Thursday, June 5, 2008

A week in the life of an asthmatic traveler

For those of you who read my blog religiously (thanks mom) you may have noticed I've been away for a while. Well...it turns out that inside my lost baggage (still hasn't arrived) was my medication for the summer that I would need if I was to surrvive Kolkata. So for the last week I have been experiencing the Kolkata health care system at Ruby General Hospital. As I write this, I have just enjoyed my lunch (day 4 of vegetable curry and rice) and am quite comfortable in the complementary blue and white cotton checkered pajamas. Curry, pajamas, air conditioning, internet....this place sure has any hospital in the states beat. If I had known I would have checked myself immediately into this little piece of heaven and given the heat a miss right from the start. In all seriousness...I have been extremely well taken care of although I don't know what the nurses think of this little american girl who has been watching sound of music on repeat. (They have 5 english DVDs for my viewing pleasure including sound of music and mary poppins)

While I have holed up in the hospital Jay (my amazing classmate) has been doing my dirty work concerning my bags. And it seems to have paid off...after countless phone calls which have included threats and yelling I got news that my bags will be delivered tomorrow morning. While I would love to jump up and down with great joy 1) that wouldnt be good for my asthmatic state and 2) I have heard such things before. I'll let you know the update with the bag as the situation continues to unfold. I have been havng dreams however about the marvelous compensation I am going to be asking from British Airways since it was their incompetence that landed me in this joint.

And finally, my luck continues....the doctor has told me that I would be free to go tomorrow...only for me to find out that the entire city is on strike for two days because of the rising gas prices and there is no possible way for me to get home. Sadly I will be staying at Ruby until Saturday when the strike it over.

I will have more to report once im sprung from this place but as for now it's back to bed to watch the sound of music once again!




3 comments:

Linds said...

Erin, I am glad you are ok and are being well taken care of. I was actually diagnosed with a form of asthma right before I left for Africa. Crazy. I hope you get your luggage. Maybe British Air can upgrade you to first class on your return trip home. Hope all is well.

Lukman Arsalan said...

I am so happy that you are well now. I guess AC is not too bad afterall. I went for an AC hunt two nights ago (my apt does not have AC either) so I managed to find one on Craig's List for $50 and got it picked up at 2 AM!! It was pretty ineresting carrying an AC unit around in the subway for 50 minutes.
Be safe Erin... XOX

Jane Jones said...

Hello My Bear,

This has been a week and I'm so thankful that you are feeling better and clamoring for discharge. Actually, I'm kind of relieved that there is a general strike going on and that you will have to stay put for several more days. You are always in such a hurry to get out of the hospital (understandable) but this will give you a chance to rest and recover for a while longer. Remember that it's hot and humid out there!! Love you so much,
Mom