For everything else, there's mastercard

i remember that commercial back home with a rich girl recounting how she liked this rug at the backstreets of Cairo and how they accepted visa. She said, it's such a good life. I scoffed at that commercial mainly because who is that rich? It's an impractical commercial. Now that i'm here in the US, i could see how rich these people are, and how they take things easily for granted. They would throw a fit if their mom didn't get them something grandiose for their birthday. Back home, the best birthday party i attended was in this run down hut by the fish pond with a one dollar pound cake from the local bakery. I will never ever trade that life for a rug in turkey. It's such a cultural shock some times. I still close my eyes and imagine that one day, i'll be back in the tropical country , sun beating on my back , on a boat ride in the pacific ocean, going on mission fields to countrymen who lacked medical care.

You are idealistic. They say.

If i stopped being one, then that's one less idealistic person on this earth, and we need people who are not only dreamers but visionaries. See, money will be there. God is on my side with that, he's been on it, but this talent that i have, the position i am in right now, would help me in assuring i have enough comfortable life to pursue my ultimate dream - to be able to help the sick who have no way of getting medical care because they are poor. I was on ICU call the other day and i had encounters with people who are just there because of alcoholic withdrawal, of drug seeking behavior and more than ever, my resolve to go back and serve those who are really sick, grew stronger.

I set out to become a doctor to the barrios. Funny. But if i did that, i knew i would leave it because there's no money to support my family with that. But if i land a job here, i could go back on a regular basis to the philippines and maybe, be the doctor that fills in a void to someone, to some place. I am still that person. I haven't changed, so don't doubt for a minute that i would trade the honor of holding a poor woman's hands and helping her unimmunized child live for something like alcohol overdose. We move on different drumbeats. That's my groove.

*
I woke up and remembered i had a dental appointment. I looked out my window and saw the thick blanket of snow that layered the ground. Today is a relatively warm day. It's 15F, yesterday it was about 3 F. For the rest of the world, 32 F is equal to zero centigrades. Imagine that. I was about to turn into a pillar of ice. So anyways i found out that i was missing my debit visa card so i looked all over for it. I called up the dentist and told them i'll be late for the appointment. I went back to walgreen's and asked whether they had my card. I went there last night to buy some ingredients as i am making leche flan for my very pregnant friend. Cashier told me she didn't have it.

Shucks. I was running late so i went to the dentist who told me i should floss. It was really a painful experience. Then i called up the bank to report my stolen card, however i was distracted, what with me trying to warm the car, see through the snow that has turned my yellow car white, when i heard a bump. I backed into a parked car. Great. Good thing no dent. So there i went home, scoured through all my stuff even through the garbage can. ZIlch.

Called up my bank and had the card cancelled. It would take two weeks to replace it.

Right after i put down the phone, i saw my card lying inside my wallet, upside down. Stupid. Called up the bank again, they said it's an irreversible process, i just had to cut my card and wait for two weeks.

I heated up some italian pasta, some greek shrimp salad and garlic bread. Opened a can of pepsi max with ginseng and checked my mail. T

here was a pre approved credit card for mastercard platinum.

This day is definitely unlike finding a rug in turkey.

Oh well, for everything else, there's mastercard.