Fear of Medicine

A year ago I was working in a chemical company in Mexico. Each year, all the girls were entitled to take a free medical test. One day the doctor in charge called us to schedule an appointment. It was a PAP smear  which is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women.

That was my first time hearing this acronym, PAP. I had to ask a lot of questions that day, like what it was, and how it happened. After everything was explained to me I decided to schedule an appointment to do it. When the day came I didn't go. I was so scared because of the way this test is carried out and the pain that follows after.

At work everybody was asking me if I did the test. I said yes. I lied to them. But when all the results came, the doctor didn’t see my name on the list. He called me to ask what happened to me? Why didn't I go to the appointment? I told him the truth, that I was scared of doing it. He talked to me for a long time, telling me how important this test is. So I asked him to reschedule another one for me. I put my fear aside and I took the test.

This type of test is important for us girls. It is important to know that we are in good health and everything is working perfectly. The girls who have already done this know the steps. I almost lost a good opportunity because of fear. Don’t let fear ruin your life.

~

Farah Rejouis - Haiti

Rabbit Rabbit

An example of a superstition is if you say the phrase “Rabbit Rabbit” as your first two words to people on the first day of the month. Then it will bring you good luck for the rest of the month. I heard this from a weekly chat group in the US.

It is a conversation group I joined a few years ago. We can talk about anything or share our daily life experiences. We are from different countries, and working to improve our English skills through talking. One day in the meeting, a Japanese girlfriend told us about this superstition, “Rabbit Rabbit”. When I heard about this, I immediately had to ask if it was true. That was a magical and interesting thing and we wanted to know more, but no one knew. So, we talked for a while and then changed to other topics.

After the meeting, I researched this “Rabbit Rabbit '' rumor on the internet and finally found more information. The phrase comes from an old English tradition. Even Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of the US, also said that phrase every month for good luck. I couldn’t fact-check it. But I would love to believe it works.

Since then, I have tried to say “Rabbit Rabbit” to someone every month. The feeling was so exciting and fresh. Maybe it’s because I am assuming I’m going to be lucky, so I feel comfortable – like something is protecting me.

Even now, saying these two words is an important task for me. I mark it on my calendar. On each last day of the month, I write a couple of Post-it notes on my desk to remind me to say them. Sometimes, I feel like I am a magician who knows how to say magic words. Feeling cool!

~

Shuk - Hong Kong