The excitement of the week happened on Friday. I’ve been walking to school on some side streets for a few blocks to avoid traffic. Friday morning a couple of the dogs on one of the streets decided to chase me, and one bit me just above the ankle. I’d seen these dogs many times. They stand in the street outside their house and gate and bark. I greet them and walk on and they stop barking when I pass them. They had never approached me. Last week I didn’t see them. Friday after I walked past their house, two of the dogs came out into the street and started barking. I yelled at them and went on. Then one decided to run after me and bite me. I didn’t see it coming until it was too late. Then I yelled and they went back to the area near their house. I kept screaming at them as I looked at the blood coming out of my leg. I held a tissue on it to stop the flow. The owners heard me and came out. They brought a chair for me to sit on. I called Kru Oy, but I couldn’t tell him where I was. The people sent someone to wash my shoe. They poured peroxide on the wound and put some cotton on it. Kru Oy called me back; he was on the road looking for me. By this time it was clear that the owners were going to take me somewhere. So I told them to take me to school. Kru Oy met us there, and we all went to the private hospital.
They took me to the emergency room. There I saw a doctor who speaks English well. She explained that the wound was very deep; so they couldn’t suture it safely and I have to return to the hospital daily to have it cleaned. She also explained the treatment plan: rabies shots, a tetanus shot, and immunoglobulin shots. They also injected medicine into the wound, which went into the bone. This was extremely painful. After that, the nurse said she would inject something into my butt for my muscles and it would hurt. After the injection into bone, that pain was minimal. So, I had a total of five injections—one in each side of the butt, one in the wound, and one in each arm. I was pretty sore. They gave me antibiotics to take for a week and 40 tablets for pain and fever to take if I need them. That was a bit much; I’ve used three. The woman paid for everything—6,100 bahts (about $203). The meds cost 5000 bahts and the rest was for the hospital treatment—medicine, supplied, and doctor (about $30).
Then Kru Oy took me to his house for the day. I had him stop at my house first so I could get a book. The woman brought me food for lunch after stopping to see what I wanted. Then Kru Oy came with some food, and then Khun Kwan arrived with more food. I spent the day resting—reading, sleeping, and using the Internet. Khun Kwan had planned a small party for the group I teach; so Kru Tang and Fah joined us for dinner. It was pleasant to hang out with them, as I was feeling better by that time.
After my experience, one topic of discussion was how much medical coverage people get from their governments. I learned that, when the new government takes over next month, all Thai people will have free medical services. Now they are available to the old (60+), children, and government workers. I also learned that the school has some insurance for us. Since it’s a private school, teachers do not have the government coverage and they probably need to provide something to compensate so teachers will stay at the school.
Saturday morning Kru Oy took me to the hospital. I got another injection into the wound and bone that left me barely able to walk and slightly nauseous for several hours. I spent the rest of the day resting—reading and sleeping. I was able to wash my clothes in the afternoon, but otherwise I was sedentary. Khun Kwan brought me dinner in the evening after I had cooked a bit.
Sunday morning the whole family took me to the hospital. No injection, which made me happy. The cleaning didn’t hurt as much, either. When I asked the nurse if it was better, she said it was. Then we all went out for breakfast before they brought me home. Another sedentary day. My neighbor called to me at 10:30 and gave me some squash he had cooked. That was really nice. It was a little spicy but was just at the limit of what I can tolerate to eat. Khun Toy and Khun Dakom came in the afternoon, as they were spending the night at Khun Kwan’s house because she had to go to the hospital Monday morning to have her kidney stone checked. It has disappeared from her kidney and they want to make sure it’s not elsewhere in her body. While they were here, the owner came, too. Khun Dakom had talked to her and told her she should visit me every day until I’m well. She’s leaving town and can’t come again until Friday. She’s a nice person. She brought two kilos of fruit—rambutan and longan. Since this is way too much for me, I gave some to the neighbor in the bowl I returned. When I came home, he called to me and gave me a bunch of bananas.
After dinner, Khun Kwan, Khun Joy, Khun Toy, and I went out to sing karaoke. This was not on the list of things I wanted to do that night, as I was tired and wanted to go home and lie down. But it was fun to go out with the women. I sang several songs to the pleasure of my friends and the other guests. The woman working there thanked me when we left.
I noticed Sunday morning that the pain in one arm was gone, but the other still hurt. By afternoon, that arm was also OK. Just in time for the next rabies injection on Monday. Most of the time I can walk OK now, but stairs are difficult and I’m slow.
At school, we had no classes Tuesday afternoon, as there were special art activities for all of the students. Students could paint a clay pot,
make objects out of clay, sing karaoke, paint a picture,
use robots, or use computers. Many were actively engaged in these activities; others were just hanging out with their friends and not participating.
Wednesday after lunch there was a special program for elementary students. I don’t know what it was about, but the banners showed sunscreen and toothpaste. I heard that KFC had a special program for students on Friday. These take place in the common area, which is below the class I teach in that hour. So we hear everything and I have to be really loud to be heard over the noise.
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