Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Medicine, Chinese-Style!

Today we had a very interesting morning. Jonny and I had to have an immigration physical to get our work permits. Note: If you are coming for a visit, you DO NOT have to have this physical. I had heard horror stories about these physical, but unfortunately they were all true. We went into the building with the woman from Jonny's company who was to obtain our work permits. The building was filled with Chinese people preparing themselves to immigrate to other parts of the world.

We went up to the 2nd floor to a room where a doctor took our blood pressure, height, weight and did an EKG. The blood pressure machine and EKG were ancient. They were something we may have used in the US back in the 1920's. I have to say I have never had an EKG, but I imagine that the things they stick to your body are disposable. Not here, they were old pieces of rubber suction cups that made me cringe with the thought of them touching my body. After that experience I was desperate for a shower.

Next we were onto a room where Jonny and I both had ultrasounds. I am happy to say that I am not with child again, but Jonny is pregnant with twins! Jonny was joking with the doctor, who knew very little English, but had a great sense of humor. She told him he was having twins! Whoopee!!!

Then we were off for our blood. It was a very interesting way to give blood. You stick your arm through a hole in the glass and they stick you with a really fat needle. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I felt like I was at the bank giving blood and I don't meet the blood bank.

We headed back down stairs where we had a vision test and they doctor look up our noses, in our mouth and ears. You know how we have nice wooden tongue depressors? Well they tried to stick a metal one in my mouth and I freaked out on them. I asked them if it was clean and he said yes and said something like, "You don't think Chinese medicine is clean!” They were very offended, but I didn't care. I was just imagining all of the mouths those instruments were in, ISH!

Lastly was the chest x-ray, which luckily I didn't have to do because they noticed I had a baby with me and asked me if I was still nursing! Yes I still am and proud of it! This is another great reason to nurse your baby as long as possible. You don't have to take your shirt off in front of 20+ strange Chinese men.

Well, we survived through the exam. Hopefully we pass otherwise they will ship us back home. Tell me, do you think you could have made it through this exam? I think we have it pretty good in the US.

My Chengdu of the day is do take a shower after your immigration physical.

My Chendon't of the day is don't forget your own wooden tongue depressors.

4 comments:

Kelly S said...

Based on that story, I think I would pass up on a Chinese boob job, even if it was only $20.

VeryApeAZ said...

#1) I love the Chengdu and chengdon't #2) Your doctor experience actually sounds worse than my wisdom tooth removal in the army.

Chengdus & Don'ts said...

No, I am not planning on working. I think all adults have to have a physical and they give you a work permit if you pass. There are jobs over here if I choose though. I could work for a relocation company or I have heard that the consulate has jobs. It wouldn't be so bad working for the consolute because I would have better access to American goods, i.e. food, books, etc. I think I will just hang out with the kiddos. They are only young once!

Chengdus & Don'ts said...

No boob jobs for me! With my luck they would give me a C on one side and a DDD on the other!