[KDB]

Hello all <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
I am a 38-year-old man, originally from Germany, who has been vegetarian for about 20 years now, most of the time vegan. And, listen carnivores, I am still alive and kicking <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hamster.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hamster:"><br><br>
I was not referred here by anybody else, I found you more or less by accident, surfing the Internet.<br><br>
Why am I here? Hm, I live in Portugal, where unfortunately there are hardly any vegetarians. Maybe there are some in Lisbon or Porto, but not here in the Alentejo region. Quite to the contrary, most people here are ferocious meat eaters, just like in neighboring Spain. Like the Chinese, they eat almost anything that moves.<br><br>
I know carnivores may think I am intolerant, but I really do prefer the company of fellow vegetarians, even if they are just virtual acquaintances. I just can't handle eating at one table with people chewing on animals.<br><br>
Sorry for any linguistic bugs now and in the future, I am not a native speaker <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/blush.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
Bye for now <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hi.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hi:"><br><br>
KDB (the initials of my real names)

 

[karenlovessnow]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hi.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hi:"> Welcome to VB!

 

[sallyomally]

Hello!<br><br>
Sounds like you've had a bit of a tough time. It's great that you've<br><br>
stayed faithful in spite of it all.<br><br>
We're glad you've joined us. You'll like it here.Lots of nice people.

 

[Amy SF]

Welcome to VB! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hi.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hi:"><br><br><br><br>
And your English is very good. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Dark_Dicentra]

Welcome to the boards! We're happy to have you here!

 

[KDB]

Thank you <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
Nope, luckily I have not really had a tough time. Actually, I am quite blessed with living in Europe rather than many other parts of the world, where people don't have the option of chosing what to eat.

 

[GhostUser]

Welcome to VB! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[bebe]

Hey KDB we meet again! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Vegnik]

your message reminds me why I love living in the NY region or SF Bay Area!

 

[KDB]

yeah, go ahead, rub it in <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/whack.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":whack:"> i would prefer the bay area, too <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> and even new york, the indian summers must be great, i love autumn leaves <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smitten.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":smitten:">

 

[natashamarie]

alright! i am part portuguese heritage... don't find too many where I live. i can imagine that it would be tough with the classic cuisine. kudos to you!

 

[KDB]

bom dia!<br><br>
just look for building sites, there you are bound to find portuguese <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/wink3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> for some reason many of them work in the home building industry, no matter in which country ...<br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">don't find too many where I live</div>
</div>
<br>

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hi.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hi:"><br><br>
My parent's neighbours are of Portuguese origin, but they don't work in the home building industry.<br><br>
Welcome! And: Adeus!!

 

[KDB]

lothar kirsch, na wenn das mal kein deutscher name ist <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/cool3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[samurai]

be proud that you are a vegan for so long, KDB

 

[KDB]

proud, well, maybe that is too strong a word. after all, i think i am doing what everyone else should be doing, too. i am not proud that i have never stolen a car, either <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> and there are no temptations out there, so i do not even need a strong will to be veg*n <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>KDB</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
lothar kirsch, na wenn das mal kein deutscher name ist <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/cool3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""></div>
</div>
<br>
Right: German name, Germany based (Cologne). <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:">

 

[GhostUser]

20 year veg! Wow! Thats an amazing accomplishment!

 

[KDB]

hehe, thanks <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I owe my mindset to buddhism. I turned to that religion when i was about 16, I read about jainism too, ahimsa etc. unfortunately, I come from a rural conservative region of Germany and my parents were no exception. so I had to gradually win them over till mom was willing to prepare more veg*n stuff and less and less meat. nowadays i suppose teenagers willing to become vegetarians would simply stop eating stuff they don't want to eat <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> but back then we already had enough problems, like my father's drinking too much <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:"> when I finally moved out, all those problems were of course gone and I switched to raw vegan food <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:"><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>animallover7249</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
20 year veg! Wow! Thats an amazing accomplishment!</div>
</div>
<br>

 

[KDB]

cologne, nice city, I was there years ago right after a flood, was forced to do the usual touristy thingy, like staring at the cathedral and stuff <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/cool3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> had difficulty understanding locals due to that funny dialect <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Lothar M Kirsch</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Right: German name, Germany based (Cologne). <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:"></div>
</div>
<br>