Visits to the Doctor

I would say that in America, visits to the doctor are usually characterized by waiting. In the waiting room, in the little room, and then later at the pharmacy for your prescription to be filled. Not so in Taiwan, they are ruthlessly efficient.

You see the doctor at his desk. There's no need to take any clothes off, and therefore, no need for those ridiculous paper smocks. While talking to the doctor, he gestured to someone behind me who came up and probed my ear with the thermometer with no warning, while he continued to talk to me. I initially had the panicky reaction of "Aah I'm being probed!" He proved that I was running a fever, and gestured in triumph, sort of like my fever was a rabbit he had pulled out of a hat.

They gave me three types of pills in little plastic bags, to be taken 4 times a day and 2 types of asthma inhalers. Less than half an hour later and $6 US poorer, I was done.