Being ill in another country sucks. I saw myself heroically going to meetings with a 40 degree fever. I am no hero. After 3 days of fever, coughing up strange colored mucus and sneezing out alien stuff from my nose, I went to see a doctor, an Indian man who smiled a lot especially when he shoved two long cotton tipped sticks up my nose. I swear the man was trying to poke my eyeballs out. I had swine flu and was given antibiotics which allowed me to read a complete novel in one sitting on the toilet. I still feel like shit but it's home shit which is comforting.