Category: Health & Safety

Airplane Airborne Illnesses

Published on by Catherine BakerLeave a comment

To be completely honest, I did not think that I would get sick while here. How I was so very wrong (and naive). Just like at the University of Denver, students in Rennes have the privilege of experiencing a mysterious cold that comes, seemingly, out of nowhere and will probably last until everyone goes home for the holidays.

Now, am I surprised that I got sick? A little. Am I happy that my parents suggested that I bring some medication from home? Very much so. I have never appreciated NyQuil and DayQuil as much as I have in the past few days. During the day, I can go about my business as though nothing is happening to me, and, at night, I can go to sleep at 9 pm and wake up at 8 am without a problem.

Now, I know that I could go around blaming the fact that it was probably the combination of the university, being in a new country, and the fact that I haven’t been sleeping well, however, it wouldn’t be fair of me to rule out the likely possibility of my illness coming from travelling.

At the time that my last post was uploaded, I was in Copenhagen visiting my friend. This time allowed for me to cherish how easy it was for me to get from one place to another without have to spend a fortune on airplane tickets. However, clearly, it came at a cost.

Despite the illness I contracted while I was 35,000 feet in the air, I very much appreciated the simplicity and accessibility of budget airlines such as EasyJet and NorwegianAir that can take me from one country to another for only around 100 euros. I think that this is one culture shock that I will continue to appreciate. The easy access to other places lets people explore cities and countries they would not have access to otherwise. I think that this ability leads to more understanding and a more open world where people can appreciate beauty in different cultures, histories, and adventures that are unconventional or overlooked.

Despite the ongoing, overly persistent cough, I think that being able to take these adventures is an honor and privilege that are, at times, overlooked and taken for granted. And if you’re planning on going abroad next semester, or year, pack some medicine, it will help.

Sick in Kyoto

Published on by Katie SandovalLeave a comment

We took a summer break! This post is from July 7, 2025. It’s been tough to get anything done this past week as I’ve been stuck in my dorm with a nasty cold. Maybe it was the sudden changes in weather (rainy one day, hot the next) or maybe it was because I would sleep with my wet hair under the AC, but either way, it was really bad.

I’m usually the type to recover after about 2 days, so when I first felt a sore throat coming on, I didn’t think much of it, I even went swimming at Lake Biwako to celebrate my birthday. I probably should have actually stayed in my room and rested though.

The next day, after swimming, my symptoms got worse. My throat was so sore I couldn’t speak, I had a fever, nausea, a cough, and almost no energy. I ended up skipping most of my classes for the week except for one. That one class had a midterm, and even though I could’ve emailed the professor to reschedule, I just wanted to get it over with. So, I dragged myself out of bed, took the test, somehow got back to my room and fell asleep.

For the rest of the week, I stayed in my room, taking Tylenol that a friend gave me, sipping warm tea, and trying to take it easy. Thankfully, I didn’t have too much homework to worry about, so I could focus on getting better without stressing too much.

But after a few more days, things actually got worse. I ended up getting pink eye, too. At that point, I figured rest and Tylenol weren’t enough, so I decided to visit a clinic.

I searched for English-friendly clinics in Kyoto and found one called Sakabe Clinic. It had nearly five stars and over 100 reviews from international patients, so I decided to give it a try. The clinic is about a 20-minute bus ride from my dorm, and when I arrived, I found out it was actually an international clinic.

They normally see walk-in patients in the evening (6:30 pm-12 am) and appointments during the day (9:30 am–12:30 pm), though it’s best to check their website for up-to-date hours. I didn’t have an appointment or a Japanese phone number to call and schedule one, so I went in person and was able to schedule a same-day appointment for 12:20 pm. All I needed was my passport and to write down my name.

When I returned later for the appointment, I filled out a simple form about my symptoms, how long I’d been sick, what medicine I’d taken, and so on. I was surprised by how simple the questions were and how little questions I had to answer compared to back home in the America.

After turning in the form, I had my temperature taken and waited to be called. It seemed like only one doctor was working, but I didn’t mind waiting as I wasn’t sure where else to go anyway. Eventually, I was brought into a room where they took my blood pressure before I met the doctor.

That actually surprised me since usually back home has a lot of tests first, but my Japanese friend who was also sick around the time I was said they usually don’t even take blood pressure during checkups. Soon after, the doctor reviewed my form and told me I could have one of three possible illnesses—one of which might have been COVID (but I figured it wasn’t, since I could still taste food).

The doctor did a nasal swab test and checked my heartbeat, which is something I’m used to—but this time, it was done under my shirt. While it wasn’t invasive, but it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, there was a female nurse present, which helped a little, but it still felt awkward.

After the check-up, I waited for my results. The doctor told me I didn’t have any of the three viruses he suspected but gave me a prescription with five different medications, each targeting certain symptoms.

Thanks to having health insurance in Japan, I only paid about 3,600 yen for the visit. The pharmacy next door charged me about 1,000 yen for the medications—so in total, I spent less than $40. I’ve been taking the medicine for a few days now and feel so much better, though I’m still dealing with a bit of a stubborn cough.

Getting sick while studying abroad definitely isn’t fun, but I’m grateful there were resources available, and that I was able to get help without too much trouble. Hopefully, I’ll be fully recovered soon and back to exploring Kyoto again!