Sick Day in Australia

I have been fighting these cold-like symptoms ever since we landed in Australia and have been battling these symptoms with Zicam and Nyquil. Sunday I lost my voice completely. Which is certainly a problem when you're meeting new people and so excited about everything you see. What normally would be expressed with exhiliration comes out in a muted wisp of air.

This morning I awoke after a decent night's rest feeling a little better...still a little congested...but overall not bad. Feeling good, I decided to participate in the optional 7am walk up to Point Danger which overlooks the ocean and has a very modern looking laser lighthouse. The path up to the point was along residential streets but the path back wound along the coast. The Quicksilver World Surfing championships are occurring right now and there were hundreds of surfers in the water waiting to catch a wave. While the sights were incredible, the walk was too much for my body. I was running on low batteries and today was supposed to be a day spent with our host families exploring the area.

I was supposed to meet with Rod and Robyn but they were unable to make it because of a baptism of their grandchild in Brisbane. So plan B was for me to go with Don who was hosting my teammate Mike. This was the first big day of activities and I wasn't ready. I needed a doctor and some rest.

Wendy (and her husband Charles) came to the rescue. What we call urgent care in the States is a surgical center here in Australia. I walked into this clinic with no voice and lots of hope. This is how it all went down and this happened in less than 30 minutes: I walk in and provide my name, date of birth, and approximate address of my host for the evening. The receptionist informs me that a consult is $60 to see the doctor. I have a seat, have a very quiet chat with Wendy (as I speak in whispers) and 5 minutes later am in the doctor's office/ exam room. He asks about my symptoms, listens to my chest, checks my throat, and says I have an infection and writes me a prescription. I pay my $60 fee, exit with Wendy and walk back down the block to a chemist (pharmacy) and to fill my antibiotic prescription costing another $12. Less than 5 minutes at the chemist and I'm back in the car.

Wendy takes me back to her house where I take my pills and we have quite a long conversation about all kinds of things. Wendy and Charles were to be hosting our team and host families at thier house for an evening bbq so they had lots to prep for, just as we would do for guests in the States. Wendy and Charles are gardeners, and I check out their landscape. Their back yard is the steepest thing I have ever seen and it was so incredibly designed! Words cannot describe it and pictures can't hardly either. While Wendy and I chatted, Charles mowed grass. You have no idea how theraputic it was to have the familiar smell of mowed grass waft in through the windows! They give me a bed to lay my head on and I rested for a couple of hours and got a Sunday nap in. Around 4pm my host Rod comes by to pick me up and haul me and my luggage back to thier house to get settled before we return to Wendy and Charles' for the bbq.

I have tea with Rod and Robyn and we talk (me still whispering) about this and that and soon it's time to head back to Wendy and Charles'. Rod and Robyn are also gardeners and Rod toured me around thier property too.

And in that amount of time (a half day) and only one dose of medicine, my voice is hoarse, but audible for the first time in two days. And I have a lot more pep in my step. Our menu tonight was chicken wings and steak with slaw, potato bake, and salad. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with a medley of tropical fruit. I got a chance to talk with my teammates and thier days' adventures and I got to meet the rest of thier host families as well.

My day did not go as planned. I was sick and far from home. Wendy and Charles took in a sickly American for a day and I am on the mend. I can't help but think it has something to do with these warm Australian winds and the smell of fresh cut grass.

I cannot tell you how gracious these people are and how helpful they've been. Tomorrow is my first vocational day and I'm headed to a retail nursery/ landscaper in the area!

There is one thing I forgot to mention that undoubtedly lifted my spirits. Wendy was a torchbearer in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics...and in her house is the torch she carried. I got my Olympic fix for the day! That's a great cure for what ails Nick.

I can't believe what a great day of being sick I've just had.