Battling the Flu in Berlin: My German Journey Through Soreness

Okay, deep breath. I’m writing this because… well, let’s just say I’m currently experiencing the most wonderfully awful German experience imaginable. I’ve been living in Berlin for six months now, and everything has been fantastic – the coffee is amazing, the U-Bahn is usually punctual, and I’m actually starting to get the hang of ordering Berliner (donuts – seriously, they’re amazing!). But this week? This week is a disaster. I’ve got the flu. Badly. And navigating it in German has been…challenging, to put it mildly.

The Initial Symptoms & The First Conversation

It started with a slight headache on Monday. I thought, “Okay, maybe I need to work on my Schreibweise – my handwriting is atrocious, perhaps a bit of mental strain?” I reached for a Tee (tea) – I’m trying to stick to healthy habits, you know? – and the chills hit. They were intense. Then the body aches. Ach, die Schulter! (Oh, my shoulder!) It felt like someone was hammering nails into me.

I went to the Apotheke (pharmacy) because I needed something to relieve the pain. I tried to explain to the pharmacist, Herr Schmidt, what was wrong. “Ich habe Fieber und Schmerzen,” I said, feeling a little foolish. (I have a fever and aches). He looked at me sympathetically. “Entschuldigen Sie, können Sie mir sagen, wie alt Sie sind?” (Excuse me, can you tell me how old you are?). I told him I was 28, and he immediately recommended Ibuprofen. “Nehmen Sie zwei Tabletten alle sechs Stunden,” he instructed. (Take two tablets every six hours). Simple enough, right? Except I kept mishearing him – sechs Stunden sounded like sechs Stunden. It took me three doses to finally get it right!

Fever, Fatigue & Asking for Help

The fever is really dragging me down. I’m exhausted. I keep wanting to nap, and I’m having trouble concentrating. Yesterday, I was at the Supermarkt (supermarket) trying to pick up some supplies. I needed Honig (honey) for my tea, and I was struggling to push the trolley. I asked a young woman for help, “Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?” (Excuse me, could you please help me?). She looked at me and said, “Alles in Ordnung? Sie sehen aus, als ob Sie krank sind.” (Everything alright? You look like you’re sick). I nodded miserably and replied, “Ja, ich bin krank. Ich habe Fieber.” (Yes, I am sick. I have a fever.) She offered me a tissue. It felt incredibly kind.

I’ve also learned a really important phrase: “Ich muss mich ausruhen.” (I need to rest). I’ve been saying it constantly to my flatmates, Sarah and Tom. Sarah asked, “Was ist los mit Ihnen?” (What’s wrong with you?) and I just replied, “Ich bin erkältet. Ich brauche Ruhe.” (I have a cold. I need rest.) Tom, being the practical one, simply said, “Schlaf gut!” (Sleep well!).

Common Phrases & Misunderstandings

Here are a few other phrases I’ve found incredibly useful:

• “Ich fühle mich nicht gut.” (I don’t feel well.) – This is a good go-to.
• “Ich brauche einen Arzt.” (I need a doctor.) – I used this when I was seriously considering going to the Krankenhaus (hospital).
• “Wie geht es Ihnen?” (How are you?) – People always ask, and it’s good to respond politely, even if you’re miserable. “Mir geht es schlecht” (I’m feeling bad) is a truthful answer.

I had a small misunderstanding earlier today. I was complaining to a colleague at work, Markus, about how achy I felt. He said, “Das ist ja schlimm!” (That’s terrible!). I replied, “Ja, es ist wirklich schlimm, aber ich brauche nur eine kleine Pause.” (Yes, it’s really bad, but I just need a little break.) He looked confused. Apparently, “schlimm” can also mean “serious” in a more intense way than I realized!

Moving Forward – And a Little Hope

Despite the discomfort, I’m trying to stay positive. I’m focusing on getting rest, drinking lots of fluids – Wasser (water) is key! – and practicing my German. Even though I’m struggling with a nasty flu, it’s teaching me resilience, and I’m slowly building my German vocabulary. I’m hoping to be feeling better soon, and maybe even able to order Eis (ice cream) properly without completely embarrassing myself. Ich drücke Ihnen die Daumen! (I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!) – and hopefully, I’ll be back to enjoying Berlin’s coffee and donuts soon.