LIVE IN the know
WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
If your pet causes damage inside your house, are you covered by insurance? Generally, the rule is yes, you are covered. But the damage must have been caused by a single and sudden accidental event – it can’t be caused over a period of time. For example, damage from a cat using the leg of the couch as a scratching post for months wouldn’t be covered. But if that cat, chasing a rat, rips the beautiful new curtains in your lounge to shreds, the damage should be covered. So the lesson is, if your pet’s developing bad habits – peeing on the carpet, for example – try to nip it in the bud immediately. Otherwise, the bill for the eventual damage is likely to be yours.
What’s the best thing to do if you get sick in a foreign country where you can’t understand the language?
My advice is not to bother trying to find a GP – head straight to the nearest hospital. If you’re in a large city, try to find out if there’s an “international” hospital – one that treats outpatients visiting from overseas. These hospitals usually have a doctor on duty who can speak reasonable English. Sometimes your biggest problem is letting the non-English-speaking taxi driver know where you want to go and telling the non-English-speaking hospital receptionist what you require. If you’re staying at a hotel, your best bet is to get an English-speaking staff member to write down in the local language where you want to go and what your symptoms are. This information should get you first to the hospital and then to the appropriate medical professional.