So my little oopsie from the pool party got me eventually checked into the Shanghai East International Hospital VIP Clinic. Yes, that’s right. V-I-P. (What exactly happened is still a big question mark, but rumor has it, my foot must’ve dragged on pavement or something before being thrown in the pool… leaving a couple of nasty cuts on my toes… but I’m FINE.) Here’s the story:

After a day’s worth of swollen discomfort on Sunday, and learning the my Neosporin tactic wasn’t really doing much for my cuts, I checked myself in on Monday of last week - along with the aid of Lisa and school logistics admin lady, Patty (who speaks a little English, meant to be my translator.) Patty is a giggly, sweet lady who reminds me much of Olive Oyl from Popeye. Anyhoots, we went to the hospital and amidst all the rushing around of folks, Patty heads over to security personnel to ask for info, and she turns to ask me… “Special or Regular?” And OF COURSE, with a question like that, I responded, “Special.” :-) Sooooo then I was lead to the VIP Ward. Pretty nifty as since apparently Lisa had visited that hospital before but NEVER received the treatment in the VIP section. Ahh well… that’s how I roll. And as my friend Kym from home reminded me, “You have a GLOBAL VIP pass anywhere you go!” … DUHHH!! :-)

Ok so here we are, signing in…

Then waiting for the doc… I think I was the happiest, injured person in there. I couldn’t stop laughing for some reason. See, doesn’t Patty remind you of Olive Oyl??

Got x-rayed…. NO FRACTURE!

I got cleaned and wrapped up…

Then Dose 1 of Penicillin came via IV injection. I guess they don’t believe in pilled penicillin over here.. unfortunately… because I ended up having to return for 2 more consecutive days in order to get 2.5hours worth of penicillin injected - to tame my infection.

But I am ALL OKAY. I’ve been walking. No complications… aside from the stupid bandage on my toes, to allow for the cuts to heal.

But I’ve learned, definitely get checked in as “special / vip” because we had to walk through the “regular” waiting room in order to exit our first night as it was late…and to quote my friend, Eugen: “If you walk in without any diseases, you are bound to walk out with a handful.” It was a room full of all sorts of ailments, folks with different IV pumps, various beds etc. - all waiting to be seen. In a sense, it is very sad to think of the disproportionate treatment amongst the ill - the rich/poor divide. But personally, I was glad that I was admitted in the more “westernized” section where doctors/nurses were able to speak some English. Though, I’m sure the bill came out to be higher as well; you get what you pay for.

Overall, I am still in disbelief in my 6 weeks here, I’ve already seen the police station and hospital. Just simply unreal. But! No worries.. I’m still kickin!

. . don’t burn the day. .