Quarantined

Well, not quite. But if I'd been a little quicker on the uptake and played my cards right, I could have been. Then my roommates and I would have got to miss two whole weeks of work! Anyway, about a week after I got back from India I developed a very mild fever and upper respiratory symptoms. Normally I'd just take some Tylenol Extra-Drowsy Flu Medicine and have pleasant dreams for a few days. However, if you've been in any international airports lately you've noticed the five billion health advisory pamphlets being handed out, so you can imagine why I became a tad more concerned. I knew it wasn't that likely as India wasn't a high-risk country anyway, but you never know where the other people in the airport just got off a plane from and better safe than sorry.

Yes, it turned out to be nothing. As close to nothing as bronchitis, anyway. But that was a freaky phone call to make.
"Hello, I'd like to come in for a checkup as soon as possible, please."
"What seems to be the problem?"
"I've been coughing and... You see I just got back... The thing is I might have SARS."
"AAAHHH! Stay the HELL away from this hospital!"
-click-

Not quite. But when I showed up for my appointment the receptionist really did hand me a cellphone and tell me to sit out in my car while the doctor asked me some questions. Had I answered one or two of those questions differently I would have been sent back home and CDC officials would have came by the apartment for my examination and possible isolated me there for two weeks.