Sushi, My Love. How One Brave Soul Overcame Her Fear Of Sushi By Michelle Joseph Ever since I tried sushi 2 months ago, I have been yearning for it on a daily basis. It’s funny because I was one of those people who didn't even want to say the word "sushi".  I couldn’t fathom how someone could consciously sit down and eat raw fish.  Even though I consider myself to be a lover of food, I found it difficult to give sushi a chance. My first encounter with the Japanese delight was 2 years ago.  My boss and I were out for a business lunch, and he ordered a big plate of assorted sushi rolls.  I, unfortunately, mentioned to him only after our meal arrived at the table, that I did not eat sushi.  I tried to psych myself into eating it, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to put it in my mouth. The only fish that I wanted to eat was steamed, baked or fried! ______________________ So far my greatest highlight has been sitting at the sushi bar. I watch the skilled chefs handle the rice, seaweed, and fish and roll it into a work of art.  It’s like watching a movie.  I am in heaven!  ______________________ A couple of months ago, the topic of sushi arose yet again.  A few of my co-workers tried to encourage me to “go for sushi” with them. I declined and told them that I would try it sooner or later.  Well, the time finally came.  I met up for dinner with my best friend and she suggested a great place for me to try it.  I acted cowardly and ended up ordering chicken teriyaki. Her meal, however, came with a dozen salmon rolls.  She told me to try some.  She was not going to accept no for an answer, so I had to oblige her. With little hesitation I picked one up and popped it into my mouth. It was amazing!  I loved it!  I was even angry that I didn’t order it myself. It had such a different, yet great flavor. I found sushi to be instantly addictive, even though I was accustomed to eating predominantly West Indian food as well as foods from other cultures. I thanked my friend for allowing me to feast on her dinner. Since that momentous day, I have tried California rolls and Dynamite rolls, too. I guess I should be honest, though. They do not contain raw fish.  California rolls have cooked crabmeat, rice, avocado and cucumber in them, and Dynamite rolls consist of avocado, tempura shrimp and rice rolled in seaweed. Believe me, it’s even better than it sounds! Once a week I look forward to dining at the same very busy Japanese restaurant for lunch.  I eat with a co-worker who has become just as obsessive as I am.  She even went so far as to search the internet to learn how to make sushi. I, of course, printed the page as well. So far my greatest highlight has been sitting at the sushi bar. I watch the skilled chefs handle the rice, seaweed, and fish and roll it into a work of art.  It’s like watching a movie.  I am in heaven! I think they could tell that I was having a “moment” because they kept giggling whenever they looked at me. I didn’t care. I need my sushi fix. It seems as though I have become completely preoccupied with the delicacy. I’ve spoken about it so much that my sister decided to try it for herself. She liked it a lot, but not as much as me. I don’t think anyone likes it as much as me.  Actually, there is one person out there who does. I was talking to a friend in a drugstore about my uncontrollable cravings, and a lady chimed in and said, “I think it’s the ginger that makes it taste so good.” I agreed and started to laugh. I am happy that I ventured out and conquered my fear of sushi. I am also pleased to know that I am able to try new things. It is very easy to stick to the things that you know of and are familiar with, but there is a whole world of food out there that I want to experience. So, until I get my sushi addiction under control, you can catch me once a week holding my chopsticks and smiling from ear to ear. My name is Michelle Joseph and I am a freelance writer living in Toronto, Canada. As a teenager I constantly wrote, however, my love for writing flourished when I was in my last year of University. I graduated from York University with a BA in Sociology, but I found that the courses that I took that were outside of my major - such as film, were more appealing. In addition to freelancing as a writer, I have been publishing a ‘zine called “I Got Coffee Breath” for the past 4 years. The articles deal with the good, the bad and the weird things that happen in my life. Presently, I juggle my time between working, writing and co-hosting a local call-in radio show. This website: Copyright © 2001 Studio Q Int'l Inc / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.