For what I think are obvious reasons, the subject of health has been on my mind this week. From being proud of myself for completing an all-day bike ride through town and thinking that my body was in good shape, to being knocked down and assuming the fetal position the next night due to a stomach bug.
Now that I am feeling better, and after talking a few people who offered their sympathies by telling me how they had been sick lately, I started feeling very lucky. Getting hit by a stomach bug can happen to anyone, anywhere (right Beth?) and not just in Thailand.
But, I started to realize that in the past 5+ years I have lived here, I have been more or less healthy. I have certainly had fewer illnesses than when I used to live in the U.S. I don't get colds, haven't had an earache, or pneumonia, or bronchitis. I used to have vicious fights with my allergies, but I haven't had a single "episode" since I moved here to Thailand.
I wonder why that is. Of course we don't have Winter here, so that definitely helps. But perhaps the Thai versions of pollen and dust and mold and all of the other things that used to drive my sinuses crazy are different than what they are in the States. And even with the less-than-ideal air pollution in Bangkok, my lungs have stayed relatively clear.
Hopefully I am not inviting catastrophe by writing this post, but I have just been feeling very lucky that my few bouts of food poisoning are really the only major problem I have had. And that right there is reason enough to stick around a while longer.
Interesting observation. I think the thing about allergies is right. A doctor told me that there are different allergens regionally and when I moved from SF to KC I noticed that I picked up hay fever I had never had before. Maybe allergic to cows?
Anyhow, I've found since I moved here I'm rarely really sick but have kind of low level "unease" more frequently, probably brought on by food and water. Nothing serious, though. (crossed fingers)
Goodness gracious, Mr. Blogger. A post a day for the whole week? Well, if you get one in tomorrow...which is probably now already.
I never thought about allergens being different from place to place. Of course, it makes sense, but I just never thought of it.
I don't think Karma will pick on you for saying you haven't been sick. And even so, there really isn't anything you can do about it. :)
My ex-wife had horrible allergies and her doctor told her about regional differences in allergens. Whenever we went to Florida, California, Texas, etc. she was fine, but when we came back to PA the allergies kicked right back in. Can't wait until I'm in Thailand - good bye hayfever!