Yo tengo Blue Cross/ Blue Shield!

I have been to the doctor twice since have been here and each time has been an enlightening experience. The first time I went with my roommate for her sore throat and the second time for my sinus infection. Now let me first explain the Spanish idea of getting sick. According to my host mother Teresa there are only two ways people get sick - by not wearing house slippers or drinking water outside of Spain (nationalism at its finest). This is the truth and the common belief here. In every house it is customary to have tile floors and this idea is great because you can just mop down the whole house. However, this does make for incredibly cold floors, possible sickness and a nice theory. Although tile floors alone cannot account for asthma, allergies, strep and most other illness beside the common cold. Because of this mentality throughout Spain the basic treatment for illness is lots of rest, water and ibuprofen.
It is also sometimes hard to convey how sick you are -- perhaps you are sick and you did wear house shoes. So when I was sick for three days and I had been faithfully wearing my slippers, I knew that I needed to see a doctor.
Just like the time I saw him with my roommate he asked me the same standard questions and I told him my symptoms. He starts writing out the prescription which is ibuprofen and syrup for congestion. This is the basic remedy for someone who is just getting sick, but I’ve been sick for three days. If I was in the U.S. I could quickly run by the nearest Wal-Mart and pick this up without a prescription. I however am in Spain and the only way to purchase any type of medicine is to go to the pharmacist. No other stores sell medicine and it cannot be purchased at a convenience or grocery store.
Because of these details, I knew that I had not come all the way to the doctor to be prescribed Tylenol. My roommate Francis had been to the doctor twice for more severe symptoms of her sore throat only to be given the same standard ibuprofen and syrup. I quickly thought did I tell him everything and I realized I left out a very important detail. I yell out I have green mucus!! He quickly realizes that this is serious and I get an antibiotic! Through this experience I am eternally grateful for over the counter medicines and the ability to purchase them at the nearest gas station. Not being able to purchase the basics in a time of need has made me more aware of the freedoms we have in the states and how medical care is carried out… The syrup by the way liquefied Mucinex!

Driving Spanish Style

Mi amiga mejor en España (best friend in Spain) is Maria Soraya Perez. She has been a wonderful friend to me always helping me when I need help with my Spanish or I am confused about the culture and costumes and the best thing is she also speaks English. We have many wonderful experiences together and many funny moments explaining things lost in translation. My favorite thus far has been watching her learn how to drive. In Spain the legal driving age is 18 and you must go to driving school in order to get your license. So the first day we plan to get together Soraya decides that she wants to pick up her license from the school and take me for a drive without supervision. Her very first driving experience with any friend and she chooses me I am honored. I am also scared out of my mind at the same time.
Spanish drivers are by far some of the most fearless drivers and scariest people I have seen on the road. They love to honk and yell and curse. Driving seems like a pastime here sometimes while Spaniards are driving they will play songs with their horns and they are always talking to each other from their cars at people passing by or at people in other cars. The streets of Seville are filled with buses, vespas, taxies and cars. People make up their own lanes and drive according to their own rules.
So riding with Soraya was a something to be cautious about. Soraya’s first car is a 14 year old stick manual and here again I throw caution to the wind. she puts her sign in the back that says new driver. In Spain you must keep the sign on the back windshield for a whole year. This should help with people being more cautious around her. It doesn't people honk and curse at poor Soraya.
We are supposed to pick up and drop off her grandmother at her mother’s office. Simple task. We drive to her grandmother’s house . Smooth sailing… so far. We arrive… the car only cut out once at stop light. We arrive at the house and this probably was not the best of ideas because all I hear them saying was “O Dios Mio” in English it means “OH MY GOD!” Her grandmother continued to pray throughout or whole journey. We pull up to the gas station it should be simple she goes in and gets an attendant. They still have full service gas stations in Spain. She forgets to put the car’s emergency brake on and we are rolling away into the street. People at the gas station are yelling and screaming trying to get her attention in the store. Slowing inching closer towards oncoming traffic she finally runs out and saves us. We get gas and continue in are journey. Finally and alive we arrive at her mother’s office. I am happy to be alive and grateful that I learned how to drive on open roads and parking lots!