heath check

becoming a teacher in taiwan means that you have to pass an obligatory health check. just a simple physical, some blood work and a week later...poof! you're one step closer to getting your work permit.

or at least, that's how it usually goes.

i got my health check done last week and went to pick it up this afternoon. when i arrived to pick it up, the lady behind the counter couldn't find it. she looked a few times, but still couldn't find it. then, she tells me that i have to go through all the health check process again. i tried to understand, but i just went through all of it last week and felt i shouldn't have to do it again. so, i acquiesced and began to fill out the necessary paperwork for a second time. feeling frustrated, i decided that i should check at home first to make sure i didn't take it with me and guess what? i did.

so, raced back to the hospital and showed her the paperwork but another hitch; it seems that i am on the borderline for my inocculations. of course, my limited chinese education didn't really touch on vaccinnations, so i went to another part of the hospital to find out what was going on. turns out, my rubella vaccination is breaking down and to be sure that i won't catch measles of mumps, they have decided to make me get another one. but before that can happen, i need to go and stand in another line and fill out more paperwork, which i did. then, i get a printout from upstairs to tell them which kind of test to pay for. i grab a number from the ticket machine and realize that there are 47 people in front of me and the line is moving about 1 person per minute. i sit down and start to wait, but after a few games of pacman i am bored and getting frustrated. so, i just happen to look down at my paperwork and suddenly realize i've got the wrong paperwork! i rush back upstairs and wait again to get my info printed out correctly. i get back downstairs only to realize i've missed my turn. feeling beyond frustrated, i decide to leave it til tomorrow morning instead.

i hate to come down on things, but honestly, i never should have even had to go through this at all. if i had actually gotten the job i was promised, they don't require health checks and would already have my work permit. instead, i'm stuck with teaching where there are a million hoops to jump through. while this process is usually streamlined for efficiency, it seems that i have to go through a few extras turns and twists before this can happen. not the least of which is trying to finagle a couple weeks extension from the visa police as i only have 3 weeks remaining on my visitors visa and would really rather not have to leave the country. hong kong visa runs are a nightmare and get costly quickly.

sigh. tomorrow is another day. i'll chalk it up to partially my fault and partially my former employers fault.