06 Aug 17
09:15 hrs
We are currently attending a Medical Clinic. No, none of us are ill. None of us are losing bodily fluids from a unnatural port in our epidermis. And certainly we are not here because of an ailment that could not be cured with common sense home remedies!
After taking our foreign charges to Saratoga Speedway to eat junk food, watch monster trucks and demolition derby my Better Half recieved a call from another Host Parent. It was damn near 23:00 hrs and weren't home yet. Ir would seem that her vesting student was struck with an ailment that required immediate attention.
Was it a broken limb? No. Sudden Kjidney failure? Nope. Could it be a pulsing goiter? Close.
A blister. A blister on the underside of the second toe of the right foot. I know that it is an odd place for a blister but still it is a frickin blister that was likely caused from having a poor choice of footwear.
No. I am not taking him to the bloody hospital emergency ward for a blister. Now, I can't lance it either because the kid is a foreign national and anything I would like to do (squeezing, popping, lancing or draining) would likley hit the desk of Minister of External Affairs faster than you can say Mount Fuji. On top of that, if we we all arrived back at the Wayward Inn our two guests called home and brought the Headmaster and the kid's Mommy up to speed.
I know that in a country where everything is done with an apology and no one wants to be offensive someone has to take some initiative.
Realistically though, the parents and school administration both wanted a professional to sign off on this issue. Now, they had all been Out in the Weeds for a couple of nights and the position of the issue could very well have been a critter bite. I looked at it and I also figured it was best if a Ph(u)D looked at. It was also made abundantly clear to me by the teacher and my Better Half that the teacher is ultimately responsible for his students health. If the kid wants to see a doctor then he will see a doctor. And if he doesnt mommy and daddy will know about it which would probably cost the teacher his job.
Setting the whole international thing aside for a moment, my question is this: does everyone in that country shut down if they have a boo boo? An owie? What about a sliver?
Personally, I don't think it's the entire nation. I know for a fact that these visiting students are the sons of highly educated professionals and are being groomed to be a highly educated professional. The difference between the top and the bottom positions in the class is measured by three decimal places. Average doesn't cut it and nothing we would think as a norm exists for them. For example: lunch is catered to the classroom to provide just a few more minutes of study time.
It's not a case of wealth entitlement. It's about achieving the best scores in the best school to get into the best university to be head hunted by the biggest companies in the country. All well and good but what if you just want to be a ramen shop owner. How the hell does that play out?
08 Aug 17
06:50 hrs
The latest project at the Wayward Inn is nearly completed. Only two more strips to put on and, believe it or not, my Lobster has stated that it looks great. Good thing because the recip saw would be coming out in a heartbeat if she didn't like it. The next project will be to sort out the power issue with the Mobile Wayward Inn. Something draining the batteries and I have a sneaking suspicion that the power inverter is pooched. There may be a built in current limiting fuse. That would be an easy fix. If not I'll have to drag it down to the professionals. Can you say "$$$Cha-Ching!"
As time marches on the new hospital nears completion as does the new road/bridge over the Tsolum.
15 Aug 17
09:15 hrs
I am very sorry Dear Readers for falling off the mark and not keeping up with my end of the contract with you. I will endeavour to prevail.
The Sr. Loin Fruit was scheduled to take his final road test yesterday. In his words no appointments were done in August so he is booked for October. When he does finally take the test I am sure that he will pass. He has become a pretty fair driver.
The Jr. Loin Fruit now has a significant other. My Lobster and I saw his one coming from a long way off. In fact, several years ago this individual set her sights on him and never let up. My Better Half says that she firmly has her talons into him. I guess it's time to have The Talk with him.
Summer will soon be winding down. I have completed the project and it looks great. It worked well shedding the down pour we had a couple of days ago.
Yes! We had rain!
There are plans for all of us to visit The Sages before the Sr. Loin Fruit heads back for additional higher education after which I will be making my annual pilgrimage Out in the Weeds. This year my Friend From Over the Hump will be joining me. It will he an eye opener for him as to exactly what goes on during an expedition. I surely hope that we do have some activity. I have a plan to go all out and use the Randles Method to elicit a response. If it works I'll probably have to change my shorts.
In October we will have another visitor to the Wayward Inn. The young lady that our Jr. Couch Monkey was billeted with in Germany will come here on her half of the exchange. We will have to ensure she signs the guest book.
Speaking of books, I was able to devote almost an entire day, while being on call, to working on my new tome. I think there is nearly 250 pages with out the Appendix, photos and references added. That's unedited of course. I have edited for content but not for punctuation. Maybe my Better Half will give it the once over. Here's hoping.
Well Dear Readers, I will bid you adieu and get this belated scribbling posted.
