Confessions of a Social Climber

Okay, so, say, there’s a period in which the government initiative for cleanliness kicks in and says no to sickness … “whoopee,” right? Well, that’s good for wherever you are, but what about when you travel?

I’m a bit OC when it comes to germs/bacteria and the like. (think: Adrian Monk) I find that, if I follow my compulsion to always wash hands, it’ll inevitably save my life. Here are a couple of things I do to keep my health safe for when I’m traveling.

Travel with clean stuff. Don’t mix and match the dirties with the clean clothes you have on your bag. Separate your toiletries from whichever compartment you keep your shoes. Make sure your bag’s at least clean before you start stuffing your clothes in it. (Bugs might’ve housed themselves in the bag while not in use. My worst fear is unleashing a horde of roaches on a plane by accident.)

Bring bottled water. (If, and when you can.) On a plane, or wherever your destination is. I find that, water differs from place to place, and that there’s really no portable way to make sure that tap water is clean wherever you are. Always bring bottled water. If this isn’t possible, boil the water (or add purification tablets) before you drink / refrigerate it.

Bring your own set of face towels. Hotel towels are okay for drying the body, but for your face, you’re never too sure how they wash those things, plus, there’s a huge possibility that someone else has already used it.

Keep a hand sanitizer handy. Or alcohol. Always rinse your hands with ‘em before touching anything you have to put in your mouth.

Follow these few OC tips and you’ll be fine, wherever you are in the world.