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!