I have been incredibly sick these past few weeks which is
why I have been missing my posts. Though
it’s far from the most fun I have had here, I figured I’d talk about it because
getting ill is a part of Real Life
and it might answer a few questions about how things work here.
The Health Center
On the bottom floor of Templeton, you will find the student
health center. (Admittedly, the first
time I tried to find it I had trouble. Tip: walk around the outside of the
building. You cannot get there from the inside of Templeton). It’s an
as-free-as-possible clinic. What I mean
is seeing a nurse doesn’t cost anything, but you will need to pay for things
like tests and medicine. They are super
nice and are open for appointments 5 days a week. If you need something during a weekend they
have a phone number to call to get a nurse’s advice. I got sick about three weeks ago, but it did
not start getting bad until that weekend.
I showed up at the health center first thing the next Monday to schedule
an appointment and, since no one else had an appointment early Monday morning,
they saw me then and there. The staff
are super nice and friendly and, despite me feeling miserable and my discomfort
with medical visits (I have a fear of needles), they made me feel at home.
Pharmacy
The medical staff figured out what was wrong with me and gave
me two prescriptions. I chose, like most
other students, to get them filled at the Fred Meyer pharmacy. Fred Meyer’s is the grocery store the pioneer
express stops at. The bus runs there
after 7pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
They seem to be understaffed (based on the three times I have gone there
for this illness), but it only took 20-45 minutes to get my prescriptions
filled and I spent that time buying groceries anyway.
Missing Class
If you tell your professor ahead of time, they will be
understanding. Do not worry about
it. The professors at Lewis and Clark
are great. I have previously rescheduled
a midterm I was too sick to take and this time I had to reschedule a quiz. They’re unlikely to let you skip assignments
without it affecting your grade, but if you are sick but willing to do the work
most are willing to reschedule, you just have to ask them ahead of time. Also, get a friend to take notes for
you. It’s quite helpful.
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| A friend from home who heard I was sick mailed me miso soup |
*Note on title: Because of the pirate-themed fire show that happened while I was getting sick, a few of my Fire Arts friends have been referring to my illness as scurvy.
Have questions about things at L&C? Feel free to send me
an email at ameliaberle@lclark.edu