September 30, 2005

• We foreigners are EXTREMELY blessed to have a wondeful International Clinic here.  The doctors are professional and very efficient.  And it's sooo much cheaper than going to a doctor in the States (unless you have wonderful health insurance as I did, working for the City).

  
  

  I had to go in for a minor little procedure today, and the surgeon was so great. First, she said that she didn't want to give me even local anesthesia because she said that procedure alone would mean more needle pricks and additonal pain.   So we agreed that I would endure the pain.  Next, she explained everything as she did it.  "Now I am rubbing betadine solution" "now, this is going to feel like a really bad mosquito bite. if you want, you can grab onto Dilbar's (local medical assistant) arm" (OH MY GOODNESS, it was 10x worse than a bad mosquito bite, and poor Dilbar)  "now, i will squeeze out the pus." (she then showed me the cotton with said pus. I nodded appreciatively.)  "now, I am squeezing out more pus and blood" (more cotton showing) "I know it hurts, and I'm sorry"  "almost done" "okay, that's it!  just 2 more seconds" "finished!" For me, it was really nice, having all this information and encouragement.  There was a point when I wasn't answering her because I was trying to go to my "happy place" because of the pain, and she said worriedly "hello, are you still with us?  hello?  hello?"

  
  

  I also think going to the doctor when you don't have something serious is really helpful, because to a lay person, something big and painful = cancer, but you go to the doctor and they say "eh, that's just a mosquito bite", and that makes me feel better, since they've seen it all.  Thank God for good doctors!

  
  

  Similarly, I have been told that I am a very good patient/medical specimen.  For example, when my dentist in NYC found out that I was leaving the City to come here, he, the dental hygenist, and the receptionist all lamented "oh, that's too bad.  you're one of our favorite and best patients" (and I wasn't even PAYING the guy).  When I have given blood, the nurses have remarked "oh, you have great veins" and "wow! look at how quickly that bag filled up!" and "wow, you're very calm for someone who's giving blood for the first time" (okay, so maybe they say that to everyone, but still...)

  
  

  A girl's gotta find something to be proud of!

  
  

  Underlined parts dedicated to melviszone

  
  

  
  

  ---

  
  I hadn't watched this movie in a long time. It's really a stupid stupid movie with a few brilliant shining moments.  John Cusack is so funny in it, as is the guy who plays his sidekick.  The "I want my two dollars" line is so overplayed, and I prefer the more subtle exchange that the French exchange student and John Cusack have: "Oh, zat Rickee.  All he vants to do..iz... how to say... put hiz testicles allz overz me" "WHAT??" "Jhou know...like ze...oc-to-pus?" "oh, you mean tentacles, teNTacles...teNt.. an entirely different thing"

  • 3:48 pm
  • 7 Comments