Tag: United States

by jad

Don’t Be Like Me

After 6 and a half years, I finally took up my machete and hacked my way through the mind maze that is the American healthcare system. I found myself a primary care provider; today was my first appointment. I told her to feel free to talk to me like I was five, because I didn’t know a single thing, and I immediately proved myself by not knowing that insurance companies categorize different types of visits differently. Would this be my annual? I literally only get one a year. I don’t know, doc, you tell me. So, they gave me two … Continue reading “Don’t Be Like Me” →

by jad

A Very Important Man Back Home

My father entered his death throws on the same night we all realized that Trump would be the 47th president of the United States. My mother called an ambulance as per standard procedure and we braced ourselves for the end. He resisted for five more days. My mother has a photo of my dad holding the remote control in his hospital bed. He was still interested in knowing what’s going on. I wonder if he heard the news that we were all reconciling ourselves with; I didn’t ask. There was something puzzlingly calming about holding our breath while the whole … Continue reading “A Very Important Man Back Home” →

by jad

Costa Rica: Day 9

After another full day of travel with the usual modern inconveniences of bare minimum offerings for exorbitant prices, constant gate changes and delays, topped off with the most sour-faced boarding pass attendant who probably got her customer training as a prison warden (it was Texas, after all), we’re finally home. And it’s good to say “home.” While I’m not ready to return to real life, I’m happy to be back. This wasn’t my first trip as an American citizen, but, as Christine insightfully put it on our way to the airport, this was my first trip as an American — … Continue reading “Costa Rica: Day 9” →