Korean Blog: Needles and X-rays

This week is my second of 9 weeks over the summer vacation. I have finally been given a home of my own that was even furnished. Feeling better, settled down a bit, work is going well too...but that's another story.

Current Korean immigrations laws require that foreigners applying for work visas must submit, upon arrival, to a series of olympic events in order to obtain their ARC (Alien Resident Card) which will entitle them open bank accounts and have internet and cell phone plans. Today I underwent the first task; a medical back ground check.

I had to climb up a pretty steep road to get to the hospital from the subway station. Later, during the heartrate portion of my exam, this would later prove to be a mistake. I was fortunate to have been assigned an interpreter at the information desk who led me through each portion of the check up. See, I was told by the government website that I would have to submit a blood and urine test in order to show that I didn't have "the HIV" or what I wasn't "on the marijuana". It turned out that I was to enjoy a complete medical check-up which had me visit several different wards in the hospital.

Eyes, ears and heart was first. I run, so I am always checking my heart rate for cardio training. It is usually around 65...but I couldn't get it down below 90 because of nerves and the exertion of climbing up the mountain to get there. Oh, and I also found out I need glasses. Damn it! Blood work was done over the counter, fortunately the urine sample was not. I did have to get an x-ray which was a little freaky...are you supposed to feel an electric shock from those things?

I will need to return on monday to collect the paperwork for immigration. If they find any traces of drugs or disease I will be deported, that shouldn't happen...