Married in the Village

Back in the days I was working in Lampung, I've seen kids of 15 year old who are already married. I wasnt that shocked seeing that phenomenon, since I personally have a childhood friend who was married to someone much older when we were 12 year old because of her parents debts.

This week, one of my masseuses was telling me the story of her life, starting with getting married at 12 year old to a 17 year old. She said it's a common practice in her area to get married young, without any papers as long as there were two witnesses and an imam. To get divorce is even more easy, just by letting the other person know that he divorces her, even only by phone.

Tonight I just learned that my new help's brother, who is only 17 year old is already divorced five times! Seriously, let those kids date each others instead of getting them married so young so often.

Closer To Home

I got home to a zombie like maid the other day. She got sick again when I was away. Feverish, coughing, headache, nauseated, sleepless plus I know she has ulcer. She refused to go to the doctor, until I made our security guy practically dragged her.

The doctor that saw her, I think, was a newbie. the doctor did nothing about the fact she's not eating well and feverish. All that she got was an antihistamine. I gave her some meds for her ulcer and she felt a bit better, but still practically refusing to eat whatever food I gave her.

Today, mom & I took her to the hospital to see my dad's colleague, an internist. After an x-ray, the verdict is TB and next Thursday she has to see a Pulmologist. Our maid refused to be admitted to the hospital. I threatened her that if she still refused to eat properly, I will put her in the hospital and told them to give her an intravenous drip. Mom said if the pulmologist said that she has to be admitted to hospital, she wont be allowed to refuse.

I just hope it wont be the resistance type of TB and that both my mom and I wont catch any. The internist did check my mom (who is still coughing for weeks now) and said that she doesnt have TB. I think I had my vaccine booster before moving back here. In any case, I'm scheduled to have my thorax x ray in 2 months anyway.

On a lighter note, there was a funny moment when we were in the hospital. As soon as the internist said  'fleck' after examining her, I knew she needs an x ray. So instinctively I told her to come along with me to the radiology dept. The internist was half laughing and half yelling that I have to wait for the referral note when I was already out of his office, leaving mom chatting with him. His nurse commented that I'm the proof of growing up in the hospital. :)

Note to Self #1001