Experiencing Spain as a Sick Person

This post could also be titled “Not Experiencing Spain as a Sick Person.”

In a week of being sick I missed - one trip to the royal palace, a dance class, a flamenco show, two days of class and a few dinners with friends. It so happened I managed to fall ill on a busy week. Since my immune system manages to fail me once every two months at home, I figured I might as well take this chance (?) to reflect on what its like to have a cold here. It is part of life after all - well at least mine. 

• Taking the metro is quite an experience. Being underground makes your ears pop, and the stairs seem extra traitorous when your head is spinning
• Since many Spaniards smoke (a topic worth a post), walking in any public area is potentially dangerous normally, but especially so with a stuffy nose and cough. 
• Medicine is sold in strange forms - ibuprofen you drink, por ejemplo. 
• There are really weird thoughts about air conditioning here (also worth a post). When I told the doctor I had a cough, the first thing he did was turn it off. Also, my host family tried to explain one day that maybe my roommate had gotten sick because the air conditioning in the metro was so cold. 

Thankfully, I’m feeling better and ready to be done with this ‘learning experience!’