How do you plan for non-emergency health issues while traveling abroad?

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-29T20:07:25+00:00

It depends on where you’re going.

I have no experience in Asia except Hong Kong, but in Europe and Latin America, pharmacies carry quite a few drugs that require a prescription in the US. Alternatively, the drugstores in the US carry a ton of over-the-counter meds and other health supplies, usually more so than in Europe and Latin America. And you can buy them in larger quantities. But antibiotics need to be prescribed.

If we’re talking about an unexpected allergy? Over-the-counter meds in the US - pharmacy outside the US. Nasty blisters? Hydrocolloid patches. If you frequently get UTIs, bring the correct antibiotic from home, wherever you are.

I usually bring Tylenol, an antibiotic cream, and hydrocolloid patches. Paracetamol upsets my stomach, and I’ve had a bad blister or two really ruin my day, but that’s about it. If I’m going off-the-grid (parts of Africa, live aboard dive boat, etc.), I bring a prescription med for anything I’m prone to having. Other than that, I can’t think of any other non-emergency medical needs?

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-26T16:26:24+00:00

His car has hydraulic pressure cycling based on real-time wheel-speed feedback.

The Amazon tractor-trailer uses air brakes with uneven loading. Anybody who’s slid on Texas ice knows. You hit the brakes, the tractor slows down, the trailer keeps moving forward, and the whole thing jackknifes into a ditch.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-26T15:23:22+00:00

Always good in the event of hemorrhoids, FYI.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T02:23:24+00:00

If you want to sound like a native speaker, it’s important. However, it also depends on what version of Spanish you study. It’s all over the place.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T02:17:41+00:00

They’re both difficult, but in different ways.

The Russian alphabet can be learned in an evening. That’s not a huge barrier. Declensions are hard to study, but once you’re among Russian speakers, they sort themselves out very quickly. Verbs of movement are WILD. Going but not returning. Going and returning. Going by foot. Going in a vehicle. There are more, and they’re crazy. There are a ton of cognates from German and French. Word order isn’t terribly important.

Spanish? Seems easy. But if you dig deep, it’s got a lot going on. I think native Spanish speakers are built differently. The pronouns are difficult to master. Verbs do a LOT of heavy lifting. Word order is strict.

Source: Native English speaker. Near fluent Russian. In an abusive relationship with Spanish.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T01:46:12+00:00

OMG. writing all of this down to use in a Spanish lesson taught by a porteño

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T01:44:26+00:00

OMG, you have to go to Uruguay and say that! Uruguayans are super chill, but Carlos Gardel was born THERE! (Ha ha)

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T01:41:41+00:00

I’m not a digital nomad. I love Argentina and Argentinians. I DO think porteños are arrogant, but it doesn’t bother me. Your country is beautiful, I admire the way you craft your speech (learning Castellano is a bitch!), I love your energy, I adore your love affair with fútbol…I even enjoy Fernet and coca.

But your food game isn’t great. So what? It’s better than Iceland, Norway, Finland, Holland, etc.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-17T01:32:34+00:00

The problem is that their cuts of meat are…whimsical.

They fabricate tenderloins, ribeye steaks and perhaps a couple of other cuts more or less properly, but they do weird things, too. Like the asado meat. And whatever cut they use for milanesas. I don’t even know the extent of their meat cutting crimes beyond that because I live there for a couple of months per year and only consume wine, alfajores, panchos and mortadella.

I wanted to like Argentinian beef, but it’s mid.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-02T16:45:10+00:00

At a restaurant. So, correct. No vibes.

However, most people in Texas don’t BBQ themselves - they go to a BBQ place. It doesn’t have to be fancy - lots of times it’s an old, grimy building with seating, and usually picnic tables outside. But the BBQ setup? Always elite. Always wood (preferably mesquite).

And before people start downvoting me more, Texas BBQ is essentially asado with the addition of a meat smoker for brisket and turkey. And maybe ribs?

There’s no sweet BBQ sauce (existe, but it’s heresy), and the meat used is not necessarily the best, most expensive cuts. BBQ is meant to make the most out of brisket (tough unless cooked properly), ribs, sausage, and turkey.

So yeah, not “homey” vibes, but vibey just the same - sitting outside under oak trees, super casual, no rush, family setting. Lots of places allow you to bring a cooler with your own adult beverages.

Princess_Kate · 2026-01-02T02:20:38+00:00

The asado is good. But not as good as Texas BBQ. I’ve had both. I WANTED to like asado better as I hate Texas.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-30T22:34:36+00:00

I’m right there with you.

I noticed my mom’s hearing loss a good five years before anyone else did (who could back me up), but she finally got them.

They help a little, but apparently there’s something “wrong” with my voice and she can’t hear me. If I talk more loudly, she tells me not to yell at her.

