Category: Daily Living
Is anyone else uncomfortable doing this? I live in a student house with five other people, and though we have a completed kitchen, I hesitate to cook, lest I be seen by one of them. I don't think it's shame, necessarily, but I simply prefer to cook either alone or with other blind people. What are your thoughts and experiences concerning this?
I seriously wish I wasn't so ridiculous about this, as I actually don't mind cooking sometimes, but honestly feel unable to.
Hmmm. Well, I think it really depends on the person. I feel a little uncomfortable cooking, in general, much less in front of sighted people. But to me, I really think it's mostly dependent on who the people are. For example, if I was to cook in front of my grandma, I'd be quite unsuccessful, as she's always so protective of where things go, and there'd most likely be an argument! my mom is not so bad because she's a little more patient, but not much! So dont know about her honestly. Also the roommates I used to have, well, i think it'd be awkward in front of them, because they didn't really talk to me, they'd only talk about me! And they were quite impatient too! So yeah, i think i see where you're coming from on this!
I wouldn’t be too self-conscious about it. If I remember my college days correctly, the other people in the house will just be glad someone else is doing the work. lol
However, maybe try cooking in front of just one or two of the other people to get used to it. I would start with the person you feel most comfortable around and see how that goes.
I can see why you're self-conscious about this, Skyla. I would be, too. In my experience, cooking is when sighted people most want to jump in and do things for me. Of course they call it, "Helping," but what it usually translates to is trying to take over. They're scared I'll burn myself, or whatever. Or, it's when they try to ask the, "How do you do that," questions as I'm trying to concentrate. LOL. I don't mind answering questions, but not while I'm trying to measure. *Smile*
I think Glenja has the right idea. Maybe take his advice, and see what happens, instead of cooking in front of everyone right away. And hopefully, as they get to know you, it won't be such a big deal.
You know, I was exactly the same when I was at uni. I still am, actually, but having someone watch you cook seems to just pile on the pressure. I'll do it, but if I can avoid it, I will.
FM
I love cooking, whether in front of people or not. My only problem is when a sighted person feels it's necessary to help me with every little thing. I mean, just cause I'm cooking and you're there doesn't mean I need help. And when I ask you to help me with one thing, please don't take that to mean I need help with everything. On the other hand, if it's a new technique or recipe, it can be a good thing to have someone around if I do need a little assistance. And if it's Mom, she'll teach me some cool culinary tips and words along the way which I love.
For me, it isn't so much about being helped as it is about being seen at all. I think funky monkey hit the nail on the head: it's just about the pressure of them literally being there and being able to witness it. And I do know these people quite well, and get on with them well also. Oh well, I guess it will either happen or it won't (I'm thinking not, but I'm moving in september anyway so I'll have to survive until then haha).
Thanks for the replies!
I do the same, I get nervise when someone is watching me, I don't however when it's my fiance, I love to cook with him, or shall I say teach him how to cook. People are shocked to learn that I am the one that does all the cooking, cleaning and so on in the house. Well he does do some, but I am the one that does the most. My family would always try to jump in and do it for me. I would alwaysmess up when they were aroung.
You know that regardless of environment, if you're cooking in front of people you don't know too well, any mistake looks ten times worse when you're blind. It's very easy for others to brush off their own mistakes and blame it on negligence and what have you. I live in a dorm with a common kitchen, and I'm still often reluctant to cook there, even as much as people burn shit and set off the fire alarm. Oh, and then there's the amazingly brilliant girl who got chicken from home that was seasoned and everything, froze it, decided she wanted to eat it and just popped it in the oven. No letting it thaw, no defrosting. It sat in the oven for a little over two hours. Two hours for four drumsticks. lol
I do love to cook as well. I don't find myself to anxious to cook around cited ppl , but i have experienced some ppl that do like to hover over me while I am cooking, like my grams. My family just tells her to leave me alone and that i am doing just fine. Grams is just over protective of me I gues, lol.
I hate cooking around sighted, my Mum is notorious for not allowing me to cook, she loves cooking for me and never really taught me how to cook stuff after I lost my really useful vision, she always felt like it was her fault that I lost my really useful vision, so she feels that she has to cook for me....
I love cooking for my boyfriend though.... he really enjoys it, but so far, I havent cooked much for him, just mac & cheese with flaked tuna in it.
I've cooked for other people, blind and sighted, but I hate cooking for sighted, cause I just feel inadequate...
this is actually we're getting nervous I can say. I don't like someone's noticing me. if I'm coming to know that someone's watching me, I won't be perfect with my work in any kind. I even don't like someone's guiding me by telling go to the left or right while I'm going to the regular places. I feel ok if they hold my hands and leave me there instaed of confusing me by those left and right thing.
Raaj.
Cooking around other people is a challenge no matter who you are.
Not only are they 'trying to help', but face it; if they're doing nothing useful for you they're also in your way.
so if they ask if they can help, give 'em something to do; there's always dishes. Offering a beer lightens the mood / breaks the ice ...
I don't particularly like to cook around other people either. That's one reason I tell the folks who are supposed to be helping me find a job that I don't want to work in a restaurant. Of course let's be honest. I don't particularly like to cook period. I do out of necessity but that's it. So working in food services probably wouldn't be a wise choice for me anyway But I totally understand why some of you would be nervous cooking around sighted folks. They always want to jump in and save the day the moment you appear to have the faintest doubt about what you're doing, which often seems to be anytime you reach for something and don't find it right away. And putting something in the oven, even though I always wear oven mits, well let's just say they want to jummp in and stop you from burning yourself. And yes, it also applies to when you're going places. I must admit I take some small satisfaction anytime a sighted person tells me off for not using my cane as well as I might after I even slightly bump against something, then they walk headlong into the same obstacle. So if a sighted person jumped in, took the pan from me to try and save my poor delicate hands from being burned even slightly, then happens to burn themself, I must admit that does give me some small satisfaction. I'm not trying to sound mean or anything, but it's been my experience that some sighted folks, SOME being the key word here, seem to think that their sight makes them invulnerable to little things like that. So when someone does the exact same thin they were trying to save me from, particularly while attempting to save me from it, it does make me smile a little.
I agree with SisterDawn. The thing that bothers me is when sighted people try to tell me how to do my job, and they don't understand that I have to use my other senses to cook effectively. Well, since I can't always determine when the hamburger is done by smell or sound alone, I touch it when I think it's done. Why Because that's one of those foods where, if it's not fully cooked, there could be tough consequences. So yeah, I get what you're saying. I don't feel nearly as strange cooking in front of blind people! :)
Well although I haven't experience to cook, doing that in the front of a sighted people is a tough but worth it experience. Yes, we will become nervous but doing this will prove that we can do cooking. The only difference from them is we do this in a unique and more careful way.
I really don't see what the big deal is with cooking in front of sited people. I wouldn't mind it. They just can't act as if they are directing trafic, as that's just as annoying to me as it is to other sighted people. Then, that becomes a problem, and I either throw them out of the kitchen or promise to hit them over the head with a hot pan.