I've become sort of a novelty in the hospital here. By now all the doctors and nurses know I'm American, so they all take full advantage of this fact and use it to practice their English on me. One nurse has formed the habit of exclaiming "Ciao, bay-bee!" every time she enters the room. Another one of my nurses speaks fairly good English, and so we talked about the difference between "blood" and "bleed." "I'm not blood-ing," I corrected her as she patched up one of my stitches that had leaked a bit of blood. "There's blood on my leg, but that's because I'm bleeding." Lovely subject matter for teaching, no?
Everyone also seems to enjoy the fact that I'm from California, too. When two of the nurses were wheeling me to get an ultrasound, they started singing this song in Italian that translates to "I dream of California, I dream of California." I realized they were singing this to the tune of the Eagle's "California Dreaming," but the lyrics translate a little differently. "The Eagles?" I asked. "Si!" They exclaimed excitedly. "I dream of California, I dream of California..."
While I was getting an ultrasound done today (the cardiologist just had to check my veins and my ticker to make sure deep-vein thrombosis hadn't set in, which it hasn't), the cardiologist told me it was unlikely there was anything wrong with my heart since I'm so young.
"But we have to check it just in case," he explained in Italian, "for Obama."
"Obama?" I asked. "Barack Obama, il presidente?"
"Si!" he replied, smiling. I told him that was a wise choice, for Barack probably would've made a personal trip out to Italy if the doctors screwed anything up. I don't think he believed me, though.
We found out today that my teacher from the university is going to be able to come to the hospital tomorrow to administer my final exam to me. This is actually a fairly exciting prospect, for it means that at least an hour of my day tomorrow will be occupied with something besides checking Facebook and playing Sudoku. For the oral portion of the examination we can talk about the topic of our choice. Luckily, this past week has provided me with plenty of subject matter. I can really wow my teacher with the new medical terms I've learned: antibiotics, painkillers, wound, vein, pain, infection, thrombosis, CT scan, stitches, and my personal favorite, bedpan.
The good news is, the leg really is improving. The infection's pretty much gone now, and I got to use crutches today! It was definitely a red-letter day. I went about 15 yards down the hallway, halfway to the vending machines, but then had to turn around and come back because it made my leg pretty sore. I took about a two hour nap to recover, and then my mom and I trekked out again, me on the crutches, and this time I made it all the way to the vending machines and back! I sat in a chair and studied for my final for about an hour, and then my mom and I went out to the vending machines and back--again! By the third time my leg wasn't hurting as badly as before; I think it just needed some time to adjust to the new position. Best news about the crutches is that I don't need to use the bedpan anymore--I can go to the bathroom all by myself, just like a big girl!
Good lord. Rereading that last paragraph is just depressing. It's kind of pathetic when the most exciting event of your day consists of hobbling to the hospital vending machines and back. I feel like a 90-year-old woman. I wonder what amazing activities tomorrow will bring...playing bingo with the other hospital gals? Learning to knit a sweater?
All right all, I'll continue to keep you posted. I've got plenty of time on my hands to provide you with exciting updates. Miss you all tons. It's getting late here though, so I should probably put the computer away and go off to California Dreaming...
Love,
Caity
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