How to Amuse Oneself in an Italian Hospital! Posted by Geoff on Sep 3, 2014 in Uncategorized
All photos (CC) by Geoff Chamberlain
I don’t think anyone particularly enjoys waiting around in hospitals. Despite the good healthcare that I’ve come to expect here in Italy I’ve always found the hospitals to be particularly barren and institutional. Those long, naked, antiseptic smelling corridors are particularly unnerving, and the only thing to distract the eye in waiting areas is the myriad of notices announcing the names of departments, or rules and regulations.
Ma non tutto il male vien per nuocere (But every cloud has a silver lining), and when I had to take Serena to an appointment at Ospedale S. Antonio Abate a few days ago I decided to put my time to good use and prendere due piccioni con una fava sola (kill two birds with one stone). Therefore, armed with my camera, I set off to explore the hospital, and to marvel at the weird and wonderful announcements adorning the walls or hanging from the ceiling.
Dear readers, I present to you a ‘Linguistic Tour’ of Ospedale S. Antonio Abate, Pontremoli:
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The mystical “Island of Information”, sound very romantic doesn’t it? All it really means is “Info Point” |
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Is it a bird? is it a plane? No, it’s a floor plan of the hospital: |
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Hmmm, hard choice. To the wards (reparti), or to the snack bar? |
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Now for the tricky bit! Here’s a small selection from the wonderful sign above (some of the translations are obvious): Piano Terra = Ground Floor Piano Rialzato = Mezzanine Floor/Upper Ground Floor Piano Primo = First Floor Piano Secondo = Second Floor Piano Terzo = Third Floor Piano Quarto = Fourth Floor Piano Quinto = Fifth Floor |
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Pronto Soccorso = First Aid/Accident & Emergency. If you’re an unlucky tourist this is the sign you’ll need to look for! |
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Ambulatori = Surgeries/Clinics |
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MANIGLIONE ANTIPANICO apertura a spinta = ANTI-PANICK HANDLE opens when pushed. |
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Ambulatorio Ortopedico E CHIRURGICO = Orthopaedic Clinic AND SURGICAL (just an afterthought!) |
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Ambulatorio Oculistico = Eye Clinic |
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… and last but not least, my personal favourite, a special place for patients with a bad cold: atishoo! (N.B. this one’s a trick, if you know the real meaning of this sign leave a comment with the answer. |
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Comments:
semianna:
Che fantasia! 😉 Grazie..I’m just learning..perfect!
Linda S.:
Uscita in reverse: exit!
Geoff:
@Linda S. ecco, brava!
a presto, Geoff
Teresa:
“exit”
Thanks for this hopefully I will not need to go to the hospital when I am in Italy later this month!
Geoff:
@Teresa Brava! Well at least if you do you’ll be able to practice your vocabulary! 😉
Saluti da Geoff
Marion:
Don’t sneeze on your way out!
Geoff:
@Marion Bella traduzione!
Nandita:
Exit! (Uscita)
Good post, I wish I had it the time I was circling Italian hospitals, which I must say are a bit weird, nurses with black nail color, piercings and tattoos.. Ouch ‘am I in the right place?” It’s Milan fashion creeps in every where!
John:
“Uscita”, does it mean exit or “way out”? I noticed that none of the pictures showed a human being, everywhere looks deserted! Or is it a slow day at the “ospedale”? 🙂
Geoff:
@John Uscita is exit.
Every day is a slow day at Pontremoli hospital. Unfortunately they’re gradually closing it down. They’ve already closed the punto nascite (maternity ward) which means that all mothers in dolce attesa (expecting) have to traipse down to Massa 40 minutes away (povera Italia!).