Snow's pretty, but I'm glad it's melting.
Shortly before travelling to the US for the month of December, I visited the gynecologist. I'd been having some pain that I wanted to have checked before the trip. It would be my first experience with private medicine in Finland - which was, by the way, excellent.
The room was filled with light, friendly colors and equipped with an ultrasound. There was a small space surrounded by a curtain - a place to take your pants off in peace and privacy.
But that was seemingly where privacy ended.
In the states, a nurse asks you a few questions and leaves the room. You then take off all your clothes and slip into a hospital gown. You sit down on the exam table and drape a cloth over your lap. You wait for an unreasonably long time. Finally, the doctor knocks on the door. You say, "come in," and he or she enters. You lie down, covered from shoulder to knee, except, of course, for your lady parts.
In Finland, it went something like this: I took my pants off behind the curtain and walked pantsless to the exam table, where I realized that I'd forgotten to shed my underwear. Smooth. I quickly shimmied out of them and looked to fling them over to where my leggings were. Then, it occurred to me that a) it really was too far for an accurate shot and b) it would be kind of piggish to throw my panties around in the doctor's office. I got up, walked to the other side of the room, placed my underwear with my pants and walked back, naked from the waist down.
Must remember to take those off in the first place, I thought.
The exam began, and I thought of how superfluous the lap cloth used to feel. His/her hands are in my crotch, why should I cover the rest? But it turns out that the cloth has a very important function: to prevent you from feeling naked.
The service was incredible. I got an ultrasound right then and there and had the results explained to me in the process. (In the US, arranging this procedure would be far more difficult and convoluted.) My reproductive organs appeared to be in good working order, and I felt relieved.
After it was all over, I walked the length of the room pantsless for the fourth time. I dressed myself behind the curtain, had a few last words with the doctor and left.
As I walked out of the building, I couldn't help but laugh. Is this what it feels like to be an American in Europe? To have your sense of modesty impinged upon? And, then, the funniest thought of all: Am I a prude? Being awkward as hell (e.g. forgetting to take my underwear off) certainly did not help matters.
It was interesting to note just how naked I felt without that stupid cloth over my lap.
If you're prude, I'm prude too - and I'm a Finn :) I much preferred the procedure when I lived in the U.S., here in Finland it does feel somewhat uncomfortable (even though I know the gynecologist doesn't see anything strange in it).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in my early 20's and at an appointment with my cynegologist (this was in Finland) in order to get a prescription for the pill, he asked me -after I had positioned myself on the table- whether I was in a hurry...I must have looked puzzled because he then explained to me that he was waiting for a group of medical students to come in shortly, and he would like to include them in the process of giving me the examination.... I immediately told him I was in an extreme hurry, and that I couldn't wait ! Of course, in hindsight, he wouldn't have let the students in had I refused -- but I've never forgotten that day and it always comes back to me when I go to an appointment ;)
How funny! Yes, I do suspect that situation would have been mortifying. Although I can see myself saying yes had I been asked ahead of time, lying there, legs spread on the table, then being asked to sit for a "lesson" too...it would all be too much, I think. :P
Delete:D I have to tell you something funny that this reminded me of. In here, it is a bit more American, although not quite. But you are told to go right next to the bed, the doctor closes the curtain and waits for you to get your bottoms off, and lie down on the table, you can then cover yourself with a little cloth if you want.
ReplyDeleteI as a girl from Lapland started to take my clothes of sitting opposite to the doctor and she almost freaked out and told me to walk myself to behind the curtain :DD It is funny to me how reserved the Irish are about nudity. The whole notion of a naked sauna still continues to freak people out. :) Funny things
Okay, the Irish way does sound closer to the American method (in the US, they leave the room because they can't imagine wasting their precious time waiting, I think...). And it almost seems as if you had the opposite experience your during your first exam as an expat! Very funny.
DeleteNudity in the sauna doesn't bother me so much. I think it's because other people are naked too, and they're certainly not focused on you or examining you. Being at the gynecologist is a little stressful/unpleasant for me, nude or not. Sauna is lovely and relaxing. :)
Yes, that sounds like Ireland alright!
DeleteHad my papa-koe test by the gyno at the local terveyskeskus. She talked to me in very slow Finnish (THANK GOD) 'coz it was my first year in Finland he he...and I came alone. She asked lots of questions first, then explained the procedure 'coz it was my first time (and told me I could keep my socks on LOL!!!).
ReplyDeleteThe room was small, so the changing room was right next to the table, covered by a kind of curtain, so I only had to walk two or three steps to get to the table. She also draped a kind of thin sheet before rubbing the gel (she told me before she rubbed the gel that it'd feel kinda cool). She told me to relax and everything went well (it was very quick and told me I'd get the result later on by mail and she'd also call me to tell me the result later on).
Funnily enough I didn't feel embarrassed at all - maybe 'coz I was dealing with a woman. I just figured that she was a woman and she had seen lots of "those" he he he he...not sure how I'd feel if the gyno is a man, though LOL!!!
Partition!!! That was the word I was looking for. There was a partition that made up the changing room, not a curtain he he...
DeleteReminds me of the time I had to do a medical in the army...NEVER AGAIN. I'm very self conscious about being semi-naked around dressed people in a clinical or otehr such formal setting. Estonian saunas though, I'm fine with that.
ReplyDelete