Before going to Asia

First and foremost, translation cards are a good help in any Asian country, but you can’t totally depend on them. Some people might not understand what an allergy is, and not in the least an intolerance. Some people might not be able to read. And some people might not simply care.

I had a stack of printed translation cards on A4 papers. In my experience a big piece of paper is easier to read for the people who want to try and help you and it’s easier for you to get it back when they have finished with it. Also, leave the paper on your table even after you have ordered your food, they might what to check something again, or even double-check it.

Find free translation cards for printing here:

http://www.celiactravel.com/cards/

Available in 51 languages.

OR

http://celiaki.se/celiaki-intoleranser-allergier/sojaproteinallergi/tillganglighet/oversattningskort/

A Swedish website with “cards” available in 41 languages.

 

If you are one of those gluten free people who can’t eat soy, it might be quite difficult for you to find things to eat, me on the other hand has been fine with all the soy sauces I have tried so far. However, I tried to eat as little soy sauce as possible just to be on the safe side. If you want to read more about soy sauce and wheat take a look here: https://glutenfree.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/safety-of-asian-soy-sauce-in-gf-diet-janssen-et-al.pdf AND http://www.celiac.com/articles/23061/1/Is-Soy-Sauce-Gluten-free/Page1.html

One translation card I didn’t find was one in Khmer, the language most commonly spoken in Cambodia. Although many people in Cambodia are very good in English, an intolerance to gluten is a hard thing to describe… My solution to this was pictures and so I made my own “translation card” with pictures from google. This actually worked very well!

 

 

One thing you can be almost certain of when you travel to Asia is that you will not feel 100% all the time. Don’t worry! Just because your stomach is upset it doesn’t mean that you have eaten gluten. So relax, and don’t let your tummy destroy your trip!

Love Erika