On The Ham Situation

Spain is the land of ham. Yes. Delcious pig. The one four legged animal I do not eat.

SO, I came in knowing deep down that this would be difficult. However, I did not realize the extreme feelings of the Spanish toward the little Oinker.

Ham is everywhere. Jamon Cerrano is essentially the national food, and pig legs hang in kitchens throughout Spain, in grocery stores and in restaurants. In one restaurant, Pig legs serve as edible ceiling decoration, hanging down like twinkly lights from the sky, displaying the flavor of Spain. I´ve seen these pig legs discarded on the streets, maybe eaten after some sort of raucous celebration, pig legs chilling on kitchen tables, pig legs carving competinions on tv. Yes, solid pig legs, hooves still attached, are a motif here in Spain.

When I tell fellow students I do not eat jamon, the next question is a shocked, mouth gaping ¨What Do You Eat, then?¨ staring, eyes wide. How is it possible to survive without eating SPains, seemingly, only meat.

There is chicken, rarely, usually on weekends, essentially special occasions in my house, there is TUNA, a constant flavor which luckily I adore because it seems to be the next after ham in popularity, and there is cheese. Not a meat, but a replacement for what should be there.


Two days a week my señora packs me a lunch, bocadillos (sandwichs on french bread) that consist of cheese or chicken, and nothing else. She sat me down two days ago and apologized for the lack of variety of fillings in my bocadillos. She explained,¨Ï would pack you something different, but you don´t eat ham! I could make you so many more things if you did, I could put ceranno, chorizo, salchicias, deli ham..etc. etc.(I think she listed more, but I cannot remember right now) But all I can make you are chicken breast or cheese sandwiches ¨ She was almost upset. I told her i didnt mind, I love chicken, I love cheese. I´m okay. But still, its the ham, man, that hurts her....

So, here I am, surrounded by the one meat I can´t eat ( even the hamburgers usually contain jamon!) eating around it in free tapas and replacing my meat intake with carb carb carbs!! So, that is what its like, living in a place where ham is king, and beef is practically as common as lamb (which means I have had it once).


Man I miss chicken.

And everyone at home>! Love you all!