Before leaving for the World Race, you have so many things you have to put in order. From legal matters, to one final dental cleaning, to shopping for small odds and ends, there are enough tasks to make your head spin, and keep your mind always working.
Well, one task that I dreaded from the very beginning was going to the doctor. And not just any doctor, this was the travel doctor. I hadn’t been to Haiti in quite a few years, so I knew that some of my shots were going to be due. (No thank you!) But I went anyways, because just like anyone else, I had no desire to get any sort of disease while traipsing the globe.
So, a few days after training camp, mom and I went to go and visit the travel clinic. To my dismay I had to get two shots, but it was no big deal. (Other than the fact that I totally fainted in the office….twice.)
So along with that, he gave me loads of advice about do’s and don’ts of traveling abroad. I left that office feeling perfectly knowledgeable about everything that I was to face and how to care for myself properly.
As most anyone who has ever left the country knows, once you leave, you tend to get a little bit lax on all the “rules” that your well-meaning doctor gave. And being gone for now nearly 9 months, I think its only getting worse. So, I thought I’d give you a list of all the things I’ve done that go against everything my doctor told me..
– Brush your teeth with the water. I’ve done this in almost every country I’ve been to..its just such a drag to use bottled water.
– Drink tap water. Month one I broke this rule just about every single day…and I didn’t even get sick!
– Walk around barefoot. Apparently you can pick up parasites through your feet pretty easily, but these feet just can’t be contained by shoes 24/7. (However, I am pretty selective as to where I actually go barefoot. I’ve seen some pretty nasty things on the street!)
– Walk through standing water. This situation was once again, month one. It couldn’t be helped.
– Swim in fresh water. Its hard to go to some beautiful waterfall and not jump in with your friends. I know, peer pressure….
– Pet animals. There is no way that I could go 11 months without touching a single animal. Besides, street dogs need love too!
– Eat street food. Some of the best food I have had on the race has been from the street. No regrets.
– Get a piercing. Don’t worry, it was all very hygienic. But, it was a little similar to my doctors office experience, in that I did faint. Ugh.
– Skip malaria pills. Some months I’m a real stickler about taking them daily. Other months, I just don’t really care. So far, so good!
– Get a tattoo. I fainted for this one too.
And that’s all I can think of for now. There’s still time. Who knows what I’ll do next!
