Before I continue, I want to make it clear that the hospital trip was nowhere near as bad as it sounds. The reason we went to the hospital is because that's where the foreign doctor's office is. And because of the time of day it was, the only place we could enter through was the emergency room. That being said, it was still pretty terrifying.
Why? For starters, my Chinese could only get me so far. I knew enough that I could try to tell them my symptoms. And where I failed, my trusty iPod Touch helped out. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for me to understand what they were going to do to check me out. I understood they were going to check inside my throat to see how red it was. Other than that, nothing.
The hospital was a lot of walking around. The first thing they did was have someone guide me to the registration part. (I was able to use my Chinese name for the first time in three years!). Next, they took me to a room where I had to try as hard as I could to describe my symptoms. They checked in my mouth. According to them, it was really red.
After giving me a quick check-up, they took me to get my blood drawn. This part was what really scared me. I actually thought they were going to admit me for being sick. Turns out, what they did was they dropped it off in the lab. Then after 15 minutes, we scan a barcode, and it tells what's wrong with you.
I'm not sure when this happened, but at some point we ended up back out in the lobby so the doctor helping me out could take my temperature. She was quick to lift my shirt in public. Seeing that I wasn't going to be so quick to oblige, she had the girl that came with me go to the locker room with me so I could have privacy to take my temperature. Low fever. That was the good part, at least.
Around this time, a co-worker came by with a Chinese friend to do some translating. Like I said, my Chinese only got me so far. They asked some standard questions, then afterward, I was back out in the lobby while they got my medicine.
The medicine seemed like a lot, but it wasn't. I had pills and some liquid. The pills I can handle. I take them once a day, then I'm done. The liquid is the harder part. Not only do I have to take it three times a day, but it's not the best tasting stuff. It's like someone mixed Soy sauce with vinegar and put sugar in it for flavor. Not pleasant.
Tianjin picture of the day!
This is one of the views out side of my hotel room. Pretty, huh?
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