Howdy,
I thought I had better get this letter sent out quick since the end of the World will be here in two days. According to many of our students, the end is coming on September 26th. I haven’t really researched it, but their parents are telling them that there will be earthquakes all over China, Russia, and the United States (notice nothing happening here) and that will cause huge tsunamis and so on and so forth. This, coming from parents that told their children that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year flipped the world upside down and we will now have snow in Qatar. Once their parents tell them something, there is no rational discussion that can change their mind – my suggestion was that they should stay home with their families on the last day of the World. At least then, my final day will be quiet!
I have still been having trouble with one of my ears, so I finally made an appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. Quite the experience – almost comical. So, we arrive to a very nice private clinic and pull up to the valet parking. After checking in at the reception counter (with four receptionist so no one waits) we sat down for maybe two minutes and then we were escorted back to the doctors office by a nurse. I couldn’t tell if he thought himself so important that he really didn’t want to talk to me or if he really didn’t know what he was doing and was just going through the motions. I explained that I had just finished 10 days of antibiotics and was still having difficulty with blockage in my right ear. He never asked what meds I had taken or why I had taken them. He then has me sit in the examination chair and he looks in my ears, nose and then throat. He asks me if I smoke. I reply no. He then says, “Acid Reflux Disorder, that is my final answer!” Now what do you say to that? Can I ask the audience? Maybe call a friend? He then sends me out to another doctor that runs a series of hearing and pressure tests. I then go back to the original doctor, who just matter of factly states, “I will give you three prescriptions and you will come back in 10 days”. There was a quick explanation of how I was to take them, but no explanation of what they were for. He then asked me, “you don’t have an infection do you?” I just chuckled to myself and left. The nurse walked me to the reception desk and she made the second appointment for me (before I could escape) and then walked to the pharmacy where they slid out three boxes of medication (after illegibly handwriting directions on the boxes). All this for a co-pay of about $15 USD – such a deal! The understanding I left with was that there is swelling in my Eustachian tube and he was giving me an anti-inflammatory and then two nasal sprays to clear the passages. When I got home, I check the Internet and found that, yes, I was being treated for Acid Reflux – of which I have no symptoms. I can’t wait to go back next week to find out what else might be ailing me.
Our friends Harold and JoAnne finally made it back into the country Wednesday night. They have been stuck in Italy since September 4th. Harold’s passport was damaged, yet they were allowed to board the plane in Canada to Rome. They had about a 12-hour layover and Qatar Airlines (not customs or any official agency) would not allow them to board. Now they could have spent about $5000 and taken another airline, but they kept being told it would only take a couple days to get solved. Nothing gets done here in a couple days! They have been sitting in Italy spending thousands of dollars waiting for Qatar and the school to get him a new visa (he received a new passport from Canada in 4 days). When the visa finally arrived, they had spelled his name wrong, so they had to argue their way on the plane again. This time they had a guy that had a little compassion. Once they got to Qatar, the customs desk couldn’t have care less – apparently Qatar Airways is the true gatekeeper.
We have already purchased our tickets home for Christmas (Dec 16th thru Jan 2nd) – we are going to be on Qatar Airways, at least we will be boarding in Houston coming back in case they decide something is not in order – we can only hope.
Lesson of the Week: Breathing dust every day causes the same symptoms as GERD (Acid Reflux).
Love to all,
Doug and Missie
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