• Ceaseless.

The one word to describe student season as a volunteer coordinator.

Overwhelming is perhaps another. New face after new face, name after name, a barrage of allergy and medical records to remember, months spent wading through risk assessments.

Day after day, month after month, on the road living out of a backpack many miles from civilisation.

Amazing

Exciting

Unforgettable

 

So many exciting memories and yet the main thing people ask me about…

…(apologies to the squeamish among you reading this)…

…my period.

“How did you last 5/6 months without shopping?! Half of your backpack must have been sanitary towels / tampons?”

“How did you dispose of your *things*?”

“Wasn’t it embarassing sharing accommodation with guys during your period?”

“How did you hide your used *things*? Were there proper bins?”

To sum up, I packed maybe one pack of tampons and pads and gave them all to various volunteers. I always carry tampons in my first aid kit anyway but not for monthly use. I never had anything solid to dispose of and half of the guys I travelled with didn’t know, and the others couldn’t care either way as long as I had access to sugar and thus didn’t attack them…

How was it so easy?

The Mooncup

My most important travel companion. Essentially the mooncup is a medical grade flexible silicone “cup” that you wear internally instead of a tampon.

100% reusable, easy to clean, easy to change, easy to use.

Discreet (takes a bit of thoughtful planning the first time for finger cleaning… undo the water bottle lid first!)

Bizarrely I found I had less cramps as well – it truly is the gift that keeps on giving! Psychosomatic? I did wonder but others I have spoken to found the same to be true for them.

I love the convenience – Have an inkling that your period is going to start – because lets face it who really knows what day!? – Just pop in the cup. If it does start, great you are prepared, if it doesn’t no harm done.
“Why not just use pads for those uncertainty days?” I HATE pads, I find they crinkle up and chafe. Especially in 40+C humid temps, pads and hiking are certainly not friends!

Reusable means you don’t have to keep buying either, so it saves you money in a much shorter time than you would think.

But most importantly.

No landfill. 

I know reusable pads are now increasing in popularity, but for me the moon cup is still top of my list.