Fuddland

Another first this week: my first being ill enough to visit a doctor. Actually, I wasn’t that poorly — just a standard case of manflu — but upon turning up to work looking suitably pathetic [headache, body-ache, fatigue, distinct “please cancel my classes” look in the eyes], the boss took me to the medical centre on the floor below for a quick check-up. And when I say quick, I mean quick: stick-your-tongue-out, hmmm, feel head, feel arms, feel back, check glands … yes, this boy’s sick. Fever confirmed! Not that that meant I could go back home — not when there’s teaching to do! Rescheduled classes? Impossible, apparently.

Being allergic to aspirin, I was hesitant about getting myself some over-the-counter “Western-style” headache pills, but definitely needed to try something to get me through the morning until I could go back to bed for most of the afternoon. The doctor’s advice was to drink lots and lots of [hot] water and to eat an entire watermelon every day throughout the summer! All well and good, but not the quick fix I was after. So the boss went and bought me some Chinese remedies, which I’m happy to report taste just as vile as Western medications. Firstly, I was given packets of little brown ball-bearing-like things to dissolve in my mouth, to reduce the fever. I hadn’t heard of the “making someone gag” way of reducing a fever, but gave it a go nonetheless. To wash these down I was given a powder [brown, again] to mix with hot water, which tasted suspiciously like highly-sugared gravy.

Neither of these had any noticeable effects during the morning [apparently, I was told afterwards, Chinese medicine “doesn’t work very fast” — thanks!] but I rested between classes — for which I cunningly altered my lesson plans to involve a lot of listening to CDs and reading exercises — and I felt a lot better the next day. I’ve still not quite gotten around to eating that watermelon though.

#1

felicity | 2006 / 08 / 01 – 05:06

you poor thing - hope you’re better soon(ish)!

#2

imogen | 2006 / 08 / 01 – 05:16

aww, dvd, hope you’re better and that there haven’t been any tea disasters to report on since i’ve been away.

i just remembered when comments became the new email. a long time ago. so, i thought i’d comment up that i’m back and safe and sound. it was a long ride. and a good one. motorcycles are the new ‘not driving.’ :)

miss you — you fancy English teacher abroad.

#3

David | 2006 / 08 / 08 – 15:23

Re #1 & #2: Thanks you two — all better now. :)

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