, I was horrified to see several little octopi (whole) mixed in there with everything else. I looked at my companion to plead for help and she just smiled and looked at my plate as if to say, "You're on your own with this one. I have my own to worry about." So I came up with a plan. I decided that I would just eat around the little squids. I pushed them aside and scooped up some rice. Right when I took the bite, I made the mistake of taking a second glance at the sea creatures on the plate so it magnified the super strong fishy flavor that the rice had picked up. I have never disliked a food so much. I went for bite two and after that one I thought I was going to lose my first lunch of the day. I couldn't do it. So then I tried getting the member's little girl to eat it for me. I succeeded in getting her to eat part of one of the octopi, but then her mom got after her for stealing food off of my plate. She was lucky, though. She got to eat pizza for lunch. I soon realized that there was no way that I would be able to eat this. So I kept working on my soup...very...slowly...in hopes that everyone else would be finished and I could just say that I was full, which wouldn't have been a lie. Then, Ashley(the little girl) looked at my plate and asked, "Hermana Larsen, por que no comes tu comida?" (Why don't you eat your food?) I whispered, "Porque me asusta."(Because it scares me.) No one else had been aware of our little conversation, but she turned to my companion and said, "Misionera Alvarado, tu debes ayudar a ella! La comida le da mieda!"(You should help her! The food scares her!) Everyone just burst out laughing. I was so relieved when the member said that I didn't have to worry about it. I apologized saying that I'm not accustomed to seafood. She reassured me that it was okay. Luckily, she wasn't the one that cooked it. Her boyfriend brought it home from his work as leftover food.
I thought the nightmare was over, but when we were visiting a less-active member a few days later she offered us some soup. We went into the kitchen while she dished it up and I saw what landed in the first bowl. I looked at my companion and pointed to the nearest one and said, "What's that?" She looked at me with a look of surprise and hurried and said to the member, "Only one! No mas uno!" She was laughing the whole time. (She doesn't even eat the octopus. It's too rubbery for her.) So I ate cookies while they had their soup. Whew! Saved by the companion!
I hope everything is going well for everyone. We have been getting pounded with snow here. We broke the record for the most snowfall in one winter season in the first time since 1899. Pretty amazing! And we're supposed to get another storm on Monday. I can't even express how excited I am... Anyway, have a happy Valentine's Day! I love you!
Love,Hermana Larsen