As you know.my health has been an ongoing challenge for many years. While the health care here was not the reason I moved to Uruguay. it has certainly been a major benefit.
Even in the midst of pain, there was one really humorous situation that I thought would be a good way to restart my missives here.
Those who are residents here know that you need your Cedula (National ID) number for EVERYTHING, even more than one uses a social security number in the US. The Cedula is used in business as well as the government and the same number is used on your driving license and even passport.
Because of that, and because the numbers are simply issued in order, my Cedula number is relatively high, reflecting about 50 years less than my age–this caused a really funny incident some months ago.
I was having some health problem or another so one of the staff here called SEMM, the Ambulance/traveling doctor service connected with my health insurance at COSEM. The SEMM operator didn’t bother to look at my file, but assigned a doctor based simply on my cedula. As such, they sent a pediatrician, (it’s a good thing that Cedulas don’t indicate sex or they might have sent an obstetrician).
When the doctor arrived at the main gate she asked “¿donde esta el bebe?” Someone explained the mistake, but the doctor said that since she was here, she would take a quick look at me to ensure the next doctor sent was the correct one.
As she came into my room, my assistant explained the foul up and after greeting the doctor, I told here “Soy el bebe grande.” (I am the big baby).
Later that day another doctor appeared better qualified to treat “el bebe grande”.
(To those who speak better spanish than I, I apologise for any acentos I have missed or mistakes in translation–perhaps I have simply become too accustomed to “masomenos”.
