Getting Sick in Malta

 

    Getting Sick and Scared as an Expat

 

I haven’t vomited in almost 24 years since my second child was born. So I was pretty scared yesterday (Sunday) when I got really sick with very bad stomach pain, diarrhea and then vomited.

I walk every day for exercise, and I could hardly walk outside yesterday.

Mr. S. started feeling pretty bad, too, after I did—but didn’t get so sick.

We thought maybe it had to do with the popcorn we ate at the movies the night before in Paceville.  But the other people we went with didn’t get sick.

I know you must think I sound like a baby getting so upset about a virus or whatever it is. But part of the problem is that I knew I had an obligation I had to keep the next day—even if I was sick.  I guess that scared me more than anything.

Perhaps it’s being in a new country yet that has exposed me to “bugs” I’m not accustomed to.

Today, at 7 AM, Monday, I’m not vomiting anymore (I hope) but I feel like I can hardly stand up.  I just have to get through this day somehow.

Thanks to M, my Maltese friend, and S—my Expat friend—who listened to me complain and suggested remedies.  Strangely enough, my daughter back in the US had been vomiting the night before; she thought it was food poisoning.  So it’s hard to be away from her when she’s sick, too.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m not feeling very good about it.

Thanks for listening.

 

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Diane, there are expats all through Malta. But many are in Sliema and St. Julians which are the busier, more cosmopolitan areas.  Most expats dont have cars so they move to the areas where its more central.  But tell your family to watch the blog for when the expats meet--Ilene

Comment:

[diane crowder]

Hi Ilene, you mentioned the expats went with you on your birthday and that made me wonder where do most of the expats live in Malta?
Our son, daughter in law and granddaughter moved from Florida to Mellieha recently and there seem to be a lot of tourists but no so many expats.

Thanks as always Illene,

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Diane--thanks for asking. I got well for my birthday--and was able to go to a very nice Italian restaurant called Biancos in St. Julians.  I got tons of chocolate for my birthday. And for the first time in my life, the candy lasted four days because I wasnt that well enough to eat all the chocolate. So Im trying to make a fresh start and get into a healthy relationship with chocolate and have just one candy bar a day now---Ilene

[diane crowder]

What did you do for your birthday? hope you were well for it.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks Ann, will do.  Going to take a healing siesta now.  Ilene

[Annmucc]

Get well soon! Hope the bug goes as quickly as it came!