Sickness

All the time I have recently spent under the hot sun and around sick babies has finally caught up with my immune system. Although it is no more serious than a waterfall cascading from my nose, everyone who sees me either has some remedy or some cause that they must tell me. The remedies are generally one of five or six types of pills. Indians set- in my opinion- far too much store in hospitals and doctor-prescribed medication. Where we would just wait out a common cold and drink 10 gallons of tea every day, they find the need to go to the hospital and get some medicine at the first sign of anything even slightly wrong. For high blood pressure it is essential to go on some pill or another, but there is apparently no need to increase the exercise. I have been brought up to believe that going to the doctor is like last-case-scenario, but here it's the first thing anyone does.

The cause of my cold has been diagnosed as dozens of things by dozens of people. They range from taking a shower at night to not wearing a hat in the morning (or in the sun) to not wearing shoes in the house. It's interesting to hear everyone's opinions, though.