So. I can't eat seafood. And I'm going to live in Japan.
 

Hi everyone!
Like the title says, I don't eat seafood. I'm technically only allergic to shellfish, but fish and seaweed and anything from the ocean makes me feel sick. I spent a summer in Japan with a host family a few years ago, and I managed to convince my host mother to only feed me beef and chicken. Because that was only for a few weeks, I think that it was easier for her to make that sacrifice.

I'm going back, this time for a year. I'm a little worried. It'll probably be more difficult for the host family to give me the food I need since I'll be with them for a longer time. Yes, I'm going to try to immerse myself into my host family's life. No, I don't want to be sick.

Any advice, comments?

just don't eat meat be a vegetarian lol. eat chicken , pork or beef when you leave the house. you don't want to upset them though i would'nt like it if someone didn't want to eat any of my food.


Its good for you damnitlol.

could you just try fish??

only eat at the house 3/4 times a week and the rest of the time go out to eat, then it won't make the host family hate you.

Plus you got all sorts of options, they eat meat cutlets, curries and have meat based dishes.

I've eaten fish before, I just don't feel well after eating it. I definitely plan on only eating chicken and beef and no fish, but like you suggested, it could be pretty offensive. Part of me is afraid the host family will think I'm rejecting their culture or something.

maybe you could just tell them you are allergic to all fish. that would be a lie but it may be easier but im not really condoning lying.

Hmm maybe I should just do that. It'll be a lot easier.

Probably because many Japanese alive today still remember the WWII there is not a lot of patience for picky eaters or wasteful eaters because there was a time in recent memory when people didn't have food.

Tell what ever program you are going on NOW that you need to be placed in a home where not eating fish is an option. This way the family is not surprised when you arrive. I would say you are allergic to all fish, just to make it easier for you. There may be host families that have a child who is also allergic and it will be a perfect match.

That being said, not eating fish in Japan is not that hard to do. The important thing is that your potential host family know this in advance.

Yes, I agree - say it is an allergy. If you make it clear that you are allergic to shellfish and that there may be other sea food that you have a reaction to, I am sure that a family will work to accommodate you. I wouldn`t expect to be fed meat on a regular basis, but vegetarian food is likely not going to be much of an issue. It depends on area though...
Around here, it seems like fish is a 3 or 4 time a week thing... With meat 2 or 3 days and maybe no meat or fish another day. But up around the in-laws, they eat sashimi even for breakfast literally every day. I don`t think I`ve ever seen a meal (short of curry) that didn`t include fish.

So if you`re heading to a coastal town things may be very tough to pull off.

Beef is probably NOT something to expect or ask for as it is pretty expensive - chicken and pork is the way to go.

Also something to think about...............

Beef in Japan is VERY expensive. Even the "cheap" stuff. Having a host family shift their food purchasing habits to including significantly more beef is going to cost them a bunch over the timeframe of a whole year.

But the "politics" of the situation likely says that if you directly offer to cover some of that added cost..... that gesture would actually be a bit offensive to your host family. So you big problem is to figure out how to offest that extra food cost for them without directly causing them to feel bad about it.

Not easy... but put your thinking cap on.

Since you are only known to be allergic to shellfish...... is it that you just do not LIKE fish, and some of the "sick" feeling is more psychological than physiological? Have you checked with your doctor on that? If it is not actually physical, maybe you can train yourself to eat some fish before you go and make it easier economically on your host family?

best,

.................john

Upon arrival is too late. She needs to tell the program now. If I were a host mother or host father that would not be news I would want to hear AFTER the person arrives.

I agree with this completely. Overall, Japanese food is derived from an "ocean based" orientation. Seafoods of all manner are a BIG part of daily cusine. To suddenly have to deal with this kind of problem would be a seve impoosition. It is not fair to "spring" this on an unsuspecting family that is gracious enough to act as a "host" for a YEAR.

They deserve to know well in advance...so that they can "opt out" graciously if they desire.....and let the program find another place that can deal with this issue.

best,

...............john

When I went to Japan-- I went with a fellow who had a similar experience.


He was allergic to shell-fish and all variations of fish roe.

His host family wasn't aware, and he was too shy to admit he had an allergy (as so he didn't offend them)

He spent the remainder of his trip all red-faced and vomitey.

As for my host family, they were eager to feed me American food-- which is exactly the opposite of what I wanted/expected.

You might be surprised, chances are your host family will have a bucket of KFC upon your arrival. :D

I have this same problem too but not quite as severe- I can eat fish just not shellfish. My host family seems fine with it. As long as they are warned ahead of time there should be no problem, especially if they see that you are willing to embrace their culture. If that's the only thing that's "picky" about you then they will probably be understanding.

Do you like noodles and rice? Try eating udon and other grain based dishes. I don't know if you like ramen, but it's an option.

Just be honest from the beginning. People will respect you for that.

While I won't say it's impossible, I do hope you realize how big a request this actually is.

How would your own folks react if they were to host a Japanese student for an entire year who insists that s/he only eat seafood because he's allergic to meat or meat products?

While honesty may not be as easy as claiming allergies to all fish, it would be better. If you should eat something else and become ill, you don't want a physician detoured by being told you are allergic to something unless you really are.

Without even having seaweed, I hope you will be in Tokyo or another large city where you have more options.

Hopefully you like tofu, because its your host family's easiest substitution when cooking.

im not in japan, but what they usually serve on table? i recall there should be miso soup or somethin. then just eat some on table that is not a seafood based, that is after u tell them ur allergic be4 hand. not enough? go buy chicken ramen or bento box, its quite cheap, i guess?

NB: oww, dont tell any of host member bout u eatin out, a lil rude to the host mother

I think that a lot of people aren`t realizing that seafood isn`t used only as-is. It is also in a huge number of condiments, is used to make soup, etc etc. Shellfish is easier to avoid, but not coming into contact with fish is honestly going to be a very hard one - and that is what you`ll be asking for by saying it is an allergy. That is why it is a big deal.

Telling them you have an allergy to seafood is the easiest way to avoid eating it - but it`s also going to be something close to torture for a family as they will take it seriously. I have no doubt they will do their best to make sure you eat absolutely nothing with seafood in it... And that includes a lot more than just pieces of fish and seaweed. It`s really in almost everything, in one form or another. It will force them to change household eating habits quite seriously, and will probably turn the mother into a crazed label reader to make sure no seafood gets by.

If you really aren`t allergic, and just really don`t like seafood, it probably would be best in the long run to just deal with it. Avoid eating seafood when you can and just bear with it when you have no choice. Just don`t spring something that big on them out of the blue.

you can live off gyuudon for a year x]