Mastodawn

pepperonisalami Aug 13, 2025

Almost died in a crash...

https://sh.itjust.works/post/44021487

Almost died in a crash... - sh.itjust.works

Hey all, I hope everyone’s alright. I’m visiting the Netherlands and I almost died while riding a bike. I’m at a town with a university, and this is my 3rd day in the town; so I don’t know all the streets by heart. I was riding a bicycle, through a cross road, and wanted to make a left turn, from the right side of the road. I crossed the road first, before crossing to the left, when I saw that there wasn’t any bike lane ahead, so the bike lane is only on one side of the road; two directions in one big bike lane. So I turned around to go back to the initial point, and I saw no traffic light in this direction. I crossed the road while the traffic lights for the cars ahead turned green, and there was a car turning at a moderately high speed straight to my direction. The car had to brake hard and stopped just 20cm before crashing into me, and I could see the panicked-angry face of this dude, cussing at me with two middle fingers violently waved in my direction. I’m sure it was my fault and I feel awful… I shouldn’t have turned around directly, and should’ve done 3 crossings instead. Lesson learned and all, but facing the possibility of death is awful. And I’m pretty sure I made one extra Dutch to hate visitors/immigrants (especially on a bike). I hope he can forgive me, and I wish safety to all the students.

pepperonisalami Dec 26, 2024

I think I have tinnitus

https://sh.itjust.works/post/30072899

I think I have tinnitus - sh.itjust.works

One random night, I lay on my bed in my silent bedroom, and I felt that the silence is uncomfortable. Why, I asked myself, that the silence felt sharp, like I prefer the noise of my annoyingly loud dehumidifier, or the muffled sound of traffic in my old apartment? I realized that the silence was ringing, in a high pitched noise that we all associate with being hit near the ears. My inner voice told myself: “man, you have tinnitus.” Thinking back, that wasn’t the first time I thought that I have tinnitus, but I was probably in denial for years, or it just got louder. The sad part is that I’m only 26, and somehow, I feared getting tinnitus ever since my childhood. Even worse, I just ordered a pair of headphones with ANC, and when I don’t play anything through it, the ringing gets very clear. Was depressed for a few days, thinking that it’s not fair that I got it even though I don’t expose myself to loud noises often, I listen to music at a couple levels lower than my preference, and I don’t turn up my music to drown out noises. But nothing in life is fair, and to compared to the suffering of others, this is only a mild discomfort. So I’ll try to keep positive about it, and be grateful that I still enjoy a comparatively luxurious life. I’ll visit a doctor soon though! Any of you have a similar experience? I’ll be happy to read your stories!

pepperonisalami Aug 2, 2024

How much would a knee meniscus surgery costs in Taiwan with the NIH

https://sh.itjust.works/post/23123117

How much would a knee meniscus surgery costs in Taiwan with the NIH - sh.itjust.works

Hi folks, I’ve been living in Taiwan for years so I have the NIH. Recently my knee is acting up and will get super painful during runs. As much as I want to deny it, I suspect that I have a meniscus tear 😢. If that is the case, I don’t know if I have the financial means to support the treatment, so I want to ask if there’s anyone here with an experience with knee meniscus repair or ACL reconstruction surgery in Taiwan? Any recommendations for a hospital or doctor? How much did it cost or did you get quoted? Thank you very much!