I think it might have been a waste of money.
Still, this morning, I visited the travel health clinic at Holy Spirit Hospital to get whatever vaccinations were recommended for my trip to Argentina.
The nurse who showed up -- after making me wait more than half an hour past my appointment time -- wanted to chat.
She doesn't travel herself, she said. She has two sons in college and she's paying for their educations with cash (must be nice -- I graduated with plenty in student loans).
In addition to worrying about contracting hepatitis, typhoid, yellow fever and malaria, I should also beware of wild animals. Rabies is a big problem, she said.
No wandering in caves, getting near bats or monkeys.
And stay away from water.
Never go barefoot on a foreign beach. Don't go in freshwater ponds or lakes. Only drink bottled water -- without the seal broken. And beware of street vendors.
I know you like to travel, she said. But don't be too adventurous.
She wanted to know my exact itinerary, but I could only give her a vague idea.
"We might take a ferry over to a colonial town in Uruguay for the day," I mentioned.
That sent her scurrying back to her office, in search of any and all precautions I needed to take for that country.
"It's just across the water, and we'll only be there for a day."
Doesn't matter, she said, printing off a list of things I needed to beware of for Uruguay.
And don't forget to take the phone numbers of the U.S. Embassies in each country. Leave a copy of the numbers with your parents.
First of all, maybe I've just had a streak of incredibly good luck, but I've taken four trips to various parts of Mexico and two to Ecuador and never gotten any shots or medicines. In Guayaquil, I ate ceviche from a street vendor for breakfast. In Mexico, I shunned touristy restaurants for local dives.
And I've never gotten ill.
I've walked on the sand of foreign beaches -- without shoes -- and kayaked and swam in freshwater. I've walked through caves and brushed my teeth with tap water. And I'm still here to tell about it.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not stupid.
I'm careful about what I eat and where I choose to eat it. I ask if my juice was made with filtered water and order it without ice cubes. I drink from straws rather than the cans and bottles themselves.
Maybe because I have traveled a lot, such precautions are common sense for me. Maybe because my nurse hadn't, she was overly paranoid.
If I have to move about in a bubble and stick to touristy hotels, restaurants, and group tours, how can I get a feel for the place I'm visiting?
What's the point of travel?
At least I got out of there before she told me not to have any fun.
Wow, sounds like my mother. Be careful, but don't hold back, Jen. :)
Some people are just too careful. Where's the fun in that? I remember in one of Rick Steves' book, he says he never wears flip-flops in the shower when he travels. You have more fun if you're smart, instead of overly paranoid!
Maybe because she is a healthcare provider and has seen individual cases of returning travelers that have engaged in those mentioned activities?
Because of HIPPA laws, she cannot disclose those individual cases but can use the knowledge gained during the patient history process to forewarn other travelers.
She forewarned you because in foreign countries, there are microorganisms which are foreign to the American body.
Think before we judge.
yo sis email me or call me. The enroller who sits next to me is from Argentina and I was asking her some places you should go and she has tons of suggestions for you but wants a better feel for where exactly you are going and what all you want to do while you are there. She gave me her home number for u to call her. She has family on the western side of Argentina she herself lived in the place u are probably flying into Buenes Aires or something like that anyways I'm excited for you. call me or email me I'm so bored!!!!!!!!!