Land of Smiles

Thailand is called the land of smiles. Sometimes this seems so odd, but it appears like everyone here always defaults to a smile; even when telling you really bad news. We watched a documentary yesterday about the brutal beating of a young Buddhist woman that was a grade school art teacher in southern Thailand a couple of years ago. An incredibly heinous act. As the filmmaker interviewed the parents and townspeople they would speak about this terrible beating and then smile at the end of each sentience. It was across the board; clearly something cultural but I just don’t get it? Today Janet has had a variety of standard pre-op test, blood pressure, blood work, lung x-ray and EKG. The nurse comes back later and says the EKG is abnormal with a smile and the doctor will be in to discuss it. Kind of a bomb; does this mean the surgery is off? Is something wrong? Oh no, smile, the doctor will come see you, smile. So the doctor comes and asks if Janet has any heart disease or history of heart problems, No? Okay smile. Maybe just a silent heart disease, smile. What do you mean? Silent? Like maybe you had a heart attack and didn’t know it,smile? Maybe sometime you have a pressure in your chest and not think it anything. Janet:” I think I would know if I had a heart attack” Janet’s Dad had 2 heart attacks, one at 55 and a fatal one at 76. All this unexpected news accompanied by smiles and very bad English is unnerving. Janet tells him she has swum 2-3 miles in the ocean every week for the last 14 years. Oh,wow. Very good. Smiles all around. No, surgery is not off, just need to check and ask questions to see if you are okay. He did show us the EKG graph where it looked like a lump and should have looked like a spike. We asked him for copies of all the tests. When we go to India we will double check what all this is. This is all just a little scary to hear 30 minutes before she goes under. Her big fear is going under and never coming out. So now I wait. Surgery should almost be over and then an hour of recovery and then back to the room finally.

My bed is made and I got them to change her mattress to a softer one.
Other than the EKG bomb this hotel like hospital experience is interesting. All the test were done in the room which has a kitchenette and really nice bathroom with robes and slippers for both of us. Did I mention the flat screen TV. Unfortunately most channels are in a variety of other languages. We do get Aljazerra and CNN which is great. We even get a little toiletry kit and a tray of snacks, and they brought us a fruit tray too, I have no idea what fruit it is but it tastes great. There is also room service but the menu is all in Thai. It is also very quiet, no noisy hallway sounds and we have a lock on our side of the door. The only drawback is that we are in a hospital and we know it is a hospital and of course there is no pool. Plus not such fun things are going to happen here, like surgery. So no matter how nice all the amenities are, coming out of surgery is no fun and pain is always a drag. The only antidote is good drugs and ice packs and sleep. Then back to our apartment where I can nurse Janet back to happily being one step closer to a truly happy Smile!