Re: Europe trip

[Guest guest]

Fantastic, Dana. Sounds like a wonderful two weeks. i hope you enjoy

every minute!

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Dana,

You definatly didnt tell us this exciting news!!! What a terrific

opportunity! the price is incredible - its less than airfare alone! When is

the trip scheduled? You deserve this treat!

Reading your very logical post, in my opinion, you have found the best

option for everyone! All the kids will benefit if you are there to help out,

not only with Ava, but as a very well rounded parent. My vote is to " GO

GIRL " !!

Dont forget the camera, diary and lots of gum!

Enjoy, wendy, in canada

=========================================================

>I can't remember if I posted about this or not so if I did, oops, sorry.

>Ava was invited to go to Europe for 2 weeks with her jump rope team!

>They will start in Germany and stay with host families from a German

>team and perform and give workshops in schools. Then they go to Belgium

>and Paris and do the same thing. The trip is fairly inexpensive

>(~$800/includes everything) and the coach and his wife and 14 kids are

>going.

>I've never been to Europe so I'm excited to go. And Ava is glad I'm

>going too, though I haven't told her why I'm going, just that the coach

>asked me to be the parent helper. I'm so grateful that Ava will have this

>opportunity and that my life is such that I have the flexibility to

>accommodate her special needs in order for her to be able to go.

> >Dana in NC

_________________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

When is

the trip scheduled?

We leave March 30 and return April 14. An extra "bonus" on

traveling with this group is that the kids in Ava's age group, the middle

schoolers, love me. They laugh at all my jokes and they're very affectionate.

Ava won't admit it, of course, but it makes her feel special and proud

because I'm her Mom. What I have heard her admit though, is that

she thinks kids like me because I am clear and make them behave and I am

a good kid-problem solver. SHE, however doesn't need these

traits and would prefer I be not-so-good at setting limits for HER :-).

Dana in NC

[Guest guest]

I hope you'll watch for cybercafes, so you can keep us posted. Europe

through dana c's eyes -- what a kick! :-)

Vicki in MT

[Guest guest]

HI Dana:

Congratulations to Ava with her jump rope accomplishments!!

I think your going on the trip is an excellent idea. I went on a school

trip with Steve when he was very ill. It was for ten days up and down the

east coast, quite a trip for little kids from Hawaii! ly as he was so

ill it was a nightmare for me. I was very tense, but it was an important

way to signal him that life should go on inspite of OCD.

HIs medication made him very sleepy so it was a terrible job getting him up

and keeping him on track with a group tour on a tight schedule. The

stimulation of the trip helped him to cope a bit, and whenever we had a

long bus ride he would sleep and miss all the scenery. He learned so much

about colonial America and the geography of the east coast and he enjoyed

the trip very much. He had a horrendous meltdown when we were on the last

leg of multiple flights home and I was tired myself (6 hour time change)

and less able to cope with it well. What I should have done was ask for

more help and support from the other tour participants as I found being

with him 24/7 was exhausting, no down time at all. I don't think he could

have coped at all without my being there.

Plus if you haven't been to Europe before this sounds like an excellent

reason to go - VBG! Certainly the price is right!!

The hardest part for me was to watch the other,healthy kids and how they

interacted and socialized while Steve would be relatively withdrawn

socially. The only time he would pipe up was when his OCD compulsions

would make him provide the answer to every tour guide's question of what

the group knew about where they were going. I did not understand then it

was a compulsion, and although I got a lot of compliments about his

knowledge, I was acutely embarrassed that he did not have more modesty and

know to hide his knowledge and let other kids answer the questions

sometimes. Also I was not on Effexor XR then.

Do you speak any German, French or Flemish? I hope you get to see some of

the sights as well as watch the performances. Good luck with getting some

down time into the schedule. Take care, aloha, Kathy (h)

kathyh@...

