Dentistry

I was walking to Capeoira class famished. The UNFPA office in Mezzeh is located in a food desert. There's a little market (baqaliyya) nearby, but the owner is a douche who charges 50 lira for yogurt I can get anywhere else in Damascus for 35 lira. There was no way I could get through two hours (ok, one-and-a-half with the breaks and always-late starts) without something in my gut.

I grabbed some chips from a store outside the sports club, and began to stuff them in. Then, a crack. I spit out a small rock and part of a molar. These weren't the crappiest, cheapest chips you can buy either, but Uncle Chips. I expect no rocks when I spend 15 lira on chips, damnit! My tooth wasn't bleeding or anything so I went to Capeoira class.

Luckily in Jeramana there are a glut of dentists near my apartment on Sahat as-Suyuf. On the way back I got off early, walked into a random dentist's office, and made an appointment. The next day after work I choose tooth-colored over gold fill, and walked out 20 minutes later with a fistful of candy. I asked him why he had candy - trying to get more business? He laughed and then gave me some candy, and for the first time, asked if I was Russian. No, no, American.

It was 1000 lira ($20) total and even comes with a guarantee. Should anything happen with that tooth, he said he'll fix it for free.