đ Living Abroad with Celiac Disease: My Journey and How I Adapted in Ireland
Living abroad can evoke a mix of emotions â excitement, fear, curiosity, and sometimes loneliness. Whether youâre an international student or a professional expat, adapting to a new country is never easy. Challenge, adaptation, and resilience become everyday words in your vocabulary.
But what happens when life adds another challenge to your experience abroad?
Thatâs exactly what happened to me in 2021, when I was diagnosed with celiac disease while living in Ireland.
Understanding Celiac Disease
For those who might not know, celiac disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition where the immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This reaction damages the lining of the small intestine, where nutrients are absorbed, and can lead to malnutrition if untreated.
Basically, the only âtreatmentâ is a strict gluten-free diet â no bread, pasta, cookies, or even sauces that might contain traces of gluten. At first, it sounds overwhelming. And to be honest, it was.
The Diagnosis
It all started during the pandemic, after a few years of big life changes, moving from Brazil to Ireland, studying, working, and adapting to a new lifestyle. When I received the diagnosis, I felt both scared and uncertain about how I would handle it while living abroad, away from family support.
In Ireland, the first step to getting diagnosed with celiac disease is through a blood test at your GP (General Practitioner). If positive, your GP can refer you to a dietitian for professional guidance.
You can learn more about this process here: Is it Coeliac Disease?
The First Challenge: Adapting My Daily Life
Once I understood what the disease meant, I realised I had to completely rethink my eating habits and kitchen routine. I had to buy separate utensils, pots, pans, and a toaster to avoid cross-contamination â something that, at first, felt overwhelming.
Going to friendsâ houses, family events, or restaurants became another challenge. I often had to bring my own food and explain to others what celiac disease was and why I couldnât âjust have a little bit.â
But with time, I learned that adaptation is possible, and Ireland makes it easier than I expected.
Ireland: A Gluten-Free Friendly Country
Ireland is surprisingly gluten-free friendly! Most supermarkets have dedicated gluten-free shelves and plenty of labeled products.
Lidl has a small but good gluten-free section. Some products arenât labeled as gluten-free, but you can find the full list in PDF format on their website: Lidl Gluten-Free Range.- Tesco is my top choice. They have a wide variety of clearly labeled gluten-free items and multiple shelves dedicated to them. Check it out here: Tesco Gluten-Free Products.
My Biggest Surprise: The Taste!
One of my first worries was how gluten-free food would taste. But to my surprise, most gluten-free products taste almost the same as regular ones! Over time, I got used to cooking my own meals and even started enjoying discovering new recipes.
My biggest challenge wasnât the food itself. It was changing my mindset. I had to accept my new condition, communicate it confidently, and make it part of my lifestyle instead of a limitation.
Life, Travel, and Social Life with Celiac Disease
Living abroad with celiac disease doesnât mean giving up your social life or passion for travel. You can do everything â you just need to plan a bit more.
When going to a pub, check if they offer gluten-free beer or cider. Before visiting a restaurant, research if itâs a celiac-friendly restaurant in Dublin or wherever you are. When travelling abroad, plan ahead â research gluten-free restaurants and grocery stores at your destination.
With time, planning becomes second nature. Youâll see that living gluten-free abroad is not a restriction. Itâs a lifestyle choice that makes you healthier and more aware of your body.
Final Thoughts
At first, I thought my celiac diagnosis would make living abroad harder. But it actually made me stronger, more organised, and grateful for how inclusive Ireland is.
If youâve just been diagnosed with celiac disease or youâre planning to study or live abroad, donât let fear stop you. Itâs totally possible to live a full, exciting, and gluten-free life abroad.
Stay with me in my next posts! Iâll share practical tips on travelling in Europe gluten-free, eating out safely in Dublin, and navigating life abroad with celiac disease.
đ My First Trip Abroad from Ireland: Flying from Dublin to Milan, Italy
đ My First Trip Abroad from Ireland: Flying from Dublin to Milan, Italy
When you live in Ireland, traveling to another country in Europe is surprisingly easy â especially if youâre European or have a valid visa. Itâs just a matter of researching flight tickets, finding accommodation, and deciding what to do in the cities you want to visit.
My first international trip from Ireland happened in April 2018, when I flew from Dublin to Milan, Italy. It was my first time traveling within Europe â and as you can imagine, I was excited and a little nervous at the same time!
âïž Choosing the Airline: Ryanair, the Famous Low-Cost Option
I booked my flight with Ryanair, an Irish low-cost airline company founded in 1984. Ryanair is extremely popular among students and travelers because it frequently offers flight deals on its website.
And no â Iâm not being paid to say this đ. Itâs just true that Ryanair is one of the most used airlines in Europe, especially for short trips.
However, my perception of âlow-costâ airlines completely changed after that first flight. Coming from Brazil, I expected something similar to Brazilian low-cost airlines back in 2018 â but it was a bit different!
When I sat down and realized my seat didnât recline, I thought it was broken. I even called the flight attendant to check. Thatâs when I noticed â none of the seats reclined! Thatâs how Ryanair keeps prices so low.
Another surprise: even water is paid separately. So yes, the flights are cheap, but you need to be smart about what you bring.
Hereâs what I learned from that first experience:
đĄ Travel tip: Bring your own snacks and an empty water bottle to fill at Dublin Airport (there are free water refill stations near the boarding gates).
đŒ Bag rule: Youâre allowed one small personal bag (40x30x20cm) that must fit under the seat. You can read Ryanairâs full baggage rules here.
đ Important: Visa and Passport Checks
If youâre not European, even if you have a valid visa, Ryanair may ask you to go to the check-in counter before security to verify your passport and visa. Theyâll stamp your boarding pass to allow you to board.
