Alopecia World
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Travelling with Alopecia
So, in 3 days time I am heading overseas with some mates to see some of the rest of the world - well - namely - the United States. Its just me and 3 of my close friends - - so should be exciting, and I should be excited.
I have to admit though, when it comes to new places, new cultures and acceptence of my slightly different appearance, I'm a little apprehensive about travelling anywhere. Whilst I've had some great experiences, and not much difficulty in other countries, the number of stories I hear about bullying and rude people - especially from many of you on here who live in the US - I find it hard to put the thoughts aside.
So - I'm visiting a number of cities while I'm there including: New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. From what I've heard, at least San Fran and New York are quite open cities with an already overflowing abundance of 'alternative' cultures (so maybe more accepting?)
I'd just like to get an idea from those of you who live in these cities, or have visited them, whether you think I'll have any problems? Should I take a wig? Wear hats/scarves/bandannas alot? Be prepared for curious folk?
In return - - my experiences in other cultures consist of the following:
Australia - Brisbane: My home town :) I love it here, and have had a great experience with acceptance of my alopecia. In the 20 or so years I have been old enough to remember my experiences, I've had very little teasing, alot of very curious (but not rude) questions, and only a small number or negative or abbrasive interactions. So - for those travelling here - you an probably feel comfortable to hold your head high :)
Vietnam: Last year I took a 10 day trip to Vietnam and had a great time. I did not experience any negative reactions to my 'hairstyle' (though I did wear a bandanna for a majority of the trip) - - what I did experience was a mild curiosity in a little old lady serving us tea. She managed to find someone else in her shop that spoke english and we had a bit of translated dialogue about why I had no hair ... very interesting experience, but far from rude :)
New Caledonia: Even in this small French island I experienced very little negativity. I had one native guy ask to kiss my head (which was very reminiscent of drunken culture at home) - but that was all.
So - those are my travel experiences, please - Share your own :)
I have to admit though, when it comes to new places, new cultures and acceptence of my slightly different appearance, I'm a little apprehensive about travelling anywhere. Whilst I've had some great experiences, and not much difficulty in other countries, the number of stories I hear about bullying and rude people - especially from many of you on here who live in the US - I find it hard to put the thoughts aside.
So - I'm visiting a number of cities while I'm there including: New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. From what I've heard, at least San Fran and New York are quite open cities with an already overflowing abundance of 'alternative' cultures (so maybe more accepting?)
I'd just like to get an idea from those of you who live in these cities, or have visited them, whether you think I'll have any problems? Should I take a wig? Wear hats/scarves/bandannas alot? Be prepared for curious folk?
In return - - my experiences in other cultures consist of the following:
Australia - Brisbane: My home town :) I love it here, and have had a great experience with acceptance of my alopecia. In the 20 or so years I have been old enough to remember my experiences, I've had very little teasing, alot of very curious (but not rude) questions, and only a small number or negative or abbrasive interactions. So - for those travelling here - you an probably feel comfortable to hold your head high :)
Vietnam: Last year I took a 10 day trip to Vietnam and had a great time. I did not experience any negative reactions to my 'hairstyle' (though I did wear a bandanna for a majority of the trip) - - what I did experience was a mild curiosity in a little old lady serving us tea. She managed to find someone else in her shop that spoke english and we had a bit of translated dialogue about why I had no hair ... very interesting experience, but far from rude :)
New Caledonia: Even in this small French island I experienced very little negativity. I had one native guy ask to kiss my head (which was very reminiscent of drunken culture at home) - but that was all.
So - those are my travel experiences, please - Share your own :)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by emine hasoglu on
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I ve a son with at and we live in Turkey.We oftenly visit USA and we never had any serious problems.Hope u have great time.
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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on
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I would ignore what you may have heard about rude people. They are not the norm. Sometimes a person with alopecia vents loudly about a very upsetting but isolated experience and it can seem to be a common occurrence when it is in actuality very rare and isolated.
Have a fantastic trip! Be yourself. Don't think about other people's reactions any differently than you do any other day of your life.
