An unforeseen night at Munich airport

Well, I can undoubtedly state that my spoken English is not perfect, but I’ve just had the chance to verify that my speaking is definitely proven and well-tested. And now I fear (around) nothing concerning English language.

I state in advance that I like flying by plane, I don’t fear for planes and yesterday evening I was cheerfully coming back from a business trip satisfying for more than one reason.

In the evening I was flying from London to Munich when, suddenly, near the touchdown, maybe due to something gulped down quickly previously and floating badly in my stomach, I didn’t feel very well. Unexpectedly  I didn’t understand what was happening to me, but I just could call the steward and say: “Excuse me, sir, I'm sorry, I can’t breathe”.

Describing your symptoms in a foreign language (English, just to say) is a challenge, especially when you hyperventilate and are surrounded only by English and German native speakers. It’s a challenge especially when you have an oxygen mask on your face. And when the only and one paramedic present on board comes from South-Africa, lives in South-Korea and speaks with a very unusual (for you) accent. Anyway, he encouraged me very much.

But, thanks to God, I succeeded. I could explain everything, included the list of my possible allergies. Fortunately, I had nothing serious, just a drop in pressure. 

In few minutes I felt better. But, unfortunately, I missed my connection. When the plane direct to Turin took off, I still was on the ambulance, in health, but trussed up and on a physiological solution drip.

Let me talk about the drip for a while. When the paramedic – another paramedic, whose relatives were Italian, in fact he spoke a bit of Italian – put me on the drip, he pricked me twice. The first time, the damper didn’t work. Therefore I told him:

-          Excuse me, sir, but I thought that in Germany everything worked perfectly. Was I wrong?

He laughed.

And then I added:

-          I can assure that needles are thinner in Italy.

He laughed again.

Once in the infirmary of Munich airport, I felt so  good that doctors decided to discharge me, but I needed a place where to spend the night. The plane after took off at 6:45 a.m.

Therefore the female nurse tried to book a room in one of the two airport hotels on behalf of me.

-          You can’t remain here in the infirmary, absolutely not!

But she came back very early:

-          The first hotel is overbooked. The Oktober Fest is in progress.

-          What does “the Oktober Fest is in progress” mean? Isn’t it September?

-          In the second one there is some vacations, but the cheapest room costs 400 euros per night.

I was shocked:

-          May I ask you to show me a bridge which I can spend the night under?

-          You’re perfectly right, I know, I know… We couldn’t, we couldn’t, we couldn’t, but you are allowed to spend the night here, free of charge.

And then she guided me to a single room which looked like a hospital room.
Thank God, and thank also that nurse.

Conclusions:

1.       The Germans are efficient and also polite, does anyone disagree??

2.       Angels exist. My personal one comes from South-Africa and lives in South Korea. Unfortunately he disappeared before I could thank him.

3.       Before leaving I thanked the paramedics for their kindness.

-          It’s my job, - one of them said.
-       Yes, but you can work in very different ways. For a patient it’s very important to be supported, and your kindness made the difference, - I replied.