Pneumonia

We all caught pneumonia, first Diane, then Saga, Xiaomeimei and then me. I didn’t know you could catch pneumonia like you catch the flu. Maybe it’s an East Asian thing. They have a pretty impressive microbiological flora in this part of the world.

It’s weird to have very high fever. It’s like an experiment in existentialist philosophy. You see these people, you wonder who they are, and to your great surprise you realize they are your children. How did I end up having children? And who is that woman? Oh, it’s my wife. Am I married? We’re in Taiwan? Why Taiwan?

Luckily Taiwan has a world-leading health system. There is universal insurance coverage just like in Sweden and Britain, but in contrast to these places you can go straight to the hospital yourself and talk to a specialist. Since the top 1% of students go to medical school, the doctors are completely outstanding (and perfectly English speaking which is nice if you feel lousy). Thank god we’re not living in the US.

April 19 update: today Beata fell ill as well.  There is only Yrsa to go.  We’ve collectively been sick for a month by now. It solves the problem of what to do every weekend — we just cough at each other.