America, you give me fever

[C&D 0]

So I've been living in the US for a year and a half now, and I've never been so sick!

A few factors I am aware of:

*The cold and dry weather: We live in Wyoming;

*My working environment: As a substitute teacher, I am in constant contact with kids (from kindergarteners to high schoolers).

I eat healthily, I am active and I exercise.. and in spite of being careful with germs at school, I still get sick quite often (colds with fevers, sinus infections...) and everytime it is knocking me down!

Any ideas why? I used to get a cold once in a blue moon in France, and the symptoms were never as strong as what they are here.

Any tips on getting my immune system stronger and more adapted to American germs/bacteria/viruses?

Thanks a bunch!

[TomD 4]

Just remember your now in a different part of the world. That means you are being exposed to different germs that your body will need to build a resistance to. Not only in the air but everywhere. It usually happens to me when I travel to foreign places. Just keep you fluids intake up and eat healthy and wash you hands OFTEN! You can only get immune by catching it first. Chicken soup is also good.

Edited October 25, 2010 by TomD

[John+Lourdelie 28]

How much has your diet changed since coming here?

John

[C&D 0]

How much has your diet changed since coming here?

John

Hey John, Thank you for replying!

Well, I tried to keep a diet close to what I used to eat in France, cooking most of my meals myself, using fresh produce.

Except for the cheese and some dairy products that are a bit different (probiotics and TASTE!), my diet hasn't changed much.

Edited October 25, 2010 by C&D

[Ning 619]

So I've been living in the US for a year and a half now, and I've never been so sick!

A few factors I am aware of:

*The cold and dry weather: We live in Wyoming;

*My working environment: As a substitute teacher, I am in constant contact with kids (from kindergarteners to high schoolers).

I eat healthily, I am active and I exercise.. and in spite of being careful with germs at school, I still get sick quite often (colds with fevers, sinus infections...) and everytime it is knocking me down!

Any ideas why? I used to get a cold once in a blue moon in France, and the symptoms were never as strong as what they are here.

Any tips on getting my immune system stronger and more adapted to American germs/bacteria/viruses?

Thanks a bunch!

My wife moved here to a hot,cold, dry climate. She works daily with same age school kids. Hasnt been sick one day in 3 years.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I have lived in 7 European countries before I came to the US. First I lived for a while in Florida, then after going back to Europe and visiting India, I moved to Southern California.

The main reason why I'm where I am -- close to Santa Barbara -- is the weather. My house is built in 1938 and I can walk to the beach in less than 5 minutes. I can ride my bicycle all year long along the bike path to work, or drive any of my classic cars and motorcycles any day without having to worry about rain. We have about 20 to 30 days of rain per year, mostly in the wintertime. The rest of the years it's just nice; due to the close proximity to the beach that means never really hot and never really cold. My house does not have air conditioning and I don't need it. The heater I turn only on during the winter months.

Anyway, two years ago one of my wife's sisters moved from California to Laramie, Wyoming. We visited them shortly after Christmas 2008, which meant a road trip from Cailfornia through Nevada and Utah to Wyoming.

In the 53 years I'm alive, I've never been this miserable. Cold, snow, blizzards, and in Laramie there's really nothing to see or to do, not even a Starbucks which I need to visit at least once a day.

I told my sister in law and my wife that I would rather be hit by a train than live there, and I meant that. That's not the USA, that's a hellhole!

Meanwhile my sister-in-law and her husband (who is an English professor) moved back to San Diego. The house in Laramie is for sale.

Why am I telling you this? Because you need to understand that life's too short, too valuable to be tortured, to live with somebody you absolutely hate or who is abusive to you, and to live in Wyoming.

Get out of there as soon as you can and see what the US has to offer. There's really no comparison of Wyoming to anything in France, but if you think Santa Barbara, think Cote d'Azure or, better yet, Monaco.

We have schools here too, you know . . .

Edited October 26, 2010 by Just Bob

[nickbits 43]

Contact with kids=sick

[TomD 4]

Contact with kids=sick

Yeah Walking germ factories kids are...And it doesnt help when everyone sends them to school sick or not...

@Just Bob Not all things in Wyoming are bad. Its all about what floats your boat. But your right about enjoying life.

I moved to TN about 3 yrs ago. First two were the pits . Its pretty but found it hard to meet people then I hooked up with a Kayaking group and I love the place now...

[Gemmie 142]

I haven't found that I get sick in the US, but the strength of the common cold is different. I can still function... anyone who has caught a UK cold will know how that will knock you on your a$s for about a week.

[C&D 0]

I haven't found that I get sick in the US, but the strength of the common cold is different. I can still function... anyone who has caught a UK cold will know how that will knock you on your a$s for about a week.

Weird. It's the opposite for me: an American cold is a LOT stronger than a French one!

[C&D 0]

I have lived in 7 European countries before I came to the US. First I lived for a while in Florida, then after going back to Europe and visiting India, I moved to Southern California.

The main reason why I'm where I am -- close to Santa Barbara -- is the weather. My house is built in 1938 and I can walk to the beach in less than 5 minutes. I can ride my bicycle all year long along the bike path to work, or drive any of my classic cars and motorcycles any day without having to worry about rain. We have about 20 to 30 days of rain per year, mostly in the wintertime. The rest of the years it's just nice; due to the close proximity to the beach that means never really hot and never really cold. My house does not have air conditioning and I don't need it. The heater I turn only on during the winter months.