At 11:37 AM 03/03/2001 -0500, you wrote:

>Hi everyone,

>

>I can't remember if I posted about this or not so if I did, oops, sorry.

>

>Ava was invited to go to Europe for 2 weeks with her jump rope team!

>They will start in Germany and stay with host families from a German

>team and perform and give workshops in schools. Then they go to Belgium

>and Paris and do the same thing. The trip is fairly inexpensive (~

>$800/includes everything) and the coach and his wife and 14 kids are

>going.

>

>I talked to the coach's wife about my concerns about Ava having a

>meltdown when she's over there, halfway around the world in a strange

>place where she doesn't speak the language. Also, when the team travels

>they have a pretty grueling schedule, Coach doesn't allow for much

> " idle " time. And they have to move as a unit, a team, everywhere they

>go. He even has them dress alike every day, which makes it easier to

>spot them in crowds for sure! I traveled with them before to disney

>World and it is amazing to see. The high school kids are in charge and

>any problems are referred to them. They confer with the Coach. The

>kids listen to the high school age team captains so well it just works

>beautifully.

>

>Another concern I had was how Ava's need for extra sleep might

>necessitate her occasionally missing a scheduled event and how would

>they accommodate that? Right now she is training for the regional

>tournament, which requires her to get up at 5 am to be at practice at

>6am at least 3-4 days a week. I watch her closely for signs of fatigue

>to make sure she gets to bed early, takes naps, etc.. When she gets

>overtired she's more likely to get intrusive thoughts which lead to

>meltdowns/panic episodes and she also sleepwalks. The other night she

>got up at about 10:30 and tried to pee in the kitchen trash!

>

>What we decided is that I should go on the trip as a " helper " . I am

>fortunate to be able to get 2 weeks off work with no problem (actually,

>my boss's daughter is one of the co-captains and she's glad I'm going)

>and still get paid. And since I'm getting a home equity loan to pay my

>attorney in the custody case I have extra available money.

>

>I've never been to Europe so I'm excited to go. And Ava is glad I'm

>going too, though I haven't told her why I'm going, just that the coach

>asked me to be the parent helper. I'm so grateful that Ava will have

>this opportunity and that my life is such that I have the flexibility to

>accommodate her special needs in order for her to be able to go.

>

>Dana in NC

[Guest guest]

Have you started practicing how to yell at

Ava to get up in the morning in German?

Gail,

One of the "perks" of traveling with the team is that I am not responsible

for Ava, except in the larger sense. If I notice she's getting overtired

I'll make arrangements for her to sleep in and miss a workshop or performance.

But when she's on the team schedule if she doesn't get up she has the team

captain to answer to! Therefore, these kids are never late or whiny

or defiant. It is amazing! And it's nice for Ava to experience

herself this way too.

Dana in NC

[Guest guest]

When eating at a hotel that includes a buffet breakfast, I take along discreet bags of crackers and cereal to substitute for the non-GF bread and cereal. As you say, the breakfasts often are heavy on wonderful cheeses and cured meats. Also, you might want to travel with a Toasta-Bag, just in case you find yourself in a situation where GF bread and a non-GF toaster coincide.

For me, travelling in Italy was far easier than travelling in the U.S. -- except when I needed a quick lunch. Paninis and pizzas were ubiquitous. I learned to keep something like cheese, crackers, GF yogurt, or a piece of fruit with me at all times.

The site, delphiforums.com, has a celiac group which has unusually good advice on travelling in Europe. Admittance is free; however, to get to the archives, you must pay a subscription of something like $15 a year.

There's a blog I receive every few days by a professional travel writer who has CD. I can't think of the name just now; perhaps someone else can supply that information.

In three weeks in Italy, I was glutened only once -- when I was very tired in a town outside Venice and let my husband give the information to the waiter. He accidentally said "non-farina" when he meant to say "non-glutino." I ate three bites of a beautiful dish they prepared just for me -- and then realized it was barley-based.An hour later, I felt disoriented, wanted to lie down on the ground (awkward, as we were then in a famous cemetary), couldn't quite think where I was. Fortunately the GI symptoms came many hours later.

