PSA

Alrighty.....I realize that this may seem terribly random, but I DO have my reasons for this:

If you are planning on taking a long plane ride overseas, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure to walk around every hour or two, do plenty of stretching, flex and relax your leg muscles, wiggle your toes, etc. Sitting in those uncomfortable seats and staying inactive for long periods of time can lead to blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. This is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or economy class syndrome. Make sure to also drink plenty of water, and you can even pop a couple of aspirin just to be on the safe side (plus, well, leg muscles get all sore and achy after having to endure that flight for such a long time!!). ALSO.....if you develop any shortness of breath WHATSOEVER (even the kind that goes away after you rest) after taking a long flight, or any severe pain deep in your calf, get it checked out RIGHT AWAY. Please spread the word about this. In this day and age where it's so easy to hop on a plane and fly anywhere, it's still surprising how often these blood clots develop and prove fatal for world travelers, especially when they can be avoided by moving around a lot during the flight and being aware of your body once you are back on solid ground.