teaching overseas

zda_5010 · #1 06-05-2004, 08:59 PM

I'm thinking about teaching abroad for a year, in S. Korea... will it be easy being vegan there? I CAN'T change my diet, since I'm vegan for religious reasons. (Also I've heard some people say that if you've never had meat, etc... it could make you sick, don't know if its true or not)

xrodolfox · #2 07-14-2004, 11:30 AM

I don't know how easy or hard it will be to be Vegan in Korea, but I do know that living and maintaining a vega diet abroad is not that difficult if you do a bit of research first.

In most countries, there is a staple grain in the diet. It is often prepared in many ways, mostly seasonally. At least one method of preperation is usually vegan friendly. I would make sure to know what that is.

Also, I suspect that in Korea they have a large Buddhist population, some of which is very vegan friendly. Perhaps they have food that caters to vegan buddhists.

Basically, a bit of research will help you. You could even go to a local Korean restaurant in your town and ask what foods are vegan in Korea. In my local Korean restaurant I order kim-chee (spl?) and Be bim Bop with brown rice and tofu instead of egg.

I am sure you will be fine.

PikkuMyy · #3 07-16-2004, 09:28 AM

Most traditional Korean food is MEATMEATMEATMEATMEAT.

That being said, there are many items that are vegan - like the many veggie "condiments" brought in small bowls with the meat - things like Kimchee, fiddlehead ferns, and other items which are all vegan. Yes, there are vegan Buddhists in Korea and I'm sure you will be able to get a lot of vegan food. but don't expect to be able to eat at many (if any) restaurants. You'll have to be doing your own cooking, which will be easy with all of the veggies, rice, tofu, etc.

Jenica · #4 07-22-2004, 06:02 PM

I can't speak about Korean food, but I would guess that for someone who hasn't eaten meat their entire life that it could very well make you quite sick afterwards.

I was veg for several years in high school and (not sure what I was thinking!) started eating meat for about a year in college. The first time I ate meat during that year I got about halfway through it and had to go vomit. It got better every time I ate it after that but I wish I'd listened to my body initially. I felt physically awful all night.