Is "rare budding yeast" a normal finding upon female exam? i did have a yeast infection, but why the term "rare"?

'rare': In this situation, the term 'rare' doesn't refer to exotic but rather to the small number noted.

Yeasts seen...: It means that on microscopic exam of vaginal fluid, a very few yeasts were seen. If you had symptoms at the time, it confirms the diagnosis. If no symptoms, in and of itself this doesn't require treatment. Yeast in the vagina is entirely normal -- most or all women have it some of the time, and some women most of the time. It's considered a "yeast infection" only when symptoms are present.

Normal finding...: "Rare" refers to how much or often the organism was seen under the microscope by the lab technician or physician. Nothing to worry about...