My Trip to Clarksville

Two months ago I started to feel an annoying sensibility in my teeth. Every time I ate something cold or hot it hurt. That is when I started to think that I probably had a cavity. I talked with many people about what was the best option for a dentist. It seems that the best was the “People Health Clinic” in a small town named “Clarksville”, because they have financial aid for people without a dental insurance.

The first time that I went there, the advisor of the International Students, Kevin Roiseland gave me a ride to there. After the X-rays, they told me that I did have a cavity and they gave another appointment for the treatment.

For this second meeting I tried to find a ride, because Clarksville is at 13 miles from Waverly. But the appointment was quite early on a Tuesday, so there were not many people who could give me a ride.

I decided to go by bicycle. Some people told me that Clarksville was so far and that droving a bike to there was not a clever idea. However I had not another option. The day before the appointment, I printed a map in order to avoid the highway route. That day I woke up early, had a good breakfast, and started pedaling to Clarksville.

For a big part of my trip, I got lost. I had not the most remote idea where I was, and I was very close to give up, lose my dental appointment and go back to Wartburg. But when I turned my head I got to see a big signal on the way that said “Clarksville 7 miles”. It was only twenty minutes before my appointment started and I decided to pedal as fast as I could. On my way, I enjoyed the rural sceneries of Iowa, the farms, the cows, the big plantations and the noisy railroad.

A police truck came next to me. The police officer looked at me and said “Hey, where you going”. I explained to him that I was going to Clarksville and he replied “Well, be careful with highway”. Then I continued pedaling. I found a Snickers chocolate on the street, probably because the night before was Halloween.

I got on time to my appointment. They filled the cavity and know I can eat perfectly. When I leave of the dentist office, I told the lady in the desk that I came from Waverly on a bike. Another lady who was sitting there was surprised about that, and she offered me to give me a ride back to Wartburg.

We putted the bike on her car and we had a nice conversation on the way back, she told me about her family and she bought a sandwich in subway for me. I was embarrassed because she and her son (who was also there) were really nice with me.

 I realized how people with just by simple things like giving a ride to someone can make a person really happy. That day I had a significant lesson about solidarity and humbleness.