eing tll abroad is ‘hell on rollerskates’ I'M FURIOUS. Worse, I’m also angry at myself for shut- ting my mouth and minding my own business. The more I think about it, the madder I get. at all times. It's when you're en- camped at the Cockroach Arms that you may have a problem. I got to Canada Passports at about 2:30 p.m. the other after- noon — Brian’s has expired and we're off to Japan quite smartly. At this time of year, everyone expects long waits. Hey, a passport is a wonderful thing and well worth waiting for. Next to me was a mother with two children, a boy about four and a girl, maybe seven. The mother wasn't one of the young kids that occasionally winds up playing mother when they’re only kids themselves. She was a wonian in her mid-30s (my guess) who should have had the maturity to do better, The little boy was SICK. His cheeks were crimson, his skin looked damp and he coughed non-stop the entire time they sat beside me, at least an hour. He was a dear little boy — no whining or fretting — just cough- cough-cough. His sister tried to remind him to cover his mouth, but at four and coughing like that, what little boy would remember? What good would it do? The Passport Office is not large. I believe at least 40 people were waiting, sitting quietly on rows of chairs. It gets hot and stuffy as the air conditioner recycles the germs. Every person in that room was going somewhere. How many of them will have to cancel because one sick little boy made them sick? What I[ should have said, and didn’t: ‘‘What the hell are you do- ing here with that sick kid? Have you no consideration for the others in this room? Get out! Take that little boy home and call your doc- tor. **While you’re at it, sign up for a course on how to be a mother, if it isn’t already too late.” a Getting sick is hell, right here at home. Getting sick in some place far away is hell on roller skates. I’ve been sick in the damndest places, chomped down foreign an- tibiotics that resemble horse sup- positories and shook with fever. One of my favorite maladies is a type of bronchial pneumonia. Aside from a high fever, I lose my voice completely, which, as my dear husband suggests, may be a blessing. I've hed it in Egypt. [t was sim- ply awful in the Caribbean and somewhat worse in California. The travel wise Barbara McCreadie case of it in California was unique, but the one in Las Vegas was even worse. At that point, both of us were so sick that we took a taxi to the hos- pital. For a while, the doctors were looking at Legionnaire’s disease and it scared the living hell out of me. Pll swear it’s air conditioning that brings it on. I'M also swear that once you've had any form of pneumonia your chances double for a return engagement. We're so defenceless when we're sick and far away from home. One of my daughters just got back from Hawaii. Everyone in her group got some sort of flu. All she wanted was her own home, her cat and chicken soup. The person who suffers even more is the travel companion. What do you do when your buddy fread: any sort of relationship!) is threatening to die? First, a decision must be made — is the victim sick enough to re- quire medical care? If so, where do you find a quali- fied doctor? If you are staying at a fancy hotel there is no problem. They have multi-lingual doctors on call If it were me, I'd call the nearest Consulate or Embassy, starting with Canada’s, if available. Both the British and American ones are the next best bet in that order. The problem worsens if you are in some remote village. I’d_ entist the aid of anyone who looked fair- ly respectable and spoke enough English to understand. My object would be to get my companion to the nearest reputable hospital even if I had to hire a donkey to do so. tf I were the one taken ill I'd make a firm arrangement with my companion