Month: May 2020

Traveling with Dietary Restrictions.

Please do not stop traveling because you have a diet restriction instead, read the following tips on how to make your travels enjoyable despite restrictions.

Plan ahead.

  • Research restaurants and markets at your destination using travel books and informational travel websites before you leave.
  • Book accommodations with kitchenettes, apartment rentals, etc., in case cooking for yourself is necessary.
  • Give airlines advanced notice of your special diet.
  • Planes and trains – pack snacks and food but follow security rules for foods and liquids.
  • Traveling internationally – make a list of restricted foods in multiple languages (ask your physician or research online). Perhaps, include pictures of restricted foods.
  • Pack a suitcase with snacks, such as nuts, jerky, whole-food protein bars, etc.
  • Digestion changes when traveling, so you may want to pack digestive enzymes.
  • Make sure you take enough meds to last for a few days beyond the end of your travels.

 

 

Restaurants.

  • Research the menus of the restaurants you selected online.
  • Call restaurants ahead of time with questions.
  • Make reservations during non-peak times.
  • Make sure your waiter understands your diet restrictions.
  • Traveling internationally – make a list of restricted foods in multiple languages (ask your physician or research online). Perhaps, include pictures of restricted foods.
  • Pack a suitcase with snacks, such as nuts, jerky, whole-food protein bars, etc.
  • Digestion changes when traveling, so you may want to pack digestive enzymes.
  • Make sure you take enough meds to last for a few days beyond the end of your travels.

 

Other tips.

  • Drink plenty of filtered water to avoid dehydration.
  • Pack digestive enzymes, probiotics (helps with diarrhea), and activated charcoal (absorbs toxins).

Bon Appetit!!

WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE TRAVELING IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA.

“It is only after one is in trouble that one realizes how little sympathy and kindness there is in the world” – Nellie Bly

As the travelling community gears up in the next many months to resume essential and non-essential travel when borders are reopened, we can expect many changes. We can protest but there will be changes that we will be forced to accept and adapt. What are the expected changes?

  1. Starting with the person in the mirror – you.
    1. Due to being isolated and experiencing solitude, you might have realized new talents and acquired new hobbies and possibly new skills.
    2. Your perspective on life may have changed, your focus maybe more on self-actualization and less on work or career goals.
    3. Your career goals may have shifted, acquired a new timeline, or completely changed altogether.
    4. Do you have a new sense of purpose, possibly you might have realized your life was like a revolving door and possibly leading nowhere?
    5. Maybe you realize this time to actually take a break in life, and take time to reflect and re direct your focus.
    6. Perhaps over the Internet you made new friends and acquaintances whom you’d like to get to know better.

    7. Realize that if you are feeling depressed, travel during this time might actually add to your stress level and not be a good idea.
  2. Realize other people have changed.
    1. Being isolated from friends and family for months, it’s possible they went through the same changes you have and uh now have a completely different focus- possibly your lives have become divergent.
    2. Realize family members may not appreciate your newfound self-value and your newfound purpose.
    3. Realize that when you start to travel people in other countries have likewise changed.
  3. Realize that countries may have changed.
    1. Reopening borders after having closed for an extended period of time now requires stringent rules and different laws and New habits related to social distancing.
      1. There are some cultures such as the Asian cultures which practice habits more adherent to social distancing than cultures in the Western Hemisphere which tend to be more apt to embrace, handshake and polite kisses on the cheek.
    2. Many countries maybe struggling economically and thus there may be more poverty and begging, more homeless and more destitution.

    3. As many countries may be struggling, there may be two extremes in behaviors seen:
      1. You might see the extreme need to please in the tourism industry because of your capital investment in their industry.
      2. Alternatively, you might see a state of apathy and resentment towards your ability to spend money and resources compared to their lack of ability.
    4. Due to the economic challenges, there may be a shift in how some countries spend their resources, certain amenities and luxuries may be curtailed in lieu of essentials needed to operating function.

    5. Understand that many tourist and other industries having significant financial challenges may only open and operate on a limited capability.
    6. Understand that those working in these industries which are financially challenged are also financially challenged and highly stressed, thus a kinder attitude embraced in a high degree of tolerance on your part will be necessary.
    7. It’s also important to appreciate that during such struggles, cultures may tend to embrace their togetherness and empower their unique harmony, to the exclusion of foreigners or other nationalities and cultures – it’s important to appreciate this and not take offense.
    8. It will be important to realize that usual places of for hire during travel time such as hostel, and Airbnb homes may either be unavailable due to social distancing restrictions or maybe more expensive due to new requirements for maintaining stricter hygienic regulations.
    9. Also, it’s important to realize the need for social distancing and hygiene requirements while travel, eating out casually or informally eating on the streets or buying art and crafts.

  4. The travel industry including trains, planes, and other public means of transportation.
    1. Although this is addressed in more detail on other platforms, it is important to realize how transportation will change as it relates to availability, capacity and price.
    2. Be aware that travel insurance might either exclude any diagnosis of COVID-19 or related symptoms doing this restricted travel time and some companies may not offer insurance at all.
    3. Understand that you might need to bring your own personal protective equipment (PPE) and not rely on the countries or tourist industries to provide this for you.
    4. Be aware that on these modes of transportation, social distancing may not be appropriately enforced but with PPE you can still attempt to follow the regulations in place at the time of your travel.

