You’re kidding? The Chinese tourist

I was coming to the end of a very busy shift in a large hospital in the south of the UK when a Chinese gentleman was wheeled in having suffered a suspected heart attack.

His distraught wife was by his side…closely followed by 50 more Chinese tourists. the Sister in charge was going mad, the consultant was beside himself, it was like a scene from a comedy film.

Anyway, I approached the wife and asked what had happened.

“Sum fin wong” she said sadly. I smiled.

“I know, but we’ll sort it out” I assured her. “Can you tell me your husbands name?”

“Sum fin wong, I new sum fin wong” She said tears in her eyes.

I patted her hand and grabbed the woman who was talking to one of the nurses. “Do you speak English?” I asked.

“Yes” She answered.

“Marvellous, can you tell me the gentleman’s name, and what happened?”

“Sum fin wong…his heart is bad” She said. Feeling like I was banging my head up against a wall I tried again.

“And what’s his name?”

The woman sighed and looked at me like I was retarded.

“His name is Mr Po Sum Fin Wong, and this is his wife Nu Sum Fin Wong” She said loudly. I really thought she was winding me up, my face apparently said it all. She did no more than say something to the wife who promptly produced passports and travel documents…I cannot recall feeling quite so, well, er…stupid!

Okayeee. China 1 UK 0.

Take care

Liz