rabbit intestine? and the squat toilet

I knew it would eventually happen, and it’s been no small concern, but it still caught me off guard: being served something I will not eat.  Tonight, placed in front of me was 2 plates of rabbit intestines.

As usual, the grandfather scurried around the small kitchen with both woks going.  When 1 dish is done, it goes on the table, until there are 5 or 6 different dishes, and always rice.  They called me to dinner, but grandfather was taking a little longer in the kitchen, and at one point there was a flame shooting out from under one wok.  We started eating and he came out with the last plates.

The older grandson leaned over to me and says, “We don’t think you are going to eat this.”   I asked him about it and he said it was rabbit, showing me his belly, saying it was the long part.  I said, “intestines?”  And, and he nodded.  Can that be right?  It really did look like it!

So far, I’m proud to say, I’ve tried most of the dishes.  Just last night I ate lots of a very bitter vegetable they grow on the roof, supposedly it’s very good for us.  However, that is in doubt today because I’ve been feeling some gastrointestinal distress all day long.

Right from the start, even before we got to China, the Peace Corps goes into great detail on how to keep safe and healthy.  Every Friday, we have training sessions on these topics, like today we covered disturbing material on natural disasters, assault, and China’s drinking culture.  (We also test drove fire extinguishers, since we will be issued fire extinguishers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  Never-mind that none of the building have fire escapes.)  

the cleanest squat toilet I've seen is in a hotel

 I think I’m vigilant about what I eat and drink, and about washing my hands, but there’s a world of new germs out there, and the sanitation isn’t the same as in the U.S.  That is common knowledge.  We were warned about accepting this different standard, and about accepting the squat toilets, which are indoor outhouses.  It’s one thing to hold my breath, dash in, squat, and dash out when I feel healthy.  It’s quite another experience when I already feel queasy.  I didn’t want to drink water to avoid going, not a good response.

So, that’s how I was feeling when stir-fried rabbit intestines showed up at the table, and I am beyond grateful that I was warned.   They just knew from past experience with Volunteers that I wouldn’t eat it.  They also know that I eat mostly vegetables, and lots and lots and lots of apples.  Thankfully, they thought nothing of me passing on it.  They are so kind, and I really do not want to offend them.