Time for a doctor's visit

This morning I went with Sergio to the doctor. Gary and Ann told me about a good private hospital to go to. I expected to enter something that looked like a hospital when we arrived. Instead the entire place looked a bit like a Guatemalan hotel. The walls were yellow stucco and the floors had a beautiful tile design. We went to the front desk and were directed to a doctor upstairs. I felt glad that Sergio was with me because I might not understand everything. I met with one doctor who checked my blood pressure and felt my stomach. I told him my symptoms as best I could in Spanish. Then he sent me to the lab. After that Sergio and I waited for the lab results. Once I received the lab results, which I didn’t really understand, we were sent to another doctor in the “emergency” room downstairs, which was really just one room with traces of medical equipment. The doctor made Sergio wait outside. He spoke really fast Spanish and barely took a breath, but luckily I got what he was saying. I have a high white blood cell count because I have a bacterial infection. I had to pay close to 1,000 Quetzals or the equivalent of $120 for the visit and the antibiotics. They wrote out several different receipts, all on carbon paper. I did pay more because it was a private hospital, but even half that would be nearly impossible for someone who makes about $3 a day.
Sergio gave me a ride home on his motorcycle because I was too tired to continue our “Spanish class”. I laid on the cold tile floor in my bedroom and napped for awhile. My energy has been so low that even getting off the floor sounded like a chore. I kept thinking about how truly lucky I am to have all of the amenities I do in the U.S. and to have family and friends near. I thought a lot about Scott and how much I missed him. I also thought about my mommy and how she would take care of me right now. Also, I kept picturing the average family here that lives so basically. What do they do when they are sick? Would they get antibiotics for their children? Can they?
Right now I am in the comfort of Gary and Ann’s home. It’s MUCH cooler than Teresa’s and they have TV (many channels in English)! I feel much better already and I feel so grateful for that! It’s always when you’ve just had a bout with sickness that you thank God for your health. Thanks, God. I’ll spend the next two days on Skype and then I’ll be off to two small Indigenous towns with Ann and Gustavo to give out school supplies. I can’t wait. Stay tuned for more adventures with Tara (now that I’m kickin’ this thing!)