So today was my health check for my visa application. I will say Taiwanese hospitals are in many ways just like American ones and in many ways worlds different. Our escort, one of the secretaries, drove me and another teacher to the hospital. We parked in a garage with narrow spots and low ceilings. Quite a feet for our mini-van, but we managed to find a good parking spot. We then walked out to the hospital. Along the way our secretary shielded her face/skin from the sun. She explained to us that people in Taiwan do not like to get tan (at least the women don't) it's a sign of prestige to have pale skin. If you have tan skin it means you work outside on a farm or some other such menial job. The opposite of America.
After we got inside the secretary took us to get checked in at some tables off to the side where they had us sign some things in Chinese. (My co-worker and I joked we were signing away our first born children.) After which we went down to the basement. The clinic was a little two room closet type experience. We gave them our paperwork and waited for them to call us at which point they took our blood pressure (mine was a little high, excitement or nerves or machinery I couldn't tell), got our height (179.6cm) and tested our eyes and checked for a fever. We were then given a number and asked to sit in chairs by a room where the doctor would examine patients. Our number was called, we went in he asked if we had any health issues listened to our hearts and sent us off. Then it was up to the cashier to pay (our appointment cost 1460NTD, which the school reimbursed us for this afternoon it comes to about $5 American). The we were off to the lab for a blood draw. Again taking a number and waiting to be called. Then you go up to a little window they look over your paperwork and take the blood... all in view of everyone else. After that it was off to x-ray for a chest x-ray. It was a very cement filled radiology department with heavy metal doors that closed when taking x-rays. Honestly you could go in one of those during a nuclear apocalypse and be just fine. They had us change into gowns (literally gowns no openings in the back) took one x-ray and sent us on our way after changing.
Needless to say the whole experience had a DMV like feel about it. The paperwork will be sent back to the school when it is completed. So I am now one step closer to my ARC (alien registration card), which I have been told will have a Chinese name for me on it. They will either make one up that is close to my actual name or just use some random name for me. I'm curious to see what they come up with.
In class today my students helped me prepare for my experience at the night market tomorrow, telling me I want to skip dinner and try everything. They also showed me the words for stinky tofu (something I am told is actually good), fried chicken, and egg cake. And they gave me the pronunciations. I'm excited to see what some of that food is like. Tonight after work I'm heading out for a hot pot and my weekly grocery trip.
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