6 Minutes to Oblivion

I have 6 minutes to write this. That is, I already wrote it but didn't pay enough Euros to complete it and the internet shut down just as I was about to upload. So here I go again-- I'm in Amsterdam digging civilization for 8 hours before my flight to Minneapolis. Loving this place. I got an infection from India. Its something I don't want to talk about, so you can imagine. In India, a doc gave me 2 count em 2 different antibiotics to take-- after testing every fluid I have-- which destroyed my entire gastrointestinal world, and didn't cure me. Discovered the infection was back with a vengeance only mere hours before getting on the plane in Delhi so I just got on and hoped for the best. It was a hellish plane ride and no mistake with constant lines for the bathroom, which I would pretty much go to the end of as soon as I got done being at the front of.  Because of the way my itinerary is written, I had no idea how long the flight was supposed to be, because the leaving time was in Delhi time and the arrival time was in Amsterdam time, and it looked like the whole thing was only a couple of hours, which of course wasn't true. I didn't want to ask a flight attendant for some reason. They always seem so busy and grouchy. But somehow, as always, we eventually got there. Being in India you get so used to everything from partial to extreme discomfort both day and night that you get used to it, so that's handy for situations like this. 

Laying over in Amsterdam I went to their "red cross" station expecting no help and grouchiness and possibly some humiliation coming my way. Just used to India, that's all. Actually I got an incredibly helpful doctor who gave me new medicine, good advice, and charged me . . . . a grand total of . . . . 6 euros. That's right folks, 6 euros to go to an emergency room and get an entire course of antibiotics, a bottle of tylenol, a test, an exam, and all the rest. I nearly choked on my tongue when he told me.

"I thought of charging you 100 dollars," he joked. "I figured you'd pay it!"

"Now you're thinking like an American!" I said. Of course, you and I both know I was prepared to pay at least that.

Anyway, I'm out of time and now in love with socialism. See you soon!