Molly's Mammogram

Molly and I spent Saturday morning going to the Foreign Persons Disease Control Center. Not because we are diseased, but because it is one of the prerequisites to getting a resident visa.

Once registered and payments made, they ushered us down a long hall and our first stop after disrobing and being issued gowns was mammography. I thought poor Molly was going to have a heart attack on the spot. Given our exams cost 700RMB (about $100 USD) and the long litany of tests listed, I thought it was a pretty good deal, especially if they were throwing in a mammogram. She was neither amused nor on board once she saw the Mammography sign and I explained what a gynecological exam (also listed) entailed.

About that time a nice little nurse ushered us elsewhere and she was spared the mammogram at fifteen. We had chest xrays, ekg's and ultrasounds performed in addition to blood work, vision tests and check ups with an ENT and then an MD, neither of which spoke any English.

Apparently we passed the gauntlet per the little red chop marks carefully noted in each department and we on our way in what I considered pretty good time given the vast number of foreigners making their way through the process. Garreth gets to make the same journey next week with several hundred classmates.