We have been assaulted with the different in this exotic place we now call home. From the way we shop for food (every other day at open air markets) to the way we get around town (on the left side of the road, on the back of a motorcycle or in a truck-turned-taxi), daily life here is quite . . . . foreign. As a family, we’re learning to try new things, to expand our flexibility, and to adjust to a “new normal” — including the types of foods we (attempt to) eat. A local snack in this part of Asia is deep-fried bugs. Grasshoppers. Ants. Worms. It’s like Asian Doritos.
And we decided to give them a try. It went a little bit like this:
Nervous. Hold-Your-Breath. Work-Up-Courage. Pretend-You-Are-Winning-50k-On-Fear-Factor. Don’t look, Just
Eat. Crunch. Not bad. Just salty really. Crunch. Chew. After-taste! Fish. Trash. Spit-out, wipe-tongue, cough or gag, depending on your preference.
Yes, we all tried them (my parents, included!). And, yes, we think it may be a taste we white-folks haven’t quite acquired yet. Here’s Ava’s go at it . . .
ALifeOverseas.com / LauraParkerBlog.com.
Destined Traveler.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
First thing is first…
a pang in my heart just now seeing those three darlings!
Second thing, I cannot believe what a “big kid” Ava is all of a sudden!
and finally…
Oh, Pippi . . . you and yours make it hard to be away.
And, yes, I agree, that is the first and last time we will be eating bamboo worms! ha ha.
NO WAY, NO HOW WOMAN!! NUH. UH! Kelty said it, “Disgusting!”
Typical that the older kids would make the younger one do it first! Way to be brave, Ava! Even if you did spit it out! That video was adorable! Love to you all!
Are you saying that the youngest get the short end of the stick, lil’ sis?
Maybe, but they sure turn out cute.
Or, in your case, beautiful and amazing and strong and generous and talented and creative and capable and . . . . the list goes on. Love you!
Laura
The Bamboo worms NEED to be cooked in good pork fat to taste good. Then they taste like crispy bacon!
You guys are too much.
I remember getting chicken nuggets on a stick, only to find out it was all tails. (Grease balls!!!-yuck)
Enjoy the experiences…
That was cute! Way to keep pressing forward! I love that you are willing to try all these new things. I hope that lanugage school is going well.
Thanks, Carol, for the encouragement. We are definitely being challenged to branch out of the ol comfort zone a bit . . . well, a lot. And yes, thanks for asking, language school is going very well. Hard to juggle the time it takes to be there, but we are both learning tons.
L
Yum. I had a similar reaction when I tried the worms.
I am DEFINITELY saying the 3rd child gets it rough but, I have no doubt that Ava is tough! Love you, too!!!!
For us in Zambia it was caterpillars and termites. My oldest son was really brave and tried all of the strange items. He said they all tasted like salty peanuts! We tried to describe the show “Fear Factor” to our Zambian friends, but they really didn’t understand. . .
For Noelle,
Thanks for commenting! I think in many ways Zambia might have been much harder! Salty peanuts . . . hmmmmm . . . .
Hope you guys are doing well.
I’m glad to have stumbled on your blog. We’re doing well. John is in his last year of seminary at Gordon Conwell. I’m teaching high school math and science and the kids are all doing well. It is a little bittersweet to read your blog because what you’re doing is my heart’s desire, only God doesn’t have that plan for us right now. Well, it was good to connect and you should know you have a gift for communicating!
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