Day 25: Intern

Have you ever had a physical examination?

I feel like for most of you that is a yes. Now if you’re wondering where I am going with this, then just stick with me. I’ve only steered three people wrong, and two of those people found their way back.

So I had to get an emergency physical examination one summer so I could go work at a camp in North Carolina. I walk into the emergency clinic that I sort of set up a physical appointment a day or so in advance.

I walk into the examination room and I am greeted by a female physicians. Now I’m not against women in any type of workforce, but If I’m (cough cough) about to have a physical (cough cough) done I always feel a little odd when someone of the opposite sex is doing the “work”. When I have had men give me physicals it’s like they’re working on a car, women seem to trying to get in and get out as soon as possible. Not that I think men do it better. I think I’m digging a hole…. OK enough of that.

But when the doctor walked in she was being followed by an intern. The doctor introduced her and said she’ll be watching the proceedings today and that she was training to be a doctor. If I wasn’t already (cough cough) as uncomfortable with someone of the opposite sex performing a physical on me (cough cough), now someone was getting to watch. I looked around to make sure I wasn’t being pranked. Sadly I wasn’t.

We worked through the different parts of the physical, the ears, eyes, reflexes, lungs; the whole rigmarole. I was dreading the last (cough cough) part, which it is always last, and then she said to me, “all done!” I’m sure the look on my face was both excitement and confusion. I was unsure if she had done the right physical. I wanted to make sure, because I didn’t want to have to go through it all again.

I waited at the front while they finished out my paperwork. The doctor looked around the corner at me, and said, “oh yeah, we forgot something…” If I’ve ever had a moment where I felt like a big camera zoomed on my face and my eyes got really really big, this would be that moment. She then said, “Well we don’t really need to do that today, unless you want to.” My quick response was, “I think I’ll pass.”

I walked out of the doctor’s office knowing that I just had a near miss.

Now to make this relate. Often I am the, “hello this is Nathan our intern he will be observing our proceedings today.” Although no one is dropping trough (Thank God!) during these proceedings it is interesting to see the other side of the fence.

Some of these proceedings are between few, and are very intimate meetings with rites and rituals that are very common in Chinese culture. This could go as far as who sits where and not speaking before you are introduced or asked to speak. I am glad that I am getting the chance to observe these things instead of my supervisors saying, “no I’ll pass”. I’m getting to see the inner workings of this University from the President down to the interns and doormen. It is all very interesting and exciting.

~

After work today me and another intern named “Strong” went out for “Shao Kou”, or Chinese Barbecue. I told him about how my Dad has a huge barbecue and how American Barbecue is good, but different.

Pictures include: pictures of the barbecue, Strong and a few others. I ate chicken feet, pork, fish, tofu, and some pickled cucumbers and peanuts as a side. The chicken feet don’t look like feet, because they are the meat on the inside, so basically it’s cartilage. It was not a bad night.

-NL