In preparing for my imminent departure from Sicily, I decided to take a Covid test - even though as of today, it is not required for my trip. Odd, I think, and possibly to change on a moment's notice. To avoid any issues, I decided to spring the €50 for a PCR that I could take several days in advance instead of an antigen test that I would have to scramble for immediately before leaving.
I arrived at the testing center at 8:30 on a Monday morning. Nobody else there. Pay the money and suffer the indignities and discomfort of swabs deep in my throat and sinus, and I'm outta there. Piece of cake. I walked past the antigen testing center later, and saw there was a queue of maybe 10 waiting in the rain. I don't know what the cost is for the antigen test, but I'm ok with getting financially semi-soaked for the test itself, rather than the physical soaking waiting in line. Regardless, it's over and done. I shuffle back to the apartment, and hang out watching the rain fall.
Fast forward 24 hours and I have my result:
I arrived at the testing center at 8:30 on a Monday morning. Nobody else there. Pay the money and suffer the indignities and discomfort of swabs deep in my throat and sinus, and I'm outta there. Piece of cake. I walked past the antigen testing center later, and saw there was a queue of maybe 10 waiting in the rain. I don't know what the cost is for the antigen test, but I'm ok with getting financially semi-soaked for the test itself, rather than the physical soaking waiting in line. Regardless, it's over and done. I shuffle back to the apartment, and hang out watching the rain fall.
Fast forward 24 hours and I have my result:
Now, as a non-speaker of Italian, but the owner of a decent English vocabulary, I see "Assente" not only once, but TWICE, and read it as "assent," meaning agree or positive. Contrasting that with the one instance of "Negative" and my jaw dropped. No. Fucking. Way. I couldn't be positive. I couldn't. In the last three weeks, I'd barely come within 2 meters of anyone, ever and even then, pretty much only in passing.
I was shaken, stunned. I was in complete disbelief. I'd foregone the insurance on my ticket because, well, I don't know, but I didn't buy it. I'd also booked a hotel on the other end for a few nights as a landing until I figured out longer term arrangements. Was I out the money? It wasn't budget-busting, but I don't like throwing away money. I briefly toyed with the idea of ignoring the test because it wasn't required for my flight anyway. I quickly discarded that thought because I'm not a dick.
On the positive side, I wouldn't have to worry about staying here longer, because my lodgings are set for as long as I want them. And, other than being colder that I like (it's cold and cloudy and the heater is rather inadequate to get the temp much past 62), and the fucking, non-stop barking dogs nearby, they are really nice. I could hang for a bit longer until I'm clear. I don't get Schengened outta here until the end of the month, so I have some time in that regard.
I had almost resigned myself to asymptomatic positive results when I popped the whole line in an online translator just to be crystal clear of the translation. Huh. Assente means absent.
I'm not as smart as I thought I was. Good thing. My few minutes of panic-planning and thought were for naught. Onward I go. Tropics, here I come.
I was shaken, stunned. I was in complete disbelief. I'd foregone the insurance on my ticket because, well, I don't know, but I didn't buy it. I'd also booked a hotel on the other end for a few nights as a landing until I figured out longer term arrangements. Was I out the money? It wasn't budget-busting, but I don't like throwing away money. I briefly toyed with the idea of ignoring the test because it wasn't required for my flight anyway. I quickly discarded that thought because I'm not a dick.
On the positive side, I wouldn't have to worry about staying here longer, because my lodgings are set for as long as I want them. And, other than being colder that I like (it's cold and cloudy and the heater is rather inadequate to get the temp much past 62), and the fucking, non-stop barking dogs nearby, they are really nice. I could hang for a bit longer until I'm clear. I don't get Schengened outta here until the end of the month, so I have some time in that regard.
I had almost resigned myself to asymptomatic positive results when I popped the whole line in an online translator just to be crystal clear of the translation. Huh. Assente means absent.
I'm not as smart as I thought I was. Good thing. My few minutes of panic-planning and thought were for naught. Onward I go. Tropics, here I come.
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