What’s important to realize that in this new era of post COVID-19 travel, we have to engender kindness, mindfulness, tolerance and appreciation of our differences now more than ever before. Everybody is going through similar challenges and trials just at different times, different levels and with different abilities to overcome.

As Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see”

How to pick a country for medical mission work.

Medical missions are being organized all over the world originating generally from countries in the West and organized through church or religious establishments and /or civic groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Links etc. These are all well intentioned ventures with a mind for doing good and with intentions of filling a deficit in certain countries of what they perceive to be needed resources, opportunities, or services. Here are some tips that may help you to improve and enhance your experience while providing the most benefit and return an engagement from your efforts.

  1. First start with yourself.
    1. Ask yourself why you want to go on a mission trip.
      1. Maybe you need a break from your everyday life and stresses.
      2. Maybe you’re trying to change the focus of your life and trying to understand more about yourself.
      3. Maybe you want to learn more about different country and culture.
      4. Maybe this is an opportunity for personal growth and introspection.
      5. Maybe you’re trying to find purpose in your life.
    2. What is it you want to get out of the mission trip?
      1. Do you need credits for an activity?
      2. Are you a part of a church group or other civic organization and this is one of the annual opportunities available?
  2. Next look at the mission venture.
    1. What group are you going with, who is organizing the trip.
      1. Do you know those who are organizing the group?.
      2. Do you know the history of the group and how it began?
      3. Are those organizing their trip in the group the original members, and if not is their philosophy similar to that of the original creators of the group.
      4. Is it group close to you or is it at a distance?
      5. Is there a financial obligation or a financial incentive?
      6. What is the money trail?
    2. Why did you choose this group?
      1. Was the group recommended to you?
      2. Did you find the group on Google search?
      3. Is this a school, church, club venture?
    3. What is the purpose that is driving this mission venture?
      1. Has your organization discussed this with you and the team?
      2. Do you get a sense that there’s unification of purpose?
      3. Is there a vision and mission of the group that’s clearly evident?
      4. Has the group done this frequently visiting other countries and what is the experience and outcome of those ventures or adventures?
      5. A Drop in the Bucket: The Joys, Sorrows, and Horrors of Medical Missions
  3. What countries are being chosen.
    1. Why are these countries being chosen and how are they selected?
    2. What is the criteria for being selected and how do they compare one country with another as to eligibility for being selected?
    3. Is there a connection between the organizers and the country?
      1. Maybe there is a working relationship possibly or a religious connection, there could even be a familiar connection currently or dating back to the origins of your group and organization.
      2. With this connection is there some partiality amongst members of the group, is there any withheld information from different members of the group.
    4. Look at the climate of the country and the usual weather and expectation for climate catastrophes such as hurricanes or monsoons.
    5. Investigate the terrain and environment.
      1. Will there be a lot of uphill travel possibly travel that vehicles cannot navigate, Will there be a lot of walking involved.
      2. Are special types of clothes and shoes going to be necessary.
      3. Is the environment going to be very wet forestry or dry and desert like, or possibly hot and humid Anne what protective gear or precautions need to be considered?
    6. What about the safety of the destination?
      1. Have you discussed this in detail and inquired about what limitations and restrictions you will have in the venue and outside the venue?
      2. Is it safe to venture outside of the venue? and if so, can you do so alone, or should you have accompaniment?
      3. How are the sleeping and boarding arrangements planned amongst the team?
  4. What about communication & connectivity?
    1. What is the level of communication availability in the country?
    2. Is there a limit to the availability of the communication? Are there specific hours or locations with more connectivity, specific times of the day or specific days where and when this communication will be available?
  5. Do you have to be aware of any geopolitical concerns?
    1. What is the political arena of the country and countries around it at this time?
    2. Is there any mutiny or civil unrest that you need to be aware of?
    3. Is there any negative sentiments currently between your country and the destination country that you need to be aware of?
      1. If present, is this a good time for you to travel? possibly an alternative time would be better if not a different country altogether?
    4. Look at the climate of the country and the usual weather and expectation for climate catastrophes such as hurricanes or monsoons.
    5. Investigate the terrain and environment.
      1. Will there be a lot of uphill travel possibly travel that vehicles cannot navigate, Will there be a lot of walking involved.
      2. Are special types of clothes and shoes going to be necessary.
      3. Is the environment going to be very wet forestry or dry and desert like, or possibly hot and humid Anne what protective gear or precautions need to be considered?
    6. Are there any particular do’s and don’ts, faux pas that you need to be aware of in the country as it relates to the political arena.
    7. THERE IS A HEALER: Stories of Medical Missions Outreach
  6. What are the language barriers?
    1. Will there be sufficient translators or do the people in the region understand your language?
    2. Is it best to go to a destination that you’re familiar with the language?
  7. What about food and other necessary amenities?
    1. Do you have specific dietary needs, and will this destination be able to meet those needs? Are there substitutes available?
    2. Is the native food consistent with your dietary requirements and or needs?
    3. How about your medications, what if you run out – is there a pharmacy and or medical facility within reasonable distance?

What’s important here is that you find the mission program that is in line with your purpose, your vision and mission in life. It’s important that the venture serves to add value to your life and by so doing you add value to the program and to those whose lives you touch. You want the experience to be mutually beneficial and one that will help the country you visit and the people you visit to be better off because you were there. Essentially you want to give more than you take but in the long run when you look at it this way you, will be better off.

shawmedco.org/medical-and-community-missions/