Shell in China
Monday, June 05, 2006
Doctor, Doctor
So, I got a surprise email from Peace Corps last week. Just when we thought we had everything squared away and ready to go to China, PC emailed looking for blood work and other medical tests that were due at the end of May. It seems that they sent the packet of Chinese medical forms to our old house instead of the apartment. I thought I had changed our address with them, but it must not have made it all the way through the bureaucracy of the Peace Corps headquarters! Anyway, so I got a rather urgent email wanting a whole lot of tests and information a week ago! I called the family doctor’s office and scheduled the soonest appointment I could get and then begged for a rush to be put on the blood work, but I am guessing that most people taking HIV tests want them to hurry back with the results, so I am not sure my pleading got me very far.
HIV I and HIV II, syphilis, chest x-rays and an EKG…that was my afternoon! It wasn’t the most fun, but at least I got to keep my shirt on for the X-ray! Apparently the chest plate was rather cold on bare skin! I did have to have Greg, the blood-drