Overseas and Under The Weather

After just short of 2 years of planning I'm off on my semester abroad to Valencia, Spain. From long flights to new friends it's already been an amazing journey and I've only been here one week! Let me give you a run down. Highlights... orange trees grow everywhere; They fill the city with a sweet citrus smell and summery charm. The buildings are colorful and each one is just perfectly different from the other, filling your eyes with an all you can eat buffet. There's a strong sense of community and livelihood in the city, from outdoor seating around every corner accompanied by the harmonies of laughter and friendship. There's a special energy here, that's for sure. What if I told you that as much as I love the city... it might not love me back.

It was my seventh day here, and I was adjusting from the jet lag and long days exploring Spain. After spending a chill day with a friend at a cafe and strolling around I decided to take a yoga class! What could be more relaxing right!? After an hour of downward dog, chair pose, and a nice long Shavasana, I was left with the opposite my usual post yoga zen. I was cold and I couldn't get warm. "Should've gone to hot yoga," I thought as I hopped on the bus home. On the bus ride, my body just wouldn't sync up with my eager to take on the world mindset and I was feeling nauseous. Still refusing to face reality, I figured it was hunger and made my dinner. Halfway through, I was queasy and covered in pins and needles. It was straight to the bathroom where I took up residence for most of the night. By morning I hadn't kept a thing down and I was exhausted. With classes starting the next day I figured my best option was to see a doctor in hopes for an IV and to confirm that I hadn't contracted whatever death sentence google was telling me I had.

The Spanish ER was efficient and even too straight forward to my zombie like state, I ended up missing my number and waiting an extra 45 minutes... oops. By the time I got seen, my prognosis was a stomach virus and they started me on IV fluids and antibiotics. The one tip I have for any female identifying travelers that may end up in a Spanish hospital is wear a bra! I ended up fully flashing the doctor when he took my breath sounds... talk about a thorough exam! I slept through my first bag of liquids and when I woke for the second, I had some life in me to notice that nearly all the doctors and nurses were more far more attractive than I expected(what is in the water here...?). It was like Grey's Anatomy in there, come on now! I was by no means complaining, I only wish that I spoke more Spanish.

As I finished up my IV liquids the doctor returned with my blood test results, it was indeed a common stomach virus, how about that google. All in a week's work I had gotten the full tour of the beautiful Valencian beaches, surfed the waves, eaten the fresh fruit and yummy tapas, embraced the language and culture, and gotten to know the ins and outs of a Spanish ER. I guess you could say I've had the full Spanish experience!

Looking forward to many other adventures during my Semester Abroad, until next time!

Signing off,

Aili Bauman