This past week I have had to stop eating lunch with the other teachers and high school students in the cafeteria. It seems that my sense of smell is out of control and just about every semi strong smell makes me nauseated now. I wish it weren’t the case, but smells really push my now persistent nausea into overdrive.
I have never been fond of cafeteria smells. While the aroma was always unpleasant to me, it never induced nausea before now. The constant smell of hot grease and fried foods, a staple in our cafeteria, permeate not only the entire cafeteria but the main hallway of the school. A simple walk to the bathroom triggers my gag reflex.
Then there is the medley of smells produced by students heating up their frozen/prepackaged cook and serve meals. From easy macaroni, to ramen noodles, to hot pockets the various smells are endless and unbelievably strong. The assault on my now very sensitive sense of smell is overwhelming. Some of my students find it quite humorous to bring their malodorous lunches over to where I am sitting just to see me gag and cringe. While I can admit in retrospect that it IS funny, the actual nausea inducing event isn’t.
Now comes the different kinds of foods that the teachers are eating at the “teacher’s table.” First there is leftover shrimp and cod. Most fish and seafood are particularly disgusting to me. I’ve never been a fan of either but they are especially offensive to me now that I’m pregnant. I can’t even walk past the seafood counter at the super market. Next is the first year teacher and his beloved Frito Pie. Think really wet taco meat and lots of processed cheese; apparently it is also a staple in our cafeteria. Then there is a mixture of different kinds of frozen dinner pastas; Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, etc microwaved and piping hot … and smelly. Finally, various salads with various toppings: day old hard boiled eggs, jalepenos, 1000 Island Dressing, more processed cheese, bacon bits, and the worst offenders onions.
Needless to say, I can no longer eat my lunch of Greek Yogurt or sprouted grain cereal in the cafeteria and in all honesty that’s perfectly fine with me.