1) Hi Nada, can you tell us what you've been up to since graduating from THINK Global School in 2022? Since graduating in 2022, I've been pursuing a passion I found while at TGS, sustainability, and I am currently majoring in engineering in renewable energy systems at Al Akhawayn University, in Ifrane, Morocco. But there is way more than that! I've had a chance also to explore the world of...
Read MoreThere are 28 students in our school. About 1/5 of them are vegetarian, pescatarian or vegan, which means that they can’t eat certain animal products. And allow me to state this to you, Japan is not a good place to do that. Sushi? Nope. Ramen? Nope. And then there is a problem with the fact that our Japanese skills are non-existent. So we go to restaurants, trying to communicate our weird demands using body language and our broken Japanese. While others just point to the menu, we act insane, crossing our arms, shouting a series of no meat, no fish, etc. And then, after annoying everyone around us, we often end up ordering just rice or eating Italian. Looking for restaurants is always a nightmare when you try to satisfy both the people with dietary restrictions and the meat-lovers. Usually, both sides become frustrated with each other whenever they have to eat out together.
Image Credit: Croissant Marche
There is, however, one place in Hiroshima, where both groups have found food that satisfies them. We now call it “the vegan place,” but its real name is “Croissant Marché.” It is an organic food store that also offers healthy lunch sets. It has one item on the menu and just five seats. No one there speaks English, but it doesn’t matter because the only thing you have to do is show the number of people who want a meal and smile. The lunch changes every week, but it usually consists of a few types of vegetables, tofu, tea, and rice. Instead of salt or soy sauce, you are given sesame seeds to put on the rice, which is something you immediately fall in love with.
Image Credit: Croissant Marche
During our time in Hiroshima, I went there almost every day. With time, more and more people started coming, either to buy organic food or to get lunch. It became one of those places like the Sequel in India, where you know you will meet someone from TGS if you go there. The vegan place is perfect for anyone who wants good food and some peace and quiet in the middle of the day. The atmosphere created by the Japanese couple who owns it makes everyone feel welcome, no matter where you from and what your diet is.