Another Week of Firsts

Yes, it's been a while since I posted anything. I've got a good excuse, though, I've been sick. Being sick in the summer is never fun, and especially not when the temperature is in the 90s and you have to teach three classes between 9am and 8pm. I'm sure I caught whatever I have from one of the "babies," the 4-5 year olds in my 9am-12pm class. The kids are continually coughing, sneezing, and sniffling, and then touching me, so it was only a matter of time before I came down with something.

Adam was sick last week, and I prided myself in keeping away from him and not catching what he had. Monday night, however, my throat was scratchy and my nose was stuffy. By Tuesday my voice was barely holding out in class and Wednesday brought about the end of my voice and a general feeling of misery. I taught a nearly-silent 3 hours with the babies, involving lots of coloring, gesturing, and bribery with stickers, I could barely swallow my soup for lunch and went home to take a nap. On my way back to school for my 4:40 class I felt like death on two legs. I had a sore throat that made my eyes tear when I swallowed, pain in my ears, and aching all over. I ran into Teacher Sharon (Teacher Bob's wife and the Mom of the operation) on my way into the office and she asked how I was doing. When she heard my voice she immediately decided to send me to the doctor and packed me off to the doctor with some money and Teacher Wendy (the substitute teacher/translator/nurse/office manager/ambulance driver of the school).

I rode on the back of Teacher Wendy's scooter to the pediatrician's office. For my first scooter ride in Taiwan, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Having seen some terrifying moves in scooters since I got here, I was a bit apprehensive. However, I didn't die and we didn't run into anything, nor did I eat or inhale any bugs (and yes, I wore a helmet). The pediatrician was the only choice for a doctor since a) I don't have my insurance card here yet b)he was trained in the US and c) he speaks "enough" English and is friends with Bob and Sharon. For 500NT (<$14) he listened to my lungs, looked at my throat and ears, took my temperature, and diagnosed me with a "virus." Apparently my ears were only hurting because the nerves in my throat were so "overloaded" that the pain radiated up there. After the exam, a prescription printed in the front of the office and the receptionists/pharmacists put together a packet of pills and sent me on my way. The pills are in a long strip of waxed-paper packets with perforations so I can tear off each dose of four pills (see picture below). Teacher Wendy translated that I needed to take the pills 4 times each day, "after eat and before sleep, stop pills when better." Then we headed back to school where I put together some sub lessons and went home for the day. I was still so miserable that night that Adam ran to the pharmacy and got me some cough syrup that they definitely don't sell in the states and I slept a hard, drugged sleep.

I taught another quiet morning class yesterday, withered by lunch again, and finally made it through the day today. I'm feeling better, but my throat still hurts and my voice isn't totally back so I'm still taking the pills (even though I don't know what they are). Hopefully, since I survived the scooter ride, the doctor, the pills, and the "virus," I'll be able to survive just about anything in Taiwan.
(note: Adam took a picture of me with the pills wrapped around my neck like a scarf on the day I went to the doctor, but we both decided it was too scary for the internet, especially if there are any small children reading)