The Doctor & Other Note Worthy Events

So I have been slowly dying of a cough and runny nose for the past 3 weeks. But 2 days ago one of our lovely ISA staffers Lorna, who is a great friend and has kinda of been like a big sister for me since I arrived, asked if she could make me a doctors appointment. PRAISE JESUS! So not only did I not have to try to make myself an appointment over the phone in spanish (the most terrifying thought ever), but Lorna accompanied me to my appointment as well. When she told me she was coming with me I almost cried, I was so relieved. But rather than making a fool of myself I just gave her an incredibly long hug. She laughed at me but I think she got the point: I DID NOT WANT TO GO BY MYSELF!!!! 
So the doctor's office looks normal, she said it was a clinic so I wasn't expecting much, but it reminded me of our doctor's offices back home: one big building with multiple floors and about 8 doctor's offices on each floor. But thats where the normal-ness ends...
   -Lorna was told that I could use a credit card. Wrong, using my credit card at the ATM in the lobby does not count you crazy receptionists
   -I filled out 0 paperwork before I saw the doctor. None. They asked for a number off of my Chilean ID, took my money, and we sat down
   -You know how I said everyone here greets with a kiss on the cheek? The doctor still does that! Even though he is treating sick people all day! Call me crazy but I thought all doctors were educated about the idea that contact spreads germs??
   -The doctor only asked my DOB, where I was from, if I have any allergies to medicines, and what was wrong with me. No prior illness questions, no height, weight, what medications I'm currently on...
    -And then he proceeded to take the information that I gave him and write it on a note card. Not on an official paper on a clip board thingy, not in the computer, on a stinking flash card. 
    -So he takes my temperature... with an old school glass thermometer (which I was instructed to place under my armpit) and when he was finished with it he used soap (not rubbing alcohol or something official and doctor-like) to wash the thing and sets it back down on the edge of the sink for the next person to use. I have officially shared armpit juice with at least 400 other people. yum. 
   -The man nonchalantly tells me I have bronquitis (bronchitis!!) and a sinus infection, writes me a prescription for 3 medications and sends me on my way. He didn't tell me to rest a ton, drink lots of fluids, not to share my drinks with anyone. Nothing. 
I never fully appreciated Dr. Eaton (my pediatrician from back home) until now. He always asked me too many questions because he was genuinely concerned, cleaned everything with rubbing alcohol, and apologized for the stethoscope being cold. Some things here will just never be like home.
But with that being said, the stuff my Chilean doctor gave me is working! My runny nose (mi nariz con agua) has stopped being so runny, I can notice a little less pressure in my chest, and I think just knowing that I'm going to get better for sure has just given me an energy boost. 

Other Noteworthy Events: 

Erin, Lindsay, Scott, and myself took a little adventure to Jardin Botanica de Vina del Mar (botanical gardens of Vina). Scott's mom had said that because its winter most of the plants were probably going to be dead...

If this is what dead plants look like I can't wait to come back in the summer!

Aren't we just so cute?!

Does this not look like the scene in Pride & Prejudice where Darcy tells Elizabeth that he loves her?? Us ladies decided that we would start dating here in Chile solely in the hopes that we might get brought here for a romantic picnic. Jajaja 

So we wandered around, ignored signs that told us not to hike in certain places, and overall had a very exhausting but very enjoyable afternoon.


We alsohad an excursion last weekend. I barely pulled myself out of bed for it but I'm sure glad I did. 
Pomaire: This quaint little artisan village was what I was expecting all of Chile to look like. So I was really glad when we pulled up that it was simple, brightly colored, and welcoming (unlike the skyscrapers and smog of Santiago). This little place made me feel like I was home because it matched up to some of the few expectations I had for this trip. Life was great! 

I had the best cheese empanada that I've had since I've been here 

I saw the biggest empanada of my life (that thing weighs a KILO!)

          This pic about sums up the town: so precious 

          Hung out with my good friend Shea (Cheesecake) all day

And the The Cough happened...
Here I was just walking down the street and I was violently attacked by a cough. This was not just any cough, mind you, it was a monster. It was epic. It was starting to catch people's attention. I'm leaning up against a tree in the middle of the sidewalk coughing a lung out, a street performing clown is advising me to put my hands above my head, Shea has literally run to go buy me some water, and from around the corner comes this tiny Chilean woman, running at me with a 2 liter of Coke and a plastic cup, pouring as she is running to me. People are now full on staring at me as I am "dying" up against this tree. I take the Coke. I down the Coke. My cough reduces its fury. I am EMBARRASSED. I asked the woman how much the Coke cost her (this is obviously a town with a low average income so I felt guilty just drinking her Coke) she says not to worry about it. I try to explain that I have no idea where the heck that cough just came from as I have 3 different Chilean woman ushering me onto a chair asking if I'm ok. If I wasn't going to die from the cough the embarrassment was going to try and finish me off. 
Moral of the story: I am a firm believer that Coke gives people cancer. That darn stuff kills people! But in an emergency, Coke just might save your life. Always say yes to the Chilean woman with the Coke. 

Now that my near death experience was over it was time to visit the final Pablo Neruda house. This house in Isla Negra was easily my favorite of them all. 

                       

   This view...need I say more?

But I wouldn't be Kait Beseda if I didn't say more, so here's some more pictures:

This house was just everything that a beach house should be. Quaint and eccentric, with a great view, lots of colorful glass bottles, and a ton of random alcoves and rooms. It was love!

In conclusion,
To those of you who are wondering if I'm tired of this place: no way! Everyday is an adventure and a struggle. I have never had to push myself so far out of my comfort zone and most days I have actually enjoyed it. So much so that the boundaries of my comfort zone have expanded. I think this experience is going to help me grow up a lot, and most importantly learn how to "tranquila"(relax, chill out, don't sweat it). It been a hard thing to try to do but in the end I think not being so hard on myself is going to be a good lesson to learn. Life, and this trip in particular, are too short to spend letting the little things drive me crazy. So when I say "una dia" when its supposed to be "un dia", I'll get over it... and so will the Chileans. 
Besitos, 
Kait