"Try not to kiss any boys this week."

So I made it out of the house today, if only to see the doctor, and I must admit I am feeling much better. (I can actually swallow now; I ate a whole apple. It was the best apple I've ever eaten.)

Jenny and I went to see Dr. Bondi today around noon. Since I wasn't feeling so hot (and the whole inability to swallow had led to a bit of dehydration/lack of nutrition), I called the doctors from Jenny's study abroad list and tried to schedule an appointment. I didn't want to be wandering around the city for doctors. (I think that was Jenny's plan.) The first guy wouldn't be in until tomorrow, so I called Dr. Bondi. Lo and behold, he speaks English and could see us both if we made it before 12:30 pm. He asked for my name and then said, "Never mind, I will be able to tell by your language." He also seemed pretty convinced that my sore throat was due to swallowing a chicken bone. Nope, pretty sure it's tonsillitis. "Tonsillitis, that's easy!" he exclaimed. We opted to take a cab, even though he was super close.

Jenny and I both were admitted into his office (Jenny has a rash from some bed bugs that hasn't gone away since December) and he asked which was feeling worse. Me, definitely me. "Do you want to speak in Spanish?" No, not really, I just want you to cure my throat. He really was nice. Studied medicine in Alabama, so his English was quite good. He kind of confused me with some of his questions. "You appear to be able to swallow now, you are swallowing your saliva." Yes, but mainly because I don't want to spit in front of you. Swallowing hurts. He takes me into the examining room and checks my throat. I open wide. He doesn't even need the tongue depressor to see how swollen my tonsils are. Yes, you have a bad case of tonsillitis. He asks me, "Too many clubs? Too many boyfriends?" He feels around for anything else. "Do you take any regular medications." "Yes, I have a thyroid condition." "Hyperthyroidism?" "No, hypo" "Oh so you take like a levothyroxine or something?" This guy is good. I show him the bed bug bites I have as of late and he just shrugged. While unattractive, they're apparently no big deal.

He writes up a slip to have a swab test at some clinic, but he already prescribed me some amoxicillin, so I doubt I'll go. Unless things don't improve. The doctor's visit was only $120 pesos, even with a big night out I'd say, and since I spent the weekend in bed, I could afford it. He tells me to pick up an Argentine OTC fever reducing medicine and offers me this sage advice, "Try not to kiss any boys this week."

I am about to take my second round of medication and am super-excited because they already seem to be working. I really hope tomorrow can be a "normal" day. I bet the waiters downstairs have missed me at coffee the past few mornings...