végétarien, s'il vous plaît?

This is the image of my experience with dining out in France. If I'm happy for one thing, it's that "vegetarian" translates to French well enough (so long as fish doesn't count as a meat). "Lactose-free" just doesn't exist.

Food is something that I love, and I find it to be a joy to try new things when travelling. However, I knew before I arrived that this would be one of my biggest challenges with the French culture. "You chose the wrong country," is a phrase I hear often. Being a lactose-intolerant vegetarian is probably better suited for most any other region of the world. At least I'd like to think that there would be more acceptance of my lifestyle elsewhere. My only other time abroad since becoming vegetarian was when I was in the UK. Menus were clearly labelled with veggie and vegan options. Soy milk was always an option for coffees! Looking back, I feel like I was so spoiled. I would like to see how I'd fare in other countries and cultures with this diet.

(Funny story: I became lactose intolerant immediately after my summer in Switzerland, eating cheese sandwiches and raclette nearly every day. And so it would seem that's what did me in for dairy.)

I'm not rejecting French culture at all. I admire it, and I make exceptions when possible. For example, I'll still eat fish. However, I can't help but to be slightly offended when a waiter looks at me and says, "Well, you can still eat the fries." It's no wonder that I'd gone out of my way to find sushi and Indian when I was in Paris earlier. I don't know how to confront this problem when dining in restaurants. I'd prefer not to order fish every time or to pick the meat or cheese out of my food after I've ordered it. I can't help but feel like I'm insulting the culture when I try to find something edible for myself or ask for a new plate of food during our group meals. Still, I need to remind myself that it's a matter of my health condition and personal morals, and it's not that I'm being completely rude or trying to be difficult.

At least I know I can still fully appreciate the French wine. I do not take that for granted.

-Maria P