The difficulty with eating GF (or accidentally not GF) away from home is -- that you're away from home.

Still, I know of many people who tell me they travel all over the world with no problems at all.

In a message dated 7/9/08 5:01:47 PM, stephanieluttrell@... writes:

always travel with a hefty stash of GF cereal, crackers and other snacks. Just to tide me over in the event I can't find something suitable.

**************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill,

I've traveled successfully GF in France (plus Italy, Germany & Switzerland). I found that traveling in Europe is similar - if not better - than the plans you'd make to travel somewhere new in the U.S. (So, good practice for traveling anywhere.)

You should be able to find each country's celiac (or coeliac) site. These sites often have GF friendly restaurants, markets or stores listed. Also, there is a GF travel website. The URL escapes me, but you should be able to google it easily. I found great success just picking up lunch and snacks at the grocery store - just like you might if visiting a new place in the US. Since you have the dining cards, you should know what words to look for in French and Dutch on various products. Easy things to pick up are yogurt, cheese, cured meat (like pepperoni), fruits and vegetables.

I've found European breakfasts to be heavier on meats and cheeses than breads. You can usually get a hard boiled egg, some kind of sliced meat and sliced cheese. It's often more like a cold cuts spread. There is often plain yogurt as well.

Small restaurants are also more likely to have the owner on site ( or as the cook) I found most smaller places to be very accommodating with GF requests.

I always travel with a hefty stash of GF cereal, crackers and other snacks. Just to tide me over in the event I can't find something suitable.

Happy travels and good luck!

-

From: Bill <badams@...>Subject: [ ] Europe trip Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 4:08 PM

Hello All,I will soon be a tourist in Belgium, England, France, and Holland. I'm new to gluten-free, with help from Health Now Medical inSunnyvale. My two travel companions are not GF.I bought some GF "dining cards" online, and my French is good enoughto request sans gluten. But I really have no experience at this anddon't know what to expect. I'm sure we will be offered baked goodsand continental breakfast.So I'd like to ask your advice about travel in these countries. Iwouldn't mind talking to someone who has gone there.Thanks,Bill

[Guest guest]

I get the idea of this, but I've never seen a Toasta-Bag. where do you get them?

Also, you might want to travel with a Toasta-Bag, just in case you find yourself in a situation where GF bread and a non-GF toaster coincide.

[Guest guest]

Yup -- thanks.

H.

In a message dated 7/9/08 10:44:59 PM, jjhogle@... writes:

Are you thinking of son's Gluten-Free Guidebook at http://www.glutenfrhttp://www.ghtt

 

Hogle

Freelance academic librarian

Instructor, online research

Email: jjhogle (DOT) jj

Web: www.blueroom.www

**************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)

[Guest guest]

Are you thinking of son's Gluten-Free Guidebook at http://www.glutenfreeguidebook.com

HogleFreelance academic librarianInstructor, online researchEmail: jjhogle@...Web: www.blueroom.com

Reality ain't what you think it isArt Graphics & Photographs[http://www.blueroom.com/realityaint.htm]

----- Original Message ----From: "flatcat9@..." <flatcat9@...> Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 5:33:44 PMSubject: Re: [ ] Europe trip

When eating at a hotel that includes a buffet breakfast, I take along discreet bags of crackers and cereal to substitute for the non-GF bread and cereal. As you say, the breakfasts often are heavy on wonderful cheeses and cured meats. Also, you might want to travel with a Toasta-Bag, just in case you find yourself in a situation where GF bread and a non-GF toaster coincide. For me, travelling in Italy was far easier than travelling in the U.S. -- except when I needed a quick lunch. Paninis and pizzas were ubiquitous. I learned to keep something like cheese, crackers, GF yogurt, or a piece of fruit with me at all times.The site, delphiforums. com, has a celiac group which has unusually good advice on travelling in Europe. Admittance is free; however, to get to the archives, you must pay a subscription of something like $15 a year.There's a blog

