El médico

Apparently my immune system can’t handle the hugs and kisses from 200 plus Spanish niños. Last week I was feeling a bit under the weather and, finally, this morning I woke up and with a terrible sore throat and felt like one of the metros ran over my head. I called in sick to work for the first time and made a few phone calls to figure out where exactly I could go to see a doctor and take full advantage of my all inclusive insurance here in Spain.

Turns out the Doctor’s office is a five minute walk from my apartment but the general doctor wasn’t in until 5:30 P.M. so I bummed around the apartment and caught up on some much needed sleep and drank enough tea to make me feel English.

Last time I was in Spain I didn’t have the pleasure of visiting a doctor. I left with my insurance card, ID, and stuffed up head on a mission to get some magic medicine to end my pain. The office is tucked into the side of a building surrounded by bancos, pastelerías, and tapa bars. There was a receptionist who took my information and then asked me to wait in the sala de espera (waiting room) until the doctor was ready.

I found a seat, took out my latest book that I have been reading (a short kids' novel that David gave me, complete with pictures) and looked around the room. I did my best to hid the book from the other Spaniards - El Principito probably wouldn't be the smoothest conversation starter. There were about 7 people waiting for their turn to see the doctor.There was no nurse to run initial tests – when a patient came out of the doctor’s office the next went in. Patients asked each other who was la próxima (the next patient) and waited for their turn.

After I had waited for about twenty minutes it was my turn to describe my symptoms to the doctor (God willing my Spanish allowed me to do this). I talked with her for a few minutes, telling her how I felt and where I had pain and just like that I walked out with a prescription for amoxicillin to treat my sinus infection. Across the street I gave my prescription to the pharmacist and two minutes later I was on my way home with a cure. Hopefully I will be well enough to be at work on Friday – I will be super bummed if I miss the Halloween fun.

Un beso, Rachel