I have a pretty weak immune system. To the point that I got sick every single month of my senior year in high school. I am not talking about some small cold, I am talking runny nose, high fever, sore throat, the works. However, there was something different about getting sick during my second week of college: my parents weren't there to take care of me. In fact, they weren't even in the country.
I woke up on the Tuesday of my first full week of college with a sore throat and a stuffed nose. I just thought to myself "It could just be morning throat" spoiler alert, it wasn't. In a rush of panic, I texted my mom who was three continents away and told her I think I am sick. She told me to first of all, not panic, and second to try to get myself a hot beverage from Starbucks.
With my panic set aside, I marched down to the Starbucks counter and ordered myself a mint green tea that tasted horrible because it was not Persian tea with honey and lemon that my mom would bring to my room with cake, but it did the job. I drank it pettily and hated every gulp, but my throat felt a little better than it did before. I then sadly walked to my Government class and took my notes, sneezing every 10 seconds. After class, I bought some honey and lemon from the little market at our dorm.
The honey and lemon cost an arm and leg but I religiously started drinking warm water, honey, and lemon until my last class of the day. I have a huge gap between my Tuesday and Thursday class, but I try to get a lot of work done in that gap so I didn't take a break, which was a mistake but I don't know how to stop myself.
I wore a small sweater to my last class of the day trying to prevent myself from getting more sick (which spoiler alert #2, it didn't work) and I decided to just try to enjoy my last class since it is my honors class.
After coming home and taking a long hot shower, I made myself my eighth cup of honey and lemon water for the day and did non stop homework till 11 pm. Now looking back, that probably wasn't wise but this was my busiest week of school so I couldn't take a break. I feel like I could have gotten better faster if I gave myself the little relaxation, but it just wasn't possible and that's when it hit me I was in college. Plus, attendance is mandatory in college so I couldn't just call out of class without losing points.
Every morning I would take two vitamin C pills, and every night I would take cold medication that my dad had given me. I also had to take a throat lozenge one specific day when my throat felt like Satan was stabbing it.
However, it all went downhill more on Wednesday when I woke up and my Stats notes somehow deleted off of my laptop, I dropped my water bottle and it dented, and the doorknob of my classroom also attacked me. So to say the least, Wednesday was not my day. I finally decided to relax on Thursday when I came back from my honors class and got some soup from the dining hall and just tried to enjoy my day, emphasis on the "tried."
It is Monday now as I am writing this, and I can safely say I managed to cure myself of this weird cold that I got my second week of college. Mom, Dad if you are reading this: I want to say how much I appreciate you guys taking care of me every time I get sick and doing everything I ask of you both. Mom, thanks for always bringing me tea, making me cake and bringing me soup. Dad, thanks for curing me every time with medicine and juice.
What I learned: So here is what I learned. I learned that it really does suck to be on your own when you're sick, but it also makes you appreciate things a lot more. I feel like there are days when I am taking my health for granted and don't realize how crappy it is to be sick.
My favorite thing that I learned is dining hall food is not the best food to eat when you are sick, but there is soup! A new soup every day and I lived on that with salad (I did get a pizza on the day I lost my notes because I was really sad but that's beside the point).
I learned that mini tissue pouches are your best friend when you are sick since classrooms at college don't have tissues as high school classes did. Plus, you will make friends with other sick classmates and bond over your mini tissues. I learned that it is also smart to check your face in your camera from time to time just so you know your nose is all clear.
I learned that honey lemon water actually tastes pretty good, better than Starbucks tea for sure.
Lastly, I learned that you just have to be patient and wait it out and try your best to push through the sickness.
So if you are feeling a little tickle in your throat and are afraid of a cold coming on, drink a lot of liquids, eat some soup, and try your best to cure yourself with any medicine you have.
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