My mother always told me to keep my words sweet in case I had to eat them. I have not always done that. Brian, remember what you said when you are dying. It is easy to embrace change when you are young and full of life. The older you get, the more difficult it becomes to embrace change including death. I think it all depends on what you think is on the other side.

As for the weird smell of the food, for someone as ? (I do not know what to call you), I think you are alienated and looking for some group to throw in with, but you might think you are liberal, I would say the temple’s food does not smell like Western food and I would think you would embrace anything that was not from this country. I am guessing their food had different spices in it than your Western noise is used to. Just my guess, your mileage may vary.