Leagally Blind in 4 Outta 5 Countries

So the medical check finally happened! What a relief that it's over. It was ridiculously easy, just as everyone said it would be.... but that hadn't stopped me from worrying about it.

I'm really glad that my boss and his wife were there though because they were able to talk to the nurses and just shove me in the right direction. I walked with a sheet of paper from station to station and got my height, weight, eyesight, hearing, urine, blood and chest x-ray. Oh I also saw a doctor who had this huge form. He stared at it and then finally just said "uuuhhh... do...you...have...any..medical...problems?". The obvious answer was no, and I was sent on my way to the next station.

Now I think I did fine on everything except eyesight and urine (you had to know that I was going to talk about something gross). I didn't wear my glasses for the eyesight test and that may have been a mistake. I think I may be legally blind in Korea. I looked at the board after I did the test and I maybe.. and I stress maybe... got half of the letters right. Whooops. She even asked if I had contacts that I forgot to put in. Nope, but seeing is overrated anyways.

Anyone who has worked with me or drank with me knows that I pee at least once an hour. I don't have a shy bladder and have never had a problem doing a urine test before, but today? Nothing. Dry as a bone. I was in the bathroom for what seemed like forever... I finally squeezed out enough that got it half way to the line that I was supposed to fill it. Good enough. Then I hid it at the back of the "urine tray" and went off to get my blood taken.

There were also two other white people there (fellow teachers, a guy and a girl). I assumed that they were dating as they came together and are working at the same place. I was talking to the guy and he said, and I quote, "ya... it's A LOT of time together". I laughed, and then laughed some more...he didn't find it as humorous. Sadly I was dragged away before I could exchange any information with them.

Next off to another building for my dental exam. I don't think that there is a person that knows me that doesn't know just how terrified I am of the dentist. I actually bawled the last time that I was in for a cleaning, sheer terror. Korean dentistry had me freaking out even more, especially with the horrible faces my boss and his wife kept making every time they said dentist. I sat down on a chair opened my mouth and the hygienist looked in, told me to close my mouth and then said "very good, no problems". I was outta that chair so fast... didn't want to give her another chance to start the torture.

And that was it, I should have my results by Friday or Monday. After I get the results my boss takes me to the immigration office and we apply for my Alien Registration Card. I believe it takes me another week to receive that. But finally, after I get my ARC I can open a bank account and get a cell phone.

Speaking of bank account, I have no idea when I get paid or how much I get paid. I don't officially start teaching until either late this week or early next week. And I don't know if I get paid from the moment I start training (which I started today in the form of observation), or teaching. Either way I'm going to have to have to tighten the purse strings even more and wait to see. And please don't say "just ask your boss", because it's not that simple here.

Other than that things are good and still in the process of setting up times to meet more new people. I really do like it here and am getting much more comfortable. Oh, one last thing that is a little funny... I don't know what it is about me but Koreans want to talk to me, even if they can't speak a lick of English. Whether it's in the elevator at my building, on the street, in the subway or in a store.... they just talk to me. I was with a friend last night leaving the subway station and it happened again. When we finally broke free she made a comment on how that never happens to her unless she is with me. Funny, I had just assumed it happened to all foreigners.

Well I had a long day and am going to make some food, watch some tv, and then crawl in to bed.

Much Love Canada