Anyway, two years ago one of my wife's sisters moved from California to Laramie, Wyoming. We visited them shortly after Christmas 2008, which meant a road trip from Cailfornia through Nevada and Utah to Wyoming.

In the 53 years I'm alive, I've never been this miserable. Cold, snow, blizzards, and in Laramie there's really nothing to see or to do, not even a Starbucks which I need to visit at least once a day.

I told my sister in law and my wife that I would rather be hit by a train than live there, and I meant that. That's not the USA, that's a hellhole!

Meanwhile my sister-in-law and her husband (who is an English professor) moved back to San Diego. The house in Laramie is for sale.

Why am I telling you this? Because you need to understand that life's too short, too valuable to be tortured, to live with somebody you absolutely hate or who is abusive to you, and to live in Wyoming.

Get out of there as soon as you can and see what the US has to offer. There's really no comparison of Wyoming to anything in France, but if you think Santa Barbara, think Cote d'Azure or, better yet, Monaco.

We have schools here too, you know . . .

Your answer made me smile (in a good way!) - I guess one either loves Wyoming or hates it! It can be pretty extreme.

I fall in the first category, the outdoors, the big skies, people are nice too.. Also, Wyoming has good teacher wages, there is almost no crime... And no state income tax doesn't hurt either!

I am not trying to convince you that Wyoming is awesome, there are issues there (nepotism, corruption..) and I agree with you on Laramie: the combination of dry climate and altitude is a killer, and it's a tiny college town. I would not want to live there either!

My point is: living and making it in Wyoming in spite of its climate (that I want to adapt to! Hence my first post) allows me to enjoy my everyday life there (especially FOOD - hey I'm from France! ), the rest of the US, and to take trips back to Europe.

It's all about enjoying life!

[TomD 4]

I have lived or had extended stays in many parts of the world. For me everyplace has - & +. There are things so see and do everywhere but that does not mean they are things you like to do. Even with having things available it the people I meet and/or am traveling with that make it or break it for me. I also noticed as I have grown older that I get catch more illness than I ever did when I was young. Even at home although I have a had time defining home.... I guess its where your heart is... My next big trip will hopefully be Australia & New Zealand, both of which I have never been to. Call it my bucket list. Europe in out for me even though I was born there. Well maybe Spain and Portugal...

[Golden Gate 530]

So I've been living in the US for a year and a half now, and I've never been so sick!

A few factors I am aware of:

*The cold and dry weather: We live in Wyoming;

*My working environment: As a substitute teacher, I am in constant contact with kids (from kindergarteners to high schoolers).

I eat healthily, I am active and I exercise.. and in spite of being careful with germs at school, I still get sick quite often (colds with fevers, sinus infections...) and everytime it is knocking me down!

Any ideas why? I used to get a cold once in a blue moon in France, and the symptoms were never as strong as what they are here.

Any tips on getting my immune system stronger and more adapted to American germs/bacteria/viruses?

Thanks a bunch!

I was a substitute in the San Francisco schools for many years. I was sick with a cold all the time too. I think it just takes time for your immunity to build up. Now I teach in another state, and I hardly get sick at all. Anyway, take lots of Vitamin C tablets. Also, if there are a lot of crummy weather days, you might consider getting a sun lamp.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Golden Gate

[AdamW 2]

I have lived in 7 European countries before I came to the US. First I lived for a while in Florida, then after going back to Europe and visiting India, I moved to Southern California.

The main reason why I'm where I am -- close to Santa Barbara -- is the weather. My house is built in 1938 and I can walk to the beach in less than 5 minutes. I can ride my bicycle all year long along the bike path to work, or drive any of my classic cars and motorcycles any day without having to worry about rain. We have about 20 to 30 days of rain per year, mostly in the wintertime. The rest of the years it's just nice; due to the close proximity to the beach that means never really hot and never really cold. My house does not have air conditioning and I don't need it. The heater I turn only on during the winter months.

Anyway, two years ago one of my wife's sisters moved from California to Laramie, Wyoming. We visited them shortly after Christmas 2008, which meant a road trip from Cailfornia through Nevada and Utah to Wyoming.

In the 53 years I'm alive, I've never been this miserable. Cold, snow, blizzards, and in Laramie there's really nothing to see or to do, not even a Starbucks which I need to visit at least once a day.

I told my sister in law and my wife that I would rather be hit by a train than live there, and I meant that. That's not the USA, that's a hellhole!

Meanwhile my sister-in-law and her husband (who is an English professor) moved back to San Diego. The house in Laramie is for sale.

Why am I telling you this? Because you need to understand that life's too short, too valuable to be tortured, to live with somebody you absolutely hate or who is abusive to you, and to live in Wyoming.

Get out of there as soon as you can and see what the US has to offer. There's really no comparison of Wyoming to anything in France, but if you think Santa Barbara, think Cote d'Azure or, better yet, Monaco.

We have schools here too, you know . . .

DITTO!! You could not pay me to live in the eastern part of Wyoming.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Getting a flu shot each year will also reduce the instance of common cold by 30%. Doctors are unsure why that is, as the flu shot protects against a seemingly unrelated virus, but there you go.