Decades before I ever had alopecia and even after being a mother, I was on the receiving end of inappropriate comments (all by women) about aspects of my appearance, gait and especially my real curves. So never attribute to the alopecia that which is most often better attributed to the coarse and uncouth behaviour of people whose parents didn't raise them well and don't have any insights into dealing with feelings of jealousy.
Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org
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PS
It's going to be hot hot hot most likely in all those cities except for San Francisco. Bring or buy hats, layer with a thin scarf underneath for comfort and you'll be comfortable and look great, too!
Bring a wig if you want for variety, but not for necessity. Like anywhere else, someone might be curious about bald head and say something..it's just like anywhere else..most people don't say anything, but once in a while someone does.
Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org
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Permalink Reply by Dominique on
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Hey Thea,
Thanks for the great advice :) Yeah - I suspected it would pretty warm for the most part, so was hoping not to feel like needing a wig :)
Cheers again
-Dominique
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Dominique I go to New Orleans all the time my husband works mainly out of LA. The people down there are preety open minded. It gets very hot down there. There is a lot of humidity!! I would just wear a cap unless you feel uncomfortable. My husband is trying to convince me to wear a cap tommorrow going down to my mothers that is three hours away and I'm not ready for that yet. From my experiences down in New Orleans, the people their are for the most part very freindly.Hope you have a great time.
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Permalink Reply by spaganya on
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honestly while some of us may complain about stuff that happens here at home - it really is venting about isolated incidents - folks here in the US are just as friendly and accepting as anywhere else in the world, if not more so!
rock whatever look you want, people wont bother you.
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Hey All,
just a quick update :) I arrived in LA yesterday and am currently in NYC :) Loving every minute of it and everyone seems really friendly - - not a single problem. Not sure why I was even worried :)
Thanks heaps for your responses.
Cheers,
-Dominique
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Permalink Reply by Debbie on
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I am going to my in-laws for the weekend, to attend my husband's 20th class reunion. I am, of course, taking my wig, but my sweet in-laws are in their 80's and they have a tendency to always mention my hair (or lack thereof). Some of the other in-laws even think I have cancer instead of androgenetic alopecia. I am feeling especially sensitive about this. Just today, I was shopping at a department store here in Conyers, GA and a lady I don't even know came up and asked me how my treatment was going and how long I had been taking it (meaning chemo)! Sometimes I can just laugh it off, but sometimes it really hurts! How do I handle these comments and my feelings of insecurity without hurting someone else's feelings?
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Hi Debbie,
Sorry for the delayed response. Don't come here as much as I should :) I agree its really hard to handle these comments sometimes. When I was a kid I used to just go with it - pretend etc, especially when it was adult telling me about how their child was like me and stuff - that made it really hard.
When I was about 16 I realised it was more important to me and my fellow alopecian community to educate these people. Almost everyone who says such things to us mean do it for I think one or two of about three reasons:
1. They're curious (what human isn't)
2. They feel they're being kind, considerate or supportive
3. They know someone who is dealing with cancer, and are just looking for some mutual interaction with someone else who knows what they're friend, or themselves dealt with.
I find it's very hard to disagree with someone's such direct approach as you described, without worrying that you're going to embarrassed them. But at the same time, I myself often feel embarrassed for the person as well.
Depending on what I read as their intention (and the mood I'm in on the day ;P ) - I usually respond with a quiet word to them saying thank you for their concern, but I actually am fit and healthy and have a hair loss condition call Alopecia Areata (or Adrogenetic Alopecia) in your case. Going on to explain what it is.
If they themselves have asked me this loudly, or in front of a lot of people who are then also waiting for my response, it can be harder, but then I just remember this person put themselves in that position, and I have a right to correct them in the same manner (publicly and loudly) that they made an incorrect assumption about me.
Sorry if this sounds rude or not a response you were expecting (and often I take the afore mentioned quieter approach) but after 23 years of people making these assumptions about me, I have learnt to my put my feelings first. When someone asks me publicly and in front of a lot of people if I have cancer (essentially) - then I assume that person has little regard for other people's feelings and deserves to be educated (and maybe made aware that they were being just a little insensitive). I don't think that if I had cancer, I'd really want someone asking me about my treatment in public anyway.
Cheers,
Hope this helps,
-Dominique
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