The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away from Home, Second Edition: Making a New Life Abroad (30 page)
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Authors: Rosanne Knorr
The Well-Stocked Portable Medicine Chest Includes
Your prescriptions
Antibacterial ointment
Antiseptic soap
Adhesive tape and bandages
Antidiarrheal, such as Imodium A-D
Aspirin or aspirin-free pain reliever
Cold medication
Cotton swabs
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Thermometer
Dos and Don’ts for Food and Drink
Some areas of the world require extra vigilance in maintaining your health. Others won’t require any more attention than in the States. The following are general recommendations. Investigate your specific destination for requirements.
• Drink bottled water when you travel, unless you know the water is safe and you’ve become accustomed to it. Even in the United States different mineral concentrations could upset a tender stomach, so better safe than sorry.
• In some underdeveloped countries such as Mexico, do not drink tap water, use ice cubes made from it, or brush your teeth with it. Use bottled water.
• Only eat fruits that you’ve peeled yourself.
• In areas where water safety is questionable, do not eat uncooked vegetables or salads.
• Eat only meats, fish, or shellfish that have been cooked—never raw or undercooked.
• Take a supply of iodine tablets for use where potable water is scarce.
Protecting Your Person and Property
We come out of the dark and go into the dark again and in between lie the experiences of our life
.
—Thomas Mann
Fear is sometimes cited as a reason to avoid traveling overseas, whether it’s fear of the unknown language and customs, fear of being lost on a frozen tundra (never mind that you intend to go to the Caribbean), or simply fear of doing something
different
, something far away from the life you’ve lived for decades.
Some of this is entirely normal and to be expected. It’s not, however, a reason to frighten yourself out of having a fabulous experience overseas. Sure, be sensible, but the facts are such that, with a little bit of preparation, going overseas isn’t any more daunting or dangerous than a trip within the States.
Murder and mayhem, in general, are not nearly as prevalent overseas as some people imagine. In fact, the United States consistently leads the world in deaths by guns. In many of the areas most midlifers select for their adventures, random acts of violence are much less common. In Britain, guns are outlawed completely. In most Western European countries, rifles are common for hunting but handguns are not. Terrorism happens, yes, but it’s occurred within our borders as well. Most people reading this book are not planning to live in war-torn areas, and the odds of your being in a specific locale at a time when a terrorist strikes are low.
Your major concern in most locales overseas will be petty crimes. You might fear for your passport or wallet, but not your life. (This is assuming you’re not planning on running away to retire in a drug lord’s stronghold.)
Just as in the United States, small towns tend to be safer than large cities or tourist spots. Hordes of tourists attract pickpockets like candy does a child. If you’re heading for a major city or other tourist attraction, be more aware and careful. As when traveling in the United States, common sense usually wins out.