The other day, I fell at school while trying to do too much and load the kids in the car.
[this is a long post, but I have to recount it for those of you who are willing to read it all]
It hurt immensely, and because I needed to find out whether I'd broken it, I went to a nearby hospital.
[this is a long post, but I have to recount it for those of you who are willing to read it all]
It hurt immensely, and because I needed to find out whether I'd broken it, I went to a nearby hospital.
First stop :: reception area
Me : I need to get an xray for my foot?
Them : you need an xray for your leg?
Me : no, an xray for my FOOT [gesturing down at my foot]
Them : ah, yes, you need xray of your leg. ok, go that way [gesturing around corner]
Second stop :: hobbling "that way" to find xray department. I waited for about 10 minutes until someone appeared
Me : I need to get an xray for my foot?
Them : you need xray for your leg?
Me : NO, an xray for my foot. Right HERE [gesturing madly at my foot]
Them : ok, xray of foot. you need to go that way [gesturing at the direction I'd just come from]
Me : I was just there. They said to come HERE?
Them : ma'am, you need to go there to collect billing slip
Third stop :: hobbling BACK to get billing slip, again waiting about 10 minutes for someone to help me
Me : I need a billing slip for xray
Them : you need xray for your leg? [not kidding, people!]
Me : NO, just billing slip for xray
Them : you need to go that way [gesturing back from whence I came]
Me : I've been there already. Please let me pay for an xray
Them : you need to go to Casualties Department first
Me : CASUALTIES department?
Them : yes, so that doctor can look at your leg
Fourth Stop :: hobbling to Casualties Department [sounds ominous, doesn't it?]
Me : I need to get an xray for my foot
Them : please sit
Me : how long will I wait?
Them : Doctor has just left his home, will be here soon
Me : Can no one look at my foot and just get me an xray?
Them : just wait, ma'am
I then underwent a series of tests ... tongue depressors, blood pressure cuffs, height, weight, thermometer and an ear check.
The doctor arrived and introduced himself. He determined .... after consulting with all of these people ::
That quite possibly, I just might need an xray of my leg.
[really, just my foot is necessary!]
Fifth Stop :: From Casualties Department BACK to X-ray department
At this point, a man magically appears out of nowhere and grabs my coffee cup, bag and motions to me to follow him. We walk to the xray department.
Me : Can I have my coffee back?
Him : no ma'am, I will carry
Me : But am I not allowed to have it? Because I'd like to carry it myself
Him : no ma'am, I will carry
After getting xrays, I then sat for another 10 minutes while the xray technician read my results (it has now been 20 minutes without my coffee). During said wait, I had this conversation with the men (yes, now plural) who were tasked with holding my things. One for the coffee cup, one for my bag and one for the pile of paperwork that I was slowly accumulating.
Them : From which country are you from?
Me : America
Them : OOOOOH, America. You are a teacher?
Me : oh no, I don't work. I stay at home
Them : OOOOH, your husband rich. You not work, you are lucky
Me : Yes, very lucky indeed.
Them : You need to stay home and not fall!
Me : What?
Them : If you stay home, then you not fall!
Me : What?
Them : [gesturing towards my foot] You not fall if you simply stay home
Me : OHHHH, yes. You are correct
Sixth Stop :: BACK to the Casualties Department for the prescription writing and reading from the doctor, then off to the Billing Department for payment, then to the pharmacy to collect my medicines
[My foot seems to have suffered a *possible* torn ligament or maybe simply a twist/strain. He isn't quite sure, and asked that if it was still hurting in one weeks' time, to revisit him and he would look harder]
I know it's hard to picture, but at each stop, during each step, these three men dutifully followed me ...
Last stop, the OPD Billing counter ... (grand total for 4 xrays, medicines and doctor visits = $19 USD)
When the coffee cup was inadvertently left at the pharmacy counter, main man ran (yes, ran) back to get it. The door was held open and I was walked to my car, as well.
All in all, a great way to spend a morning :)
[NOTE :: I actually hurt my foot on Thursday, 9/24 ... so by the time this is scheduled to post, I'm hoping my foot feels MUCH better!]
