China - Day 42, Tuesday

6 weeks today!

After taking Daniel to the bus, Isabelle picks us up to go to Shouzou (pronounced Sue Jo). This is where the manufacturing plant is for Magotteaux. I have to go to get my physical for my residence permit. Randy did this a couple of weeks ago for his permit. Isabelle also has to pick up Thanapong, Henry and another young woman I can't remember her name. So it took us almost 2 hours to get out of Shanghaim-between traffic, the size of Shanghai, and the stops! We finally get to Shouzou around 10:00. On the way Isabelle offered Randy some crackers, she apologized to me because I am not suppose to eat because of my test. I said that I had breakfast because no one told me not to eat! (frustration #1)

A man from the Shouzou office, Allen, was assigned to take me to the appointment. It took us about 30 minutes to get there. We go to the reception desk and they ask for my passport and a photocopy of the first page. I did not have a copy. (frustration #2) We were able to pay for a copy at the hospital. I did bring the 2 passport pictures which were required. They then ask me for the paperwork from Magotteaux, which I was not told about. (frustration #3) They were able to work around that. We then had to go to the cashier to pay. Was not told about this either. (frustration #4) They did not accept the debit card, (frustration #5), so we had to head to an ATM. I withdrew the money and while I was counting the money the ATM returned my card without giving me a receipt, which I needed to turn into Magotteaux for reimbursement for the ATM fee. (frustration #6)


After all the paperwork frustrations, now I can go for the examination. There are a series of rooms I need to go to for various exams. First I go to get blood work - 4 vials! Hopefully there are no big problems with the blood work because I ate! Then I need to go to ultrasound so they can check my gallbladder and not sure what else. Of course here she can tell I have eaten, but she can still get a picture. Next is EKG. After that I have to go to the dentist who basically looks in my mouth for 30 seconds and I am done. Next I go to have my blood pressure taken, weight and eye exam. For the eye exam I have to read a number on a card that is in color dots, next I have to cover one eye and say which way the "E" is facing on an eye chart, then do the same for the other eye. The last thing I have to do is get a chest x-ray (my guess is checking for TB). When Randy went for his exam he had to have a hearing test also. He sat down and they held up a pocket watch to each ear and asked if he could hear it. He still laughs about that! I didn't get to do that - I do not think I could of done it with a straight face! As I leave the medical exam they hand me a box. In the box it has all kinds of pills. There are antibiotics, nitroglycerin tablets, Imodium, a thermometer, band aids, and a bunch of other stuff. Randy got one when he had his test also. The physical took less than 30 minutes for everything.

Allen  then takes me to the train station. Randy needs to stay in Shouzou for meetings, so I will take the train back to Shanghai and Richard will pick me up at the station. At the train station we buy the ticket. As a foreigner I need to show my passport to buy a ticket. Allen tells me my train leaves at 1:13 (it is 11am). So I have to wait for 2 hours for my train (frustration #7). He takes me up to the gate. Fortunately I brought my Kindle to read and time passes by sort of quickly. As I am sitting there I here announcements for other trains leaving for Shanghai and wonder why I could not be on those. (Frustration #8). As the time approaches I watch the board to announce my train. I go up to the gate when my train number is on the top of the board. I decided to show my ticket to a person and ask if this is the right spot. They tell me that my train left already! (Major frustration # 9!) So now I am near tears because I do not know what to do. A young man explained that it was no big deal I could just take the next train which was going to Shanghai, leaving in 10 minutes. (Frustration #10) Why did I have to wait 2 hours again?? I am not even sure that this train is actually going to Shanghai! I get on the next train hopin that I will get to Shangahi and it does actually get me to there. I choose a seat and realize that the seat back is laying back (I have such a headache at this point that I can not sit laying back like that) and I can not figure out how to get it upright. (frustraton #11), so the whole trip to Shanghi I can not lean back in my chair - I have to sit upright without the chair back. (frustration #12) Richard tells me to meet him at the South exit. I turn and follow the signs until I get to a split in the sidewalk. Neither say South Exit (frustration #13). I take the left sidewalk and fortunately it was the right choice.

At this point I could use a DRINK! Everybody tells me there that are ShangHIGH days and there are ShangLOW days. This was definitely a ShangLOW day! I hope I do not have too many of these!