Nia Lewis (’25) is a Communication major studying at the University of Aberdeen for Fall 2024.
What do you get when you combine events full of new people, unpredictable weather and new germs? The Freshers’ Flu! Many students, including myself, caught a cold within the first few weeks of being here, which is common. I brought cold medicines that I use back home with me, so I was feeling better within a few days, but some of my other friends were less fortunate and had worse symptoms. I had no clue about what I would do if I got sick while studying here, so here is a little insight into what you can do if you happen to get sick while studying abroad.
As a part of the registration process for my university, they urged us to register with a general practitioner, which is a bit difficult if you do not have a UK number. Some practices will work with schools and waive the UK number requirement, for international students here that practice is Albyn Medical Practice. However, you can also visit a private practice if you decide not to register with a GP, but the cost of your visit will be quite expensive. For Drexel and my visa application, I had to register for international insurance to ensure that I had coverage while I’m abroad as well.
When I am traveling on public transportation in close proximity with other people, specifically now during flu season, I’ve found that bringing a mask and some sanitizer to have on hand has also been helpful for me; can you tell I’m a bit of a germaphobe? Aside from bringing masks and sanitizer from home with me, medications like Advil (blue gel supremacy) and Nyquil that I brought with me have been absolute lifesavers. The over-the-counter medications sold at the local pharmacies nearby offer a wide variety of options, but they seem to be less effective in my opinion.
If you are sick to the point where you need to miss class, you cannot simply email a teacher to let them know. Instead, there is an entire reporting process where you fill out an online form, enter in your symptoms, and submit it for review so that the reviewer can determine whether your excuse is valid enough for an excused absence. Seemed a bit extreme to me at first, but I can see how it’s helpful for teachers to stay organized and keep track of absences.
Everyone catches a cold from time to time. However, it is important to know where to find the supplies or resources you need to make a quick recovery and who to call if your situation becomes more serious.
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