Entering the crowded, dimly lit restaurant, my first instinct was to turn back. I was in Chicago, why was I having dinner at some bar? I walked past the scantily clad hosts and sat down with the rest of my group around a large round table. My day up to that point had been wonderful; That morning I had gone to the top of the Sears Tower, visited the Chicago Art Institute, dined at Grace for brunch, and shopped along the Magnificent Mile. My stay at the Dana Hotel could only be compared to a luxury suite at the Westin. Everything about this trip had been absolutely perfect, up until that point. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay “You will absolutely love sushi,” Connie said. “It's the most amazing range of textures and flavors.” As a chef, Connie Freiberg knew exactly what food was delicious and what food was disgusting and inedible. I trusted her, up to a point. I knew I had to try everything at least once. However, I hated fish. I hated the texture, the taste, the color. The sushi was just raw fish and rice, right? It looked disgusting. I didn't want to give my opinion on the matter in case he would be offended, so I humbly agreed and pretended to be excited to try sushi. Soon, the waitress approached our table and asked us for our orders. I didn't have the confidence to order sushi, so my boyfriend, Axel, happily ordered for me. It's a little unnerving when you're in the early stages of a relationship with someone and their family has a better financial situation than you. It's hard to know what to say and how to behave when you're afraid that your 'peasantness' will come out and make you look like a fool. I hoped I didn't seem standoffish towards their family. Our starters came out shortly after and the sushi itself just moments later. Salted edamame, or young soybeans harvested and steamed inside the pods, retained a salty aroma and delicious texture. Following the others' lead, I popped the pod lengthwise into my mouth and pulled it out between my teeth, scooping out the tender soybeans from inside. The crunchy but soft textured dough was a pleasant surprise and the woody flavor of the legume was extremely satisfying. I had noticed that the initial activity of the restaurant had not died down, but had somehow begun to feel calmer. My stress was easing, if only for a fleeting moment. "First take your chopstick and dip it in soy sauce and see if you like it. Here, try mine. I added some wasabi." Axel told me. I made it and I liked the flavor of the wasabi combined with the sauce. The spiciness of the wasabi combined with the strong saltiness of the soy, but it wasn't unbearable. I poured a moderate amount into my soy sauce and decided to add more shortly after. “So, take a piece of sushi, dip it in the soy sauce and wasabi mixture, and try it.” Axel gave further instructions: "It won't fall apart? I'll put it in my mouth all at once, like this?" I asked. I was trying to find a way not to eat it. I didn't want to try it. It had a fishy smell, which was quite unpleasant for me. Was there also raw fish on it? I almost threw up in my mouth. I could feel my anxiety starting to creep in. My heart rate was increasing, I was starting to sweat. I was more afraid to try this food than I had ever been in my life. "You're fine. Just do it." Axel encouraged. "Hey wait though, I'm allergic to fish." I lied. "No, that's not true. You ate shrimp this morning.".