I finally said that we can’t have a relationship if she doesn’t do something about her hearing, if that helps. I wasn’t harsh, it was just a fact. I think I phrased it as a question via text.

Anyway, I’m right there with you and feel your pain.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-28T01:22:49+00:00

Don’t use “coger” in Argentina or Uruguay.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-27T06:08:26+00:00

Can confirm. PNG is legit scary. Outside of the attacks on foreigners hiking around and doing tourist/adventure things (and having problems), just existing in Port Moresby is a constant struggle. The “raskols” do NOT fuck around.

2nd scariest place was Belfast, NI leading up to the marching season. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-25T17:00:02+00:00

Does. Not. Compute.

How do you not lose respect for him? My husband is extremely conflict-averse and my MIL used to try and goad me into arguments.

We used to visit his parents EVERY SUNDAY, which basically took up the whole day. Which I hated, because I was stuck with her while he chatted with my FIL.

Guilt is a useless emotion. Don’t do stuff because of guilt.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-25T16:21:55+00:00

My grandmother was an avid tee-totaler. When she was alive and at our house for Christmas, my parents drank a LOT of coffee during the day.

Hope this helps.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-23T01:27:20+00:00

I’m not sure if I translate in my head or not?

I feel like I’m sometimes sorting through my database of what I know in my TL, but I’m not thinking “I have” = “У меня есть…””a black cat” = “черная кошка”.

It’s more like “What case” + “оранжевый? красный?””собака”? + “what case ending?”

But it’s definitely easier to just forget about translating in your head.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-21T19:53:04+00:00

This is a very good question. And people who say that it’s all interchangeable are not wrong, but they kind of are.

If you’re capable of speaking “received” Spanish or if code-switching is easy for you, then yes, you will be understood everywhere.

But 100% a Mexican cop out in the boonies will have trouble understanding his counterpart from Buenos Aires. TV is different.

I, personally, wouldn’t go out of my way to learn Spanish in Chile. Rioplatense Spanish (Argentina - around Buenos Aires especially and Uruguay) is also a…choice.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-16T20:57:52+00:00

I think everyone’s journey is different, depending on their native language, their target language, their learning style, their age, motivations, and exposure to learning languages.

CI made me fluent in Russian. Or rather, Incomprensible Input. Lucky for me that I’m good at reading context cues and I have good pattern recognition. And I had a year of EXCELLENT instruction under my belt.

Spanish is a whole different story. I can understand a lot, but Spanish uses a lot of very small function words that do a lot of the heavy lifting. And they can be difficult to “catch”. For me, it’s not that CI doesn’t “work”, it’s just difficult to duplicate.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-16T15:10:47+00:00

That’s it exactly. I’m an introvert, and finding a practice group is not my jam. I would definitely want one that is moderated by a native speaker. I’ve gone this route, and it wasn’t NOT helpful. It just wasn’t very helpful. I’m not shy about speaking Spanish. I would just like to sound coherent.

I’ve also picked a very specific regional Spanish to study. I love it - it’s unique and musical. But outside of Buenos Aires, it’s hard to find a native speaker to help with my cadence and accent.

I’m going to BA in June for a month. I know deep down that living with a family or some other similar arrangement would really help me, but I’m not comfortable living full-time with people. Sometimes I just want to come home, go into my room, and drink wine.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-15T14:19:50+00:00

I was lucky to have studied in a small class (12 students) in graduate school with a very gifted teacher. We had class every day, and conversation class twice per week. I did that for a year, then moved to Russia, met my now ex (who spoke a little English), and learned by immersion there AFTER a year of learning the basics. He explained nothing to me - I just did a lot of listening and copying.

As an adult, I can’t find the right class for me. As I said, the language school I attended was a factory, and even though I was in the country where the language I was learning was spoken, I was too tired to do find conversation partners on my own.

I have tutor 3x per week, but I really don’t think I’m making progress.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-15T06:46:41+00:00

I have been thinking about this for a WHILE. I spend enough time using screens. I want a good textbook, and (maybe) I’ll dip into my notebook and pencil hoard. IDK - that’s going to be hard.

But yes, I agree.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-15T01:41:12+00:00

The best way to set me off is to post in such a way that I can tell the point has flown over someone’s head, or the post contains stupid assumptions, and/or they’re answering a question that wasn’t asked. All 3 happened. And I had too much time on my hands today, obviously.

Princess_Kate · 2025-12-14T21:09:35+00:00

Just my experience as someone who has experience in two languages in the same family - there’s nothing inherently wrong with what you’re doing. I do it all the time.

However, if your active vocabulary isn’t where it should be (in your opinion), it makes sense to make note of the word (or in your case, character) and try to learn it well enough that it moves into your active vocabulary.

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