Tell us about you!
Where did you study abroad?
Seoul, Korea and Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo Japan
How did you choose your study abroad location?
I knew I wanted to study abroad in a location with food I knew I could always rely on in a restaurant. For me, this food was rice! And I thought the best place to have rice as an option always would be Asia. It’s safe to say, I did eat rice at every single restaurant I went to. I was always full! Not to mention, Korea and Japan are beautiful countries that I have always wanted to visit. I love Kpop as well as Anime, so I didn’t want my food allergies to stop me from going to my dream places.
Had you been out of the country before studying abroad? Do you speak the local language?
Yes!
Did you plan anything ahead of time?
I bought Equal Eats cards to show employees in both Korean and Japanese. I found them to be mostly helpful, and when not helpful, it was attributed to the fact that they are not familiar with food allergy. I also brought a whole carry-on suitcase packed with a month’s worth of safe food that I didn’t end up eating a lot of… since I did eat a lot of meals from the program! I also told my program director and TLA early on about my allergies, so they were very diligent at each meal translating and making sure my meals were safe.
Did you have any concerns about traveling with food allergies?
I had a lot of concerns! I was concerned about the language barrier, but mostly about the country’s lack of food allergy knowledge. There were lots of times when employees did not understand what I was saying, not because of the language barrier, but because of the infrequency of food allergies in these countries. I was worried that allergens could possibly contaminate my food because of this, or straight be served my allergens. I was also worried about the culture and the importance of not bringing in your own food to restaurants, since I mainly do that at home. I was worried it would be seen as rude even though I just wanted to eat like everyone else. Some establishments let me eat my food after explaining, but some didn’t, and I had to watch all of my friends eat when there was nothing at the restaurant for me.
What airline did you fly? How did you handle accommodations and airplane food?
I flew Delta and did not eat any of their provided plane food. I made sure to pre-board and wipe down my seat. I brought my own snacks, of course, and I made sandwiches for the plane — as well as a thermos of pasta and spaghetti sauce that I know is safe. Having a reaction in the air, especially on a 15-hour flight, is one of my worst fears. I had lots of my MadeGood puffed star snacks along with Trader Joe’s Takis.
Where did you live and how were meals handled?
We stayed in three different hotels, and they each had breakfast. They all had fridges so we could put leftover food in there. We were never more than 30 feet from a 7-Eleven, so I knew a salted rice onigiri was always near. My roommate on the study abroad was very accommodating and curious.
What are your 3 favorite places to eat in Japan and Korea?
Korean Barbecue at COW&PIG, engawa1441, and sushiro! As well as Tokyo Disney’s allergen-free curry was truly incredible. I crave it all the time!
For anyone with a sweet tooth, were there any special sweet finds like ice cream shops or bakeries?
Matcha at Ginkado side market at Tsukiji Market and gummy peach candy at 7-Eleven Japan.
What other places did you visit during your trip?
Yokohama, Japan (took a ramen cooking class here)
Besides the food, were there any fun experiences or favorite things you did?
Riding the ferris wheel in Sokcho-si, Korea — a beach town — to see views of the beautiful east shoreline. Shopping in Harajuku, Japan until our feet hurt. Sitting alongside the flowing Kamogawa River in Kyoto, spotting all the different wildlife that call it home. Exploring new pop-up shops in Seongsu, Korea. Going up Namsan Mountain to see Seoul Tower up close was strenuous, but worth it. Visiting Seoraksan National Park and taking in the sights of mystic rock formations, surrounded by lush mountains. Meeting the Nara deer in Nara, Japan, and eating my first Wagyu at the Tsukiji Fish Market. Getting to check a Disney location off of my bucket list, and spontaneously deciding to go to Tokyo Disneyland one night using a night ticket. There are so many memories I could talk about from my unforgettable trip, and not to mention all of the new friends I made! I learned so much about Korean and Japanese culture and nutrition profiles. I would go back in a heartbeat.
There are going to be ups and downs! I had several sad moments on the trip, like when Japanese airport officials tried to take my food away from me since there is a limit on how much you can bring into the country. I scrounged up a doctor’s note, and along with my director’s persuasion skills, I got to keep it. But research all of the limitations on what you can and can’t bring into the countries. With this, make sure you have some food you can count on through the trip! For me, it was rice and my suitcase of packaged foods. Get a big crossbody bag to carry all of the things in. Most days, I kept a small Ziploc of a snack in my bag and munched on that when I got hungry. Know where all the local hospitals will be — just in case. It will be awesome!
