emergency routine check up

Our school has a doctor and a nurse.  The nurse is there everyday, the doctor comes a few times a week for a few hours.  I thought that was awesome when I learned this the first week I started my job and went in hopes of a prescription for an eye drop or cream for my red eye and something for my stomach that was not adjusting to the food well.  He said,

"Yes, many teacher's have this problem the first week of school."

"They do?"

"Yes, because they are not used to talking."

".... (blink blink)... my eye and my stomach I'm talking about," I say, pointing.  

"Oh, yes yes - this too."

This too what?  Are you a doctor?  I went one other time because the principal saw me hobbling around with back pain - and suggested I go.  I didn't think there was anything they could give me -  but I went and they put a cream on my lower back.

"Is the pain still there?" he asked.

Um... is the cream magic?  Of course it's still there!

"You will feel better soon."

So I've learned 1) he can't speak English well, and 2) he's not so concerned about his patients - so I should avoid him at all costs.  But our school had to do wellness checkups, most likely for our health insurance policy.  They did mine just before maternity leave - checking breathing, heart rate, pulse, eyes, and throat - asking basic history questions than having me sign something so they could pre-date and file it.  (I guess the paper was some six months late).

Today they called me to come to the health center.  I received the message via a sticky note on my desk and didn't think much of it.  I edited a paper, had lunch, and pumped milk.  In that time, the health center called five times.  Each time more urgent.  I never actually spoke to them, so I didn't know what they needed - but it didn't matter - I still couldn't go because after pumping milk I had to go directly to my next class.  One of my students asked to go to the nurse, and I directed him to pass on the message that I would come as soon as my lesson was finished.  

She sent a message back that this was too late.  

I shrugged.  

I got a text from Isil to go to the nurses office right after class.

A teacher came to my door and told me in person the same message.

I had forgotten this about Turkey and my school.  I forgot that there is a ranking of class here and this ranking is really important.  I forgot the doctor is considered an important person.  That the expected response when a doctor or principal or any "superior" is to be immediate no matter how illogical, because respecting the position comes first.  

But that just wasn't how I thought.  I thought, okay, I have to edit this, eat lunch, pump milk, teach a lesson - then I'll go.  But by the time my lesson was over - I was told it was an emergency.  I kind of knew it wasn't - I figured someone was late on paperwork again and the doctor had to go somewhere and the like.  I realized at this point lots of people had gotten involved in my situation and were flabbergasted as to why I hadn't shown up yet - and I was really tempted to have it out with just about anyone.  I have been here for ten days.  You called me two hours ago and I have a job to do - just like you - so THIS is not an emergency.  DO NOT disrespect my time or my job because of YOUR mistake.  

Instead, I walked quickly over to the health center.  I walked into the doctor's office and hesitated because another person was waiting outside the door - but the doctor looked at me and said,

"Kos!"  (Run!)  As in run to him, I guess.  I took two steps to the chair sat down as he proceeded to molest me.

"Breathe.  Breathe. Breathe.  Breathe. Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe.  Breathe. Breathe."  (He was really thorough on the breath sounds and I was hyperventilating) . I still hadn't said a word, I was kind of stunned by the whole drama.  He looked at my hands, front and back - and gave me Turkish gesture that indicates very good.  (My hands??)   He looked in my eyes with a light, he looked in my mouth, and then said,

"Now give attention to your artery."  And he was gone - out the door in a run with the person, maybe his wife or daughter, who had been waiting.  

Huh?

The nurse took out a blood pressure cuff.

Oh. 

She measured my pressure and pulse - I forgot to even ask her this because I was still just sitting back watching all of this happen and shaking my head.  Why was this so urgent?  Why today and not yesterday or the day before or last week?  If they lie about the date, why won't they lie about the actual "physical" and I'm putting that in quotes, because I'm not sure what he did could qualify as a physical.

She indicated for me to sign the paper.

"Do you want me to check the information?" I asked.

"No need," she said.

"Okay. Um.. but, just so you know, I have three children now, not two."