I am living in Cochabamba, Bolivia SA, the city is also known as the city of eternal spring, because of its wonderful spring like weather all year round. I am half German/Dutch, my wife is Bolivian, with some Brazilian blood.

I became a vegetarian in a period of my life were I was searching for some basic answers regarding "life"; "Who am I?", "Were do I come from?", "Were am I going?"

I was reading all kinds of books, or recessions of them; The Bible, The Koran, The Torah, The Bhagavad Gita, . . . About philosophies and indigenous cultures, the books of Carlos Castaneda, you name it.

Well, at a certain point. I still had no idea what I was going to do regarding my path in life. I did see something though; that there was a "red-line", a connection between all that I have read, and that was, that it is essential not to eat meat . . .

So, from one day to the next I became a vegetarian. I felt great! I knew I was doing the right thing. Soon after that my brother and mother also joined . . .

After 10 years being a vegetarian, I had to make another decision . . . I was told that as long as I still eat animal products ( milk, cheese, yogurt, . . . ), that I am also responsible for the suffering of the animals. Well, it did make sense, but I am half Dutch; how can I ever give up my cheese?!? Then I was shown some clips from the Internet, were you see what happens in the slaughterhouses . . . I didn't want to see it, I had seen those scenes years ago, and I didn't want to see them again . . . Well, I did take a look at them again, and I was shocked! My heart was so touched, that that was it! No more animal products . . .
Something interesting happened then; I lost my extra pounds, and I felt a lot better then before . . . Now that was amazing!
As long as I was living in Europe, I could find my vegan cheese, so I was happy with that. Now that I am living in Bolivia SA, I have adjusted a bit. Sorry, I still have my Dutch blood in me that longs for cheese . . . Now I eat cheese, that is half made of soya . . .

My diet today; No meat, fish nor eggs, basically no animal products, except my half-soya cheese. If I am invited somewhere though, I just insist that I don't eat meat, in any form . . .

Please, don't forget to have respect for the people that still eat meat. Most of us were like that also. It usually is just a lack of information, or it is just not the right time for them to make such a huge change in their lives . . .With my wife for example, it was just a lack of information. When I met her, she was just eating some chicken every now and then. She never liked eating meat, but she thought that she needed at least some chicken for certain vitamins, protein, and minerals . . . Well, this was just some lack of information, after I explained it to her, she was happy, and that was it; now she has the same diet as I have . . .

What I would like to ad here, for those who are still skeptical; My son, was born in a complete vegan environment. There was never a problem during the pregnancy, nor thereafter. My son was also infected a few times with a common virus here in Bolivia, that effects mostly children. When the doctor looked at his blood, he was quite confused; It looked a lot better then it should have been!

I love jogging, and I have run several competitions, and the best . . . a marathon! So, as a vegetarian, you do have strength and endurance.

To help find the answers to; "Who am I?", "Were do I come from?", "Were am I going?"

A vegetarian/vegan diet, some exercise and meditation