What ho, Apothecary!

"Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off; and, if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight."
(Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet Apothecary Act V Scene 1.)

[for the weak ones, or the ones who just don't care, (with whom I completely relate) in this next bit I am talking about being sick...in a little detail...]

So...went to the doctor today. I have had this "cold" for six days and am only mildly better. My eye stopped pussing=good sign. But I thought I'd go in for a check-up nonetheless. I'm still very congested and have a very deep, phlegmy cough. Know how to say that in Japanese?

Neither do I.

Yoshimi, a young Japanese English teacher at Gotsu High School and good friend, went with me to the doctor's office to translate. When I got to the clinic everyone was very interested in me. They took my temperature, took my health insurance card, I waited for a little while and then the doctor asked me into his office. Yoshimi came with me into the room to translate. I got to watch her translate mucus and phlegm and all sorts of yummy words that when typed into an electronic dictionary come up with interesting results...of which I won't get into.

After a 10 minute check up, he sent me back into the waiting room. He was a very nice man of good humour and the nurses there especially were kind to me. In fact, they ALL showed up for the part when I couldn't understand him asking me to lift my shirt and he had to do it for me. Every two minutes a new nurse arrived to look at me. Have I told you that I sometimes feel like a zoo animal? Next time I'll charge admission.

When they called me up to the desk again, they gave me my medicine there at the counter.
Here it is:
From the left: Eye drops for the pussing eye, mouthwash to gargle for the cough, pills for the sore throat, white powder for possible fever, and orange powder for the phlegm.

I'm supposed to put the two powders in water and drink it after dinner, I'm also supposed to take the pill after dinner. The mouthwash and eye drops are an anytime deal. It's a cocktail, the labels are written in a language I don't read. Hilarious.
The best part? It cost me 1150 yen, that is about $9.57. All of it! The check up and the drugs! Yay good health care!

The powders taste HORRIBLE.
That's all. Just wanted to share another quirk.
I will get well soon if it kills me.