When I was a kid, my family traveled around the world. I’ve written multiple posts about how we were able to do that so read THIS if you’re interested. Aside from family trips, my parents sent me on a few trips with People to People, an international travel organization for students. I went on three trips with groups of students from the Los Angeles area to Canada, Australia, and Japan. We had packed itineraries where the goal was education about different cultures. It was an incredible experience. And, it was also my first experiences traveling without my parents, which led to some funny stories and realizations.

One of my mom’s favorites happened while I was in Australia. My parents gave me a preloaded Visa credit card – a concept I clearly did not understand. During the middle of my trip, I burned through all of my money. I remember calling my mom completely worried and confused about why my card wasn’t working. I couldn’t buy anything! She calmed me down and gently said the card probably ran out of money. I responded with “it can run out???” It was then that I learned how debit cards worked!  Budgeting 101.

Japan was unlike anywhere I’d ever been…

Anyway, this post is not about my Australia trip. This post is about my final People to People trip to Japan. I was 13 years old and had never been to Asia. The food of Japan remains my biggest culture shock moment. I had no idea what to expect, especially from the Japanese food. I didn’t know what I was eating half the time. Everything that I did try was delicious. Still, I will never get used to sardines for breakfast.

Without further ago, I want to showcase some Japanese meals that I was completely awed by when I was 13 years old. I took pictures of so many meals because they were so different than what I was used to. Japanese food really taught me how to be adventurous and open minded! Please enjoy these low quality food photos and what I thought was smiling when I was 13!

This was served for breakfast. I still don’t know what it was. If anyone knows, please tell me! Yet again, my 13 year old photography skills strike again. This is the only photo I have.

Moral of the story: bring your kids to Japan because their entire world will be blown by the food alone…not to mention the culture, religion, scenery, temples, etc. I loved Japan! It was honestly one of the most eye-opening trips I ever took, so bring your kids! Do you recognize some of these foods? Did you expect fish to be at every meal? Raw tofu — yay or nay?

For more kid-traveler posts & travel stories, read these:

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