Complaint Day

September 24, 2007 - 8:29 AM by Stephanie

Some days here at Israelity it’s “picture day” (see Foto Friday). Other times it’s “scandal” or “visiting celebs” or “isn’t this news item funny?” day.

Today is Complaint Day. Dedicated to the Brits, Yanks, Poles, Aussies, French, Hungarians etc. who have up and relocated to this hot country with its hot politics and soap opera controversy at every turn.

First we’ll hit the doctor’s office, then we’ll make a right turn and walk two blocks to the bank and last but not least, we’ll ring up the cellphone people.

The odd vent helps us collectively feel a bit better, so call today’s entries “commiseration therapy”. As the old saying goes: We put the “fun” back into “dysfunctional”! Let’s hit the doctor’s, shall we?

I arrive at the guy’s office just in time for my 6:20 appointment. Would it have killed the receptionist to get off the phone and acknowledge me within the first five minutes? I’m not sure exactly what she was saying but whatever it was, it didn’t stop two people from trying to cut in line.

As I’m waiting, a poor woman also in the waiting room says something to the effect of “This is not ok! I wait for an hour here with my young child and the doctor doesn’t see me?!?! That’s not acceptable!” Poor, poor woman. I should have started to see it coming.

When I walk into the doctor’s office, what do I see? A maintenance guy fixing the machines…you know, the ones you look through while the doctor sits uncomfortably close on the other side.

Before my tuchus can even think about sitting down, the guy says “No, I em soh-ry…I ken noht see you.” But you don’t even need the vision machines, it’s just this little thing! “No, of course I need them, I ken not see you. You ken wait outside, I em waiting just ez you ahr, ez you ken see.” So should I wait here, come back later, or what? “Go hev a cup of coffee and come beck in thehr-tee minutes.” What??? Would it have killed someone to place a phone call to let me know not to come in? Seriously, what the hell??? What if I had traveled 45 minutes to see this doctor? What if I had missed an important meeting?

When I came home ranting, my roommate Rotem at least unintentionally made me laugh with his Middle Eastern advice. “YOU HEV TO SHOUT ET THEM!!! TELL THEM YOU WANT TO SEE A DOCTOR NOW OR YOU WILL SUE!!! THEY ONLY AHN-DER-STEND SHOUTING!!!” Happy New Year, everybody!

Follow this link to continue with Benji on his unpleasant medical journey. Baah humbug. See you again in a few hours!

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