all_my_friends_think_that_im_gone I'm in Amsterdam and this is what is goin on...

 so i went to the doctor the other day and my theory was confirmed. i do in fact have bronchitis. i have to hand it to the dutch, this may be one of the most backwards countries, but they know how to get you in and out of a doctors office! i arrived there at 7:58am, between 8 and 9am they have walk-ins. i stood outside trying to tell an older dutch man that i dont work here, neither do i speak dutch. he keeps talking...dr de vries, he's our staff doctor, walked up right on time and i went up to the receptionist and remembered her from the last time i was there (my friend had chicken-pox)that she speaks no english. she had no idea who i was, why i was there or why i wasnt in the system. i cant speak dutch but i can understand it pretty well now. finally after 3 confusing minutes, dr de vries walks over and says, do you live at the willemsstraat? yes, i do. oh, well then come with me! nice, vip status. see all you other suckers later...just kidding. i sat down and he asked me how i felt, i told him my symptoms and i thought it was bronchitis. he said, yep, i think youre right. listenend to my breathing and said, yep, you have bronchitis. so he wrote me a prescription, i paid him in cash for the visit and i was out the door and on my way home in less than 10 minutes! can you believe that?! and get this, ZERO PAPERWORK. yeah. like i said, the dutch are often times crazy, but they are speed-demons in the dr's office! praise God for that. now if they could only get the immigration service to adopt such swiftness in getting me my residence permit! i am coming home in a month and am still in the process of being allowed to live here legally. but at least i have my health...