that we'd not hire anyone chanting and shaking rat- tles to warn away evil spirits. Unless, of course, he owned the donkey taking me to the hospital. Assuming you recover, you may have an instant relapse when pres- ented with the bill. No matter how much extended medical coverage you are carrying, you will still be expected to pay for your treatment before you leave. It is your responsibility to get the bills and receipts back to both B.C. Medical (which will pay a portion) and your private in- surance company who will pick up much, if not all, of the remainder. Some medical plans are much better than others. For this reason, I always deal directly with the in- surance agent who covers all of our insurance. This guy will go the extra mile — first, buying the most com- prehensive policy for us and, se- cond, helping us follow up on it when we get home. Another plus: if you deal with your own agent you can phone home in an emergency and have the fine print of the contract analyzed. As an example, how much emergency medical transpor- tation is covered by your policy? That might be small print at the time you buy the coverage but it becomes vital if you must buy first class airline seats to accommodate a stretcher to bring the victim home. Remember, too, that many policies have clauses releasing them if the patient has been treated for the same condition within a stated period of time prior to the current illness. Be very careful about the policy See Be Page 38 | BIG BAND SOUTHERN | CARIBBEAN CRUISES 10 days, Oerone: 1 featuring &. featuring tieien OCaanett “im 82022... FL Laucerdiet: = Pt > firigetown Mingaat October 23 and December 2, 1990 Featuring Patty Andrews won 51903 - ot sug eSt Maarten j EASTERN CARIBBEAN ? days fatnper 20 November 3 & 25 Janata 6a tg 1999 é JOIN US FOR OUR GALA a : Min atand \merica Crumes : RSVP >” BCAA Travel. Path Royal South (CAA) . WESTERN CARIBBEAN | 7 Gays Decemper 1 1x) and January 32. 1997 CRUISE NIGHT FEATURING Wednesday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. $? G0 admmssicn (may pe applied tow cruise DookIAg WHA BCAA Travet) 37 - Suaday, June 3, 1990 - North Shore News AUSTRALIA ¢ EXCLUSIVE ¢ DEPARTURE RETURN ocT.14 — WNOV.02 ocT.21 — wNOV.09 eee NOV.o8 — NOv.2a RE batatens .08 — . 24 eruises{iiecenters NOV.11 — NOV.30 lf you can afford a B19 DAYS - ain plus 6 NTS. HOTEL vacation $1599.00 o> BOOK EARLY AND SAVE: You can afford a cruise vacation For more details call 985-7447 (SHIP} 1823 Capilano Rd. JETSTREAM (604) 682-8471 § 1015 Burrard St., Vancouver, B.C. 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DEP. & 1 -FAI DEPART VANCOUVER | WITH KLM VIA AMSTERDAM 2 SAT ATHENS ARRIVE AND TRANSFER TO HOTEL. OVERNIGHT ATHENS, 3 SUN ATHENS HALE-DAY CITY TOUR, REST OF DAY AT LEISURE OVERNIGHT ATHENS 4 MON ATHENS DAY AT LEISURE. TRANSFER TO PIRAEUS FOR YOUR ? DAY CRUISE, SAIL AT 7 00 PM 5 TUE. DiKILIM 6 WED ISTANBUL 3 7 THU KUSADASI 200PM 900PM Seduesiittieraklion 8 FRI RHODES 9 SAT. HERAKLION **SANTORINI (T) F 10 sun ‘*peLos MYKONGS (1) 11.MON PIRAEUS TRANSFER TO MOTEL 12 TUE ATHENS NAUPLION : 02» ci8s*Ca. c¢ace 58 ff 13 WED NAUPLIONIOLYMPIA B14 THU OLYMPIAIDELPHI 15 FRI DELPHUATHENS 16 SAT ATHENS TRANSFER 10 SROGRT DEPART 6OR VANCOUVER Santorini 70QAM 7 00PM TOOAM 8 COPM 7 004M 12 00PM 430PM 12 0OAM —PRICE-INGEUDES; -——_—_ ¢ Return airfare on KLM via Amster- dam to Athens in economy class *7 day cruise aboard Stella Solaris © 4 nights accommodation in Athens at Novotel or simitar ¢ 3 nights Classical Coach Tour * Meais as specified * Half day city tour of Athens ¢ Transfers as specitied * Entrance fees and local hotel taxes * Porterage * Service of professional English- speaking guide for all transfer and Bre arate sightseeing activities 986-1377 7OCAM 12 G0PM V3OPM 13 GOP. 110 East 14th Si. (at Lonsdale) North Vancouver ~