I receive every few days by a professional travel writer who has CD. I can't think of the name just now; perhaps someone else can supply that information.In three weeks in Italy, I was glutened only once -- when I was very tired in a town outside Venice and let my husband give the information to the waiter. He accidentally said "non-farina" when he meant to say "non-glutino. " I ate three bites of a beautiful dish they prepared just for me -- and then realized it was barley-based. An hour later, I felt disoriented, wanted to lie down on the ground (awkward, as we were then in a famous cemetary), couldn't quite think where I was. Fortunately the GI symptoms came many hours later.The difficulty with eating GF (or accidentally not GF) away from home is -- that you're away from home.Still, I know of many people who tell me they travel all over the world with no problems at all.In a message dated

7/9/08 5:01:47 PM, stephanieluttrell writes:

always travel with a hefty stash of GF cereal, crackers and other snacks. Just to tide me over in the event I can't find something suitable.************ **Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker. com!(http://www. tourtracker. com?NCID= aolmus0005000000 0112)

[Guest guest]

England is pretty easy! Most restaurants there either list GF by the

item or have a list of all ingredients or the chef will understand.

But the best place is the supermarkets! They sell some lovely GF

foods there. I go back to England regularly and bring back lots in my

suitcase for the freezer. Tesco and Waitrose both do some great pitta

breads...plus lots of other items. England and alot of Europe is a

few years ahead of the US in terms of caeliac - ie earlier

diagnoses...earlier efforts on GF products - so I always find it

easier there than back in the US. France is a little more tricky but

I think having your cards are good.

I'd recommend taking some high dose probiotics with you when you

travel....and also taking peptobismol after a meal you are suspicious

of, can help too. I travel quite a bit in different countries and

despite all my plans, still take a bag of my own breakfast cereal with

me. A ziplock with Perky's nutty rice travels well and you can always

get milk - or non dairy milk. It becomes my security blanket!!! And

whenever I eat it, someone always comments that they wished they'd

brought their own cereal with them too!!!!!

Good luck and have a great trip.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

We just landed this afternoon after 2 weeks in England and a day in Paris. It's

really not

difficult! The dining cards will help a lot in non-English speaking areas.

My gosh, you guys - we should all move to England! You would not believe how

easy it is

to live (and travel) GF there. We went into a Sainsbury's market and discovered

GF French

bread, pita, nan, and sliced bread that didn't need to be toasted. It had the

same texture

and taste as stuff full of gluten! The nan, in particular, was nice and chewy.

The French

bread came partially baked, and we made garlic bread out of it. It was light

and tasty. ALL

foods are clearly labeled with allergens - in larger type in a box separate from

the

ingredients list. It says " contains wheat gluten " , " contains barley gluten " ,

etc.

We didn't run into one waiter who wasn't already familiar with GF. We even had

pasta at an

Italian restaurant in the London theatre district before seeing " Spamalot " . The

English

health department apparently has done a very good job in educating the public

about

celiac. Of course, having the highest prevalence of CD in the world doesn't

hurt the effort

to publicize it.

What I want to know is why food producers here can't give us the same quality of

baked

goods as they have in England?

>

> Hello All,

>

> I will soon be a tourist in Belgium, England, France, and Holland.

> I'm new to gluten-free, with help from Health Now Medical in

> Sunnyvale. My two travel companions are not GF.

>

> I bought some GF " dining cards " online, and my French is good enough

> to request sans gluten. But I really have no experience at this and

> don't know what to expect. I'm sure we will be offered baked goods

> and continental breakfast.

>

> So I'd like to ask your advice about travel in these countries. I

> wouldn't mind talking to someone who has gone there.

