I have been in Glasgow for just over ten days now, and I have already learned the toughest lesson of all: I am not untouchable. 

I’ve spent the past five years holding my head up high knowing that I can proudly say I never got COVID. That has now been taken away from me. Sickness doesn’t care that I am 4,300 miles away from my parents, who could have made me soup and brought me tissues in bed. Sickness doesn’t feel bad that I wanted to explore the city my first week and take so many pictures that my fingers practically fall off. Sickness definitely does not care that this was the one time I really, really didn’t want to get sick. 

It started a few days after I arrived, which doesn’t sound too bad because at least I was able to get adjusted first, right? Actually, I spent those few days not only taking my health for granted but also sleeping all day long because my body just could not manage to get used to the seven-hour time difference. 

When I woke up to a sore throat one morning (or afternoon if I want to be fully transparent), I knew it was game over. I looked in every store for some cough drops and ibuprofen, which didn’t end up doing much because it was way too late. When packing, I made the conscious choice to avoid medicine at all costs because there’s no way I would need it. I haven’t been sick in so long, why would it happen now? The obvious answer to that question would clearly be that I spent nine hours on a tiny plane with hundreds of sick people, but at the time, I was convinced I’d be invincible. 

I quickly became bedridden from what I assumed was your average cold. I kept taking the weird off-brand ibuprofen I found and eating cough drops like candy, but they still weren’t doing anything. I felt worse with each day, my head was pounding with a pain I’ve never experienced before, and I had no appetite at all. All these factors combined made it impossible for me to leave my bed. I became a hermit, but not by choice. I looked out my window in envy at all the people having fun for what felt like way longer than five days. 

Somehow, the sore throat and loss of smell and taste weren’t obvious signs to me that this wasn’t just a cold. I finally found myself buying COVID tests on a whim while at the store buying a gallon of soup when I finally remembered what hunger felt like. Seeing the two lines on the test was such a bizarre experience because I felt justified for sleeping so much and doing nothing all day, but I also felt defeated. 

Something I weirdly took so much pride in was now gone, just like that. I had been fighting COVID unknowingly by myself in a new country. I didn’t have my support system by my side or anyone to check up on me. I felt so incredibly alone. 

Of course, anything can happen, but I just didn’t think the bad things would happen to me. I wanted my first week to be everything I had dreamt up in my head. But the truth is, people get sick, travel takes a toll on your body and immune system, and not every week will be the best week. 

On the bright side, the beautiful view from my window made up for the sights I have yet to see from being stuck in my room. My camera roll has too many pictures of this exact angle, though, so I look forward to finally getting some more variety. I am now healthy again and plan not to take it for granted this time. 

This helped me learn not to be so hard on myself as I adjust to my life here. I just need to take it one day at a time, and hopefully, none of those days will be full of sickness anymore. 

Classes have now begun so kindly as soon as I get better. I look forward to learning Scottish literature, archeology, and history both inside and outside of class as I can now finally begin my adventures in Glasgow. 

My point in explaining my exciting week of being sick and doing nothing is to prove to myself and to you that it’s okay that things don’t go perfectly. To me, that’s what going abroad is all about: Navigating and adapting. Sometimes you just get sick and can’t do anything about it. Now is the part that counts, though. While I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone else their first week (or really any week) while abroad, I at least know that it is only uphill from here.