OMG - i am going to France

[Gabes-Apg]

there is a 80% chance that I will be travelling to france (for work)

when they told me, on the outside i was calm poker face, inside.... my mind was going overtime, 27hrs transit time, what will i eat on the plane, what will i eat when get there, i dont speak french, OMG, I cant take liquids on the plane, i dont have enough clothes arrrggghhh

48 hours later and a bit of research If i fly emirates via Dubai then food on the plane is not an issue
i did some reading on some celiac forums, and I will print out some cards that in french clearly state that i am allergic to gluten etc to use in restaurants and shops where I will buy my food

I can take up to 2kgs of stuff from here (as long as it is in approved packaging)

I also figured that going to the 'south of france' (for an aussie gal) is a once in a life time chance (at no cost to myself!!!) so if i have to take more meds than usual and wear nappies BUGGER IT! I am doing it.

I have started to buy some MC friendly work clothes, which i had been wanting to do but hadnt had the motivation. i havent bought new clothes since before the MC so it has been uplifting to get some items that are more comfortable and look better (and cover the bloated tummy)

[harma]

Oh GAbes that is Great, a work trip to France (if you live in Australia, from Holland france is a lot closer ) Any idea when you are going? Anyway bon voyage.

This is a website (in Dutch but with google translate is is very easy to translate the whole page) with restaurants in France and people's experiences: http://www.livaad.nl/horecauitvoer3.php ... opZoeken=3

What I have been reading about France in my other Dutch messages boards is France not a gluten wahalla like the UK and Italy. But supermarkets sell glutenfree stuff.

[Jan]

Gabe I am jealous. I've made one quick trip to Paris and everything was closed down due to a strike. I like your attitude of I'll just take some extra meds and use nappies and have a ball. Go for it!!!!!!!

Jan

[tex]

Gabes,

Awesome!

Tex

[ant]

Dear Gabes

How excitiiiiing! Emirates is pretty good (I use them to get to UK). One small problem if you say you are Gluten intolerant they may give you a salad. I find the diabatic menu often closer to what I need.

If you are in the south maybe you can focus on seafood.... hope so.

Here is my translation that I give restaurants here in Hong Kong. (note the small white lie)

To The Chef…. I suffer from two diseases (Celiac and Microscopic Colitis) causing multiple food intolerances. Here is the list of foods I cannot tolerate. 患有兩種疾病（腹腔和微觀結腸炎）造成多種食物不進食。以下是他不能進食的食物清單 -

Cannot tolerate even in small amounts 小量都不能進食的:
• Gluten (and similar) – wheat, rye, oat, corn, semolina, and other seed based flour, bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, cuscus, tapioca, beer, malt vinegar, balsamic vinegar.- 麵筋(和相似),麥類、黑麥、燕麥、粟米、粗麵粉和其他種子麵粉，麵包，蛋糕，餅乾，意大利粉，斑袋貂，珍珠粉，啤酒，麥芽醋，香醋。
• Dairy – milk, cream, butter, cheese. 乳製品 - 牛奶，奶油，黃油，芝士。
• Beans, peas, guar gum, peanuts (legumes) – including Soy, Soya e.g. Tofu. 豆，豌豆，瓜爾豆膠，花生（豆類） - 包括大豆，大豆如豆腐。
• Eggs. 雞蛋。; Nightshades – potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. - 薯仔，蕃茄和辣椒
• Vegetable oils – EXCEPT Olive oil, which is fine. 菜油 - 可以進食橄檻油。
• Raw vegetables including salads – all vegetables should be well cooked. - 生 / 未經煮熟的菜類包括沙律 – 所有菜都須完全煮熟。
• Cashew nuts and peanuts. 腰果和花生。

Can tolerate in very small amounts 可進食極少量的:
• Fruit if skinned and cooked. 去皮及煮熟的水果。
• Sugar, glucose, fructose, honey. 糖，葡萄糖，果糖，蜂蜜。

If you can drink some nice dry Provence Rose and a simple dish of seafood.

All best for your trip. Ant

[harma]

make sure in France you have those diet cards (like they have for celiac disease) in French. In France people speak french, not everybody everywhere speaks english (or is even willing to try)

[Linda in BC]

How wonderful for you GAbes!!

When would you be leaving?
Linda

[Stanz]

Gabes,

What great news, I hope you have a great time there. You just never know where life will take you. How exciting.

C

[Gabes-Apg]

Thanks 'family'
well aware of the french snobbery towards their language. Our parent company is french (hence the trip) and i have had frequent teleconferences with them. They dont like us aussies mocking their language.

Ant - thanks for the info - re emirates, they are going to ask for gluten free/bland meal i will be going business class so we will put in special request for rice and steamed fish.
aside from that I will have rice cakes with me.
i have a letter from my doctor re food intolerances to help justify the foods i carry in my luggage.

at this stage i will be leaving Fri 11 June, (in 1.5 weeks) so lots to do between now and then to get organised.

[Stanz]

So happy for you. You are TK and don't forget it.

[Gabes-Apg]

thanks connie.....

[Stanz]

You're welcome.

I don't remember when you added seuss to your sig line but this has significance to me that I'll PM you with.

[Gabes-Apg]

The full quote of that is fantastic

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living"

[Joefnh]

That's great news Gabes. France is a wonderful place to visit; well worth the extra effort to make it there

Best wishes on your travel

--Joe

[Gabes-Apg]

Ant - i have adapated the wording of your cards for my travel profile for the corporate travel agent.

our admin angel that is looking after us, is going to make sure that if the meal can not be supplied to my specs, then they will put notation on my itinerary so that i have justificaton for carrying my own foods. Carrying dry foods is not an issue, to carry containers or liquids is.

I asked for gluten /dairy /yeast free bland meal. No salads boiled rice and steamed fish is AOK