Natto

"Do you like natto?" giggle giggle.

For those who are not well-versed in Japan's less palatable cuisine, natto is fermented soybeans. Loved by (some) Japanese and universally loathed by all gaijin (foreigners). Foreigner disgust of natto is so well known that it's a constant joke. Therefore the question above is quite common. (The Japanese giggle at everything though). Despite its far-reaching reputation, I vowed to give natto a try before I said I didn't like it.

Today appeared to be my chance. One of the English teachers told there was natto for school lunch (more of a warning) and told me I didn't have to eat it (which of course I know because I routinely leave behind part of my 900+ calorie lunch). After all that hype, I chickened out. I'm disappointed in myself in that I could not work up the courage to try natto. I've been so good about trying new foods the past few years. But after everyone telling me that it's bad (including about half the students) and after seeing how sticky it looked, I decided not to. Maybe if I'm confronted with it again I'll be braver...