Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
December 6, 2022
“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Jaicy Elliot said she had to postpone some travel plans early in the pandemic, but she’s got a few trips she’d like to take in the near future. “I am so looking forward to visiting Hawaii soon,” said Elliot, who plays Dr. Taryn Helm on the medical series. “I have a visit planned and I’m pulling out all the stops to make it the ultimate trip. Something tells me it won’t disappoint.” Elliot, 29, added that having a flexible itinerary always makes her trips more enjoyable. “I like to look up everything worth exploring and then go day by day on what we feel like doing,” she said. “Keeping it loose makes it feel more like a vacation to me.” Elliot may also be seen in the holiday film, “My Southern Family Christmas,” on the Hallmark Channel.
Q: What are some of the places you were going to travel to during the pandemic that you had to cancel?
A: Before the pandemic, I had made a plan to go live in Mexico City for a while and take a Spanish class. I speak a little already, but I really wanted to be in an immersive experience to fully give myself the chance to hopefully become fluent. I’m disappointed that I had to miss it, but I know I will go for it in the future as soon as I can.
Q: Do you speak any other foreign languages?
A: Yes! I speak French, it’s actually my first language, so English is the foreign language for me. We were also required to learn a third language in school so I speak decent Italian. I am trying to learn Spanish. It’s crucial to me to know how to communicate properly with people around me and Spanish is everywhere in L.A., so I might as well learn while I’m here.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re traveling?
A: Airplane food. I know most people hate it, but I eat healthy all year long, so when I travel I enjoy some heavily-processed airplane food with a twist.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: These days I don’t get much time to go on a proper getaway, so I try to stay local. Lately we’ve been going to Idyllwild a lot. It’s close to Los Angeles, about an hour and a half drive, and it feels like a million miles away from the city. Being surrounded by trees feels like home. I grew up in the French Alps and sometimes I need to return to the mountains to reconnect to who I am at the core.
Q: Where have you visited for work that you went back to later for a vacation?
A: Recently I have traveled to Canada and Louisiana for work, but I haven’t gotten the chance to go back yet. New Orleans is definitely on my list. In a way, you could say that I came to Los Angeles for work but never left. There are so many things I love and hate about Los Angeles. It has a very specific subculture of its own that everyone taps into, yet a lot of people are not actually from here. It really feels like L.A. is what you make of it. I love all the different cultures you can find here. It’s a beautiful melting pot. It can be sunny or overwhelmingly blue-sky-monotone. It can be a party or hard-core hustling. It can be lonely or full of community. I have been fortunate enough to work here for the most part.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: I think people don’t know enough about Portugal. It’s beautiful! The food is so fresh, it’s cheap and the people are so welcoming and fun. They like to party! My sister just sent me a travel video about Sintra, which is near Lisbon, and I think it may be one of the most magical destinations I’ve ever heard of. I hope I get the chance to check it out.
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: We traveled a lot when I was a kid. I cannot say for sure what my first destination was, but one of my favorites was Ireland. We have family friends that come from Ireland and they own the most incredible manor there. We have been many times for Christmas and those remain, to this day, my fondest childhood memories.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A: I say to everyone and anyone who will listen that when you get out in the world, meet new people and hear their interesting stories, you realize that most people are good and just trying to do their best. Being open to the world will teach you about yourself and what it means to be human and connected.
Q: Where have you gone recently that you enjoyed?
A: Last summer, I went to Toronto for the first time and it quickly became one of my top-ranking cities. Life is so easily lived there. It’s a walkable, social city and the people are unbelievably nice. Everyone is so kind and open.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: I always bring a portable charger, ChapStick, sanitizer and nuts. You never know when you’re going to be in dire need of a snack. The idea is to be prepared for anything. I like to be able to keep going and explore as much as I can without needing to backtrack home.
© 2022 JAE-HA KIM
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