Life on the runway can be exhilarating, but it can also leave you with an “if it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium” feeling. One of the most challenging aspects of being on the move—and out of the country— is staying sane and healthy.
Eileen:
So, I’m not going to talk about getting bedbugs in Santa Cruz, Chile, or that unintentional toxin cleanse in Ecuador. I can definitively say that being sick when traveling is way up there on the misery index scale.
Mike:
Agreed! You gave me a hard time about my traveling assortment of remedies (Z-Pack/Zithromax, Hydrocortisone Cream, ibuprofen….). You also promised to be my best friend forever if I could supply a regular dose of anti-diarrheal pills during that 13-hour train ride that will remain forever etched in our memories.
Eileen:
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about! But, moving on, it’s been reassuring that in every city we’ve been, expat connections had great doctor recommendations—English-speaking, highly competent, and sometimes trained in U.S. institutions. And fees for a doctor’s visit were typically much lower than what you’d pay in the States.
Mike:
Fortunately, we haven’t needed to use it, but it’s been good to know we have travelers insurance that includes all-important medical evacuation (World Nomads) just in case. I thought it was surprisingly affordable.
Eileen:
Obviously, the trick is to not get sick in the first place. Even though there are cities where locals say the tap water is safe, I don’t trust it. And it’s easy to forget that the ice in your Mojito could be made from the very same water you’re avoiding.
Mike:
For those of us concerned with leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible, it’s great to carry a reusable water bottle around wherever you go.
Eileen:
Maintaining a healthy diet when we’re traveling is sometimes challenging for me, especially since I don’t eat meat or chicken. Some cultures seem to treat fried, greasy foods as a separate food group and, especially in Mexico, every panadería seemed to be calling my name.
Mike:
But so many of the countries in Central and South America have an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables. Remember those enormous avocados and mangoes in Cartagena?
Eileen:
Do I ever! And I loved trying some of the more exotic fruit not found in the States, like cherimoya and guanabana.
Mike:
Part of staying healthy for me is being physically active. I’ve never really been a runner, but exploring cities on foot has come closest to moderate exercise. The health applications in our phones do a good job tracking things like walking.
Eileen:
Yes, they do. And thank you for not pointing out that a certain someone is mildly obsessed with getting in her 10,000 steps a day. She appreciates it.
Staying healthy when you’re traveling? Let us know some of your tips for success.
by: Mike & Eileen Brill-Wagner
