On hearing I was going ot the land of the rising sun, I had harboured dreams of experiencing something authentic,I wanted a memory that would last. I had figured then and even more recently that the memory would be of a wedding, festival, wearing a kimono or attending a cremation. Never had it crossed my mind that it would be the emergency room!
Authentic it was, not only was it my first ER visit ever but made better being in a total foreign environment in every sense of the word.
Conor was quick to diagnose upon seeing, and hearing (me) that a ambulance was a part of my quick recovery, so when it came and the men removed thier shoe at the door, rolled me unto thier mat and then jiggled with me down three floors, trying despaerately not to lose thier cargo and fit again into thier shoes.
Like anywhere else, curious neighbours waited to see who was the unlucky soul and was rewarded with a screaming gaijin on a stretcher for thier efforts.
The drive to the ER could have been short, from where I was sittign and laying it could have been faster. My cries for drugs of a gaijin dosage was ignored. Speed, efficiency,specialization and greetings is the order of the ER. Each person(about 5 men and women) went about doing thier own thing once I was placed before them, ignoring western decorum of privacy they went ahead doing thier jobs, asking the right questions-albeit in Japanese removing things, touching, squeezing and listening intently for the desired answers. Others did not bother to ask, but stated, gave and took what was required of them to do thier jobs;urine, blood, god-bless drug and IV.
After all that prepping, I ws carried off for a photo shoot! Drugs kicked in and I dont remember if I was very photogenic.
On my return I was updated and told that due to my problems, foreign objects would have to venture in areas where no one or nothing has gone before. That required a moment of silence and a prayer.
I owe you guys...Conor-how else did you plan on getting a ambulance ride? Thank you
All and all, I had excellent medical care, great support system and a memory that will not fade anytime soon.
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