| Everything was going swimmingly: I got my
| |
| | "I am sorry, I'm very sick," I sputtered,
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| passport, found a cheap flight, and got
| |
| | opening the door.
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| my two weeks off of work. I was ready for
| |
| | "Sir, you are not well!" a portly,
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| the ultimate vacation. On a tip from a
| |
| | amiable looking local said.
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| friend of mine, I decided on a package
| |
| | "Yes, perhaps I should sleep it off," I
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| tour of Meditopia, an island nation often
| |
| | tried to close the door, but the guide
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| called the jewel of the South Pacific.
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| | would not let me.
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| The brochure sent to me by Meditopia
| |
| | "We must take you to our brand new
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| Adventure Travel displayed pristine white
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| | hospital, sir,"
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| sand beaches, lush jungle waterfalls,
| |
| | "No, no, I don't have any insurance," I
|
| charming locals, and, strangely, a
| |
| | said, "at least none that would be
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| photograph of their brand new hospital.
| |
| | accepted here."
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| 'Our health care is free to all,' the
| |
| | "Sir, you must understand that here, in
|
| caption under the photo read. An avid
| |
| | Meditopia, we pride ourselves in our free
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| scuba diver and lover of nature, this
| |
| | health care. Even Yankee travelers such
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| obscure nation seemed to provide it all.
| |
| | as yourself can get access to our state
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| I connected to Meditopia Air flight
| |
| | of the art facilities."
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| number 13 from Bangkok, and after sixteen
| |
| | I did not believe him, but before long I
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| hours of travel, I arrived into
| |
| | found myself in an ambulance, on the way
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| Healthiopolis Airport. Customs was a
| |
| | to the hospital. Wrapped in blankets,
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| pretty standard procedure, although it
| |
| | upon entry to the hospital, I tried to
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| was strange when the official seemed
| |
| | fish out my HMO card, but the exceedingly
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| disappointed that I did not have any
| |
| | friendly nurse waved it away. I waited no
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| pre-existing medical conditions.
| |
| | more than ten minutes before a two
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| As it turned out, I arrived in the middle
| |
| | Doctors waved me into an examination
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| of monsoon season. Despite securing a
| |
| | room. In my feverish delirium, I
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| very quick and efficient taxi to the
| |
| | continued to wave around my insurance
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| hotel, I was soaking wet and shivering by
| |
| | card, knowing full well that my plan had
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| the time I reached the front desk. I
| |
| | no coverage for foreign hospitals. The
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| wasn't going to let some rains dampen my
| |
| | doctors diagnosed my acute food
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| spirit: I celebrated the first night of
| |
| | poisoning, and set me up with a lavish
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| my vacation with a couple pork dumplings
| |
| | hospital room, as well as a free
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| known to be a local delicacy. Before long
| |
| | prescription for the necessary
|
| I was dreaming of the swimming, hiking,
| |
| | antibiotics. Good lord, I tried to give
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| and diving I would be doing.
| |
| | the staff money every time they visited,
|
| The next morning, I awoke to an intense,
| |
| | but they refused.
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| pounding headache, a severe sore throat,
| |
| | I spent my entire vacation recovering in
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| sweats, and a case of diarrhea the likes
| |
| | the hospital ward; it was amazing. There
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| of which I never had before. It was
| |
| | wasn't even any paperwork for me to fill
|
| terrible, and I wasn't sure if it was the
| |
| | out. This land of Meditopia was the
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| rain that soaked me or the dumplings I
| |
| | perfect place to get sick. Feeling
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| had eaten the night before. There was a
| |
| | refreshed, rested, and thankfully, in
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| knock on my door.
| |
| | peak physical condition, I boarded the
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| "Meditopia Adventure Travel! I am your
| |
| | plane hoping to get sick here, again
|
| guide! Good morning!" a bubbly voice
| |
| | sometime.
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| called.
| |
| |
|