However, this rule doesnât apply to flights between Ireland and the UK. And if youâre flying with Aer Lingus, another Irish airline (founded in 1936), you usually wonât need to do this visa check either.
đș Other Flight Options
If you prefer a more comfortable flight experience, Aer Lingus is a great alternative. The seats are more comfortable, and the overall service is better â but the ticket price is also higher.
Personally, I always check Skyscanner before booking any flight. Itâs one of my favorite tools to compare flight prices, durations, and airlines â perfect if youâre living in Ireland and want to explore Europe on a budget.
đźđč My First Destination: Milan, Italy
That first week in Milan was unforgettable. It was my first real âEuropean adventure.â The food, the architecture, and the energy of the city made me fall in love with travel even more.
During that week, I also visited Venice, which was only a few hours away. But thatâs a story for another post đ.
đŹ Final Thoughts
Traveling from Ireland to other European countries is simple, fast, and affordable â especially once you understand how low-cost airlines work. Whether you want to visit Italy, Spain, France, or any other destination, planning ahead makes all the difference.
Your travel experience will depend on your budget, how many days youâll stay abroad, and your comfort preferences. But no matter your style â the adventure is always worth it!
âïž Why I Decided to Study and Move to Ireland and How I Prepared for It
What Iâm going to say here might sound clichĂ©, but letâs be honest â moving to another country is not easy. Everyone knows (or at least imagines) how challenging it can be.
I want to share my personal experience, because whenever I talk to friends who also live abroad, I realise we all go through similar emotions â the excitement, the doubts, and the countless decisions that shape this journey.
đ How Long Does It Take to Prepare to Move Abroad?
The time it takes to plan your move and get everything ready to live in another country varies for each person. Some people organize everything in two months, others in eight months or even a year or more.
In my case, I decided to enrol in an English course in Ireland just 10 weeks before my flight to Dublin.
Yes, thatâs not much time â and many would call it crazy! After all, itâs not only about studying abroad. You need to prepare documents, arrange accommodation, manage finances, and mentally prepare to start from zero in a new country.
đźđȘ Why I Chose Ireland
Before taking the leap, I had to decide where I could see myself living and studying.
I chose Dublin, Ireland, for several reasons:
- Itâs an English-speaking country in the European Union.
- International students can study English and work part-time (20 hours per week).
- After completing a degree, itâs possible to apply for the Graduate Work Visa (Stamp 1G), which allows graduates to stay and work in Ireland.
(Iâll explain more about this visa in another post â but you can read about it on the official Irish Immigration website here.)
Another important factor was that Brazil is a non-visa-required country for short-term studies in Ireland. That meant I didnât need to apply for a visa before travelling, although I still had to present supporting documents on arrival.
You can check the list of visa and non-visa-required nationalities here.
đŒ Opportunities and Lifestyle in Ireland
Beyond study options, Ireland is full of opportunities â especially for professionals in tech and business. Dublin and Cork are often called the âEuropean Silicon Valleyâ, hosting companies like Google, Meta, and LinkedIn.
And, of course, the weather played a role in my decision too! Ireland isnât as cold as Canada and not as hot as Australia. Winters are chilly but manageable, and spring and summer are absolutely beautiful (even if the rain never takes a break 
).
How I Researched and Organized My Move
Once I decided to study in Dublin, I began researching English schools thoroughly.
Hereâs what helped me most:
- Checking Google and Facebook reviews of schools;
- Joining student groups online to get real opinions;
- Scheduling video calls with student recruiters â which I highly recommend, as it adds trust and clarity.
If youâre planning to study an undergraduate or postgraduate program, the process is similar: research universities, contact them directly, and always verify the information with official sources.
You can also work with education agencies, but make sure to check their reviews and reputation before making any payment.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, deciding to study and move to Ireland was one of the best choices of my life. It wasnât easy â and it certainly took courage â but it opened doors I never imagined possible.
If youâre thinking about studying abroad, take time to plan, research, and prepare. But donât let fear hold you back. Sometimes, the right decision isnât the easiest one â itâs the one that changes your life.
The 29th of September, 2017, is a day Iâll never forget. I arrived at Dublin Airport around 11 p.m., and even though the night wasnât too cold, the air was thick and humid, filled with the kind of energy that makes you feel something special is about to begin. That was the day my story in Ireland started.
Coming from Brazil, I had dreamed for years about studying and living abroad, but it took me a few tries to make it happen. In 2017, I finally decided to take the leap â to leave my comfort zone, improve my English, and begin a new chapter studying in Ireland.
After completing my English course, I enrolled in a specialisation in International Business at an Irish university. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Studying abroad opened my mind, expanded my worldview, and gave me valuable professional skills. Later, I had the chance to work at Accenture, contributing to an international project for a major social network. It was an incredible experience that strengthened my global perspective.
Of course, living in Ireland hasnât been just about opportunities. Itâs also been about challenges. One of the biggest ones came in 2021, when I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Discovering that I could no longer eat gluten was overwhelming at first â but over time, I learned that itâs absolutely possible to live a full and healthy life abroad with dietary restrictions.
Ireland, to my surprise, turned out to be an incredibly Celiac-friendly country. In Dublin, you can easily find gluten-free restaurants, products, and communities that make this journey easier.
Thatâs why I decided to create Rodrigo Coutinho Abroad, a bilingual space where I share my experiences studying abroad in Ireland, navigating life as an expat in Dublin, travelling through Europe, and adapting to a gluten-free lifestyle while living abroad.
My goal is to help international students, travellers, and people with Celiac disease feel informed, confident, and inspired to follow their own paths abroad.
So, are you ready to join me on this journey? đ
Letâs explore, learn, and live abroad together!