>

> Thanks,

> Bill

>

[Guest guest]

You're referring to Codex Alimentarius which allows for up to 200ppm

in foods labeled Gluten free. Some of these products have wheat starch

(which tests as gluten free under this standard). These things will

have a codex label on them. Our new gluten-free laws in the US are

actually going to be stricter than the UK laws.

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > I will soon be a tourist in Belgium, England, France, and Holland.

> > I'm new to gluten-free, with help from Health Now Medical in

> > Sunnyvale. My two travel companions are not GF.

> >

> > I bought some GF " dining cards " online, and my French is good enough

> > to request sans gluten. But I really have no experience at this and

> > don't know what to expect. I'm sure we will be offered baked goods

> > and continental breakfast.

> >

> > So I'd like to ask your advice about travel in these countries. I

> > wouldn't mind talking to someone who has gone there.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Bill

> >

>

[Guest guest]

If they were made under codex laws, a small amount of low gluten wheat

starch is added to a lot of these items. Some but not all of the bread

products I found at Sainsburies were codex standard. This allows for

gluten containing grains to be rendered " gluten free " then added to

something which can be then labeled gluten free. However, if something

is labeled " naturally free of gluten " then it definitely had no gluten

ingredients ever.

I know this is a somewhat duplicate post, but I say this email after

the first one. Codex labeling is a little complicated, but hopefully

they will revamp it soon, as its been around since the 70's.

> >

> > Hello All,

> >

> > I will soon be a tourist in Belgium, England, France, and Holland.

> > I'm new to gluten-free, with help from Health Now Medical in

> > Sunnyvale. My two travel companions are not GF.

> >

> > I bought some GF " dining cards " online, and my French is good enough

> > to request sans gluten. But I really have no experience at this and

> > don't know what to expect. I'm sure we will be offered baked goods

> > and continental breakfast.

> >

> > So I'd like to ask your advice about travel in these countries. I

> > wouldn't mind talking to someone who has gone there.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Bill

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I have always found London to be accessible as long as you don't expect to

use the underground tube to get around. Taxis are wheelchair accessible

though.

Sent from my phone

On 15 Nov 2010, at 03:30, Delphine s <deliza05@...> wrote:

Hello Everybody,

I don't write much but I am an avid reader. I always enjoy hearing

from people who go through the same struggles and triumphs as I do.

I am currently in a masters program and will finish up this spring. To

celebrate, I would like to take a trip to London and Paris. The

challenge is I do use a motorized wheelchair so I am worried about

general accessibility in the cities. Also, I am worried about the long

flight. I am pretty used to flying and fly probably several times a

year. But they are normally short enough flights where I can just hold

my bladder. I don't think my bladder is strong enough for an 8+ hour

flight. I wanted to see if anyone out there had any suggestions or

recommendations.

Best,

Delphine

--

Delphine s

Roy H. Park Graduate Fellow

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

deliza05@... <deliza05%40gmail.com>

[Guest guest]

Don't forget about some sort of power adapter or converter for the different

voltages and plug outlets in Europe for charging your chair.

>

> Hello Everybody,

>

> I don't write much but I am an avid reader. I always enjoy hearing

> from people who go through the same struggles and triumphs as I do.

>

> I am currently in a masters program and will finish up this spring. To

> celebrate, I would like to take a trip to London and Paris. The

> challenge is I do use a motorized wheelchair so I am worried about

> general accessibility in the cities. Also, I am worried about the long

> flight. I am pretty used to flying and fly probably several times a

> year. But they are normally short enough flights where I can just hold

> my bladder. I don't think my bladder is strong enough for an 8+ hour

> flight. I wanted to see if anyone out there had any suggestions or

> recommendations.

>

> Best,

> Delphine

>

> --

> Delphine s

> Roy H. Park Graduate Fellow

> School of Journalism and Mass Communication

> The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

> deliza05@...

>