Cough, Cough, Being Sick Abroad Sucks!

Hola…

I type this while my long-abandoned peppermint tea, medicine boxes, and used tissues look sadly at me. Being sick abroad is not something to play with. It is natural, of course, but it is also deeply weakening. You are not feeling physically at your best, your defenses are low, your mood decreases by the sneeze, and all you really want is a homemade meal and a hug from mom. Ugh, not nice! Some things have solutions, like being able to get a chicken soup delivered, but the TLC (tender, love, and care) is quite complicated to make up for. 

I’ll give you my best advice: what I’m glad I did and what I wish I had done. To begin with, don’t overestimate your health. You will, most likely, get sick. I don’t care if you haven’t had a fever since 5th grade— weather changes, constant movement, and lack of routine will get to you. 

Advice #1- Bring a medicine kit. Medicine abroad is named differently and sometimes harder to get (might need a doctor’s note or something), so bring the essentials ( anything that can help with headaches, stomachaches, cramps, sore throat, body pain, dehydration, flu, fever, eye/ear drops…). 

Advice #2- If you feel that you might get sick soon or that you pushed it too hard last weekend, brace yourself. Start drinking electrolytes, teas, take an emergenC or ginger shot… whatever rocks your boat, but do it! 

Advice #3- Get food! You won’t want to cook or do much, so having a small stack of instant soups, tuna cans, frozen bagels/waffles, and some treats will be incredibly helpful. Personally, I never let my Lindt/Milka stack run low. Great to get your sugar up as well as your mood ;).Nourishment is key to improving your health; the healthier the food you keep close, the better. Nonetheless, fed is best, so just make sure you have edible (nourishing) things around. 

Advice #4- Be aware of your program’s absence dynamics and the doctor’s list. There are resources everywhere; make sure you know what yours are. Even though getting sick is very impractical, be as practical as you can by knowing who and how to notify your teachers. Now, on emotional matters. I send you the biggest of hugs, because sick frustration is horrible, and it increases homesickness by one thousand times. 

FYI, it’s totally okay to FaceTime your loved ones crying. Won’t solve much, but the emotional channel needs to be let out, or it will just be as consuming as that migraine. There’s no solution to that matter, but I’ve learned to be a steady companion for myself. Wrapping myself in a cozy blanket, lights out, fulfilling my cravings of the moment, putting on my favorite show, napping nonstop, wearing that over-sized over-worn t-shirt… those are ways to love yourself too. You never get used to it, but I have learned how to make my life easier whenever I’m away from home (which has been most of the year for four years now, so I am a reliable source ;)). 

Yet, the most important thing is to listen to yourself. Pay close attention to your needs and what your body is telling you. If you are lucky enough and have managed to create a community abroad, let yourself be taken care of. You are not annoying or boring just because you have to slow down your pace; you’ll thank yourself soon enough. You are far away, don’t let yourself forget the harsh truth: If you don’t take care of yourself, nobody else will. 

Put yourself first. Take care.

Xoxo,

Viv