Getting Physical

Wow. Has anyone out there ever had a physical before? Oddly enough, I have not. I don't know how I made it to 27 without the experience. I was told that this particular physical required 'an unusual number of very strenuous and invasive tests,' but I really hope another long period of time passes before I have to do it again.

So, allow me to introduce you to the "Physical Examination Record For Foreigner". This form includes 59 questions ranging from the status of my development to the condition of my nose. Seriously. It also requires 2 blood labs, a chest x-ray and an EKG. It only took me 4 hours and I don't even want to know how many dollars, but I am now able to enter China...from a health standpoint, at least. The good part about all of this is that I found out I don't have bacillary dysentery. Yeah! The doctor told me that if I did have it, I'd know.

Along with this form came an instruction sheet thoughtfully provided by Maryknoll. I should have known something was up when the one page physical form came with two pages of instructions. Along with requiring an original copy of the x-ray films and every other piece of documentation available, each item needs to be stamped with the doctor's stamp. My doctor stopped in her tracks when she heard that. Stamp? According to Maryknoll "Stamps are very important in China." According to my doctor, the only stamp they have is the one they use to address envelopes. Thus, every piece of documentation I have is dutifully stamped with my doctor's address. If they want another stamp, she said they can send it to her and she'll stamp away.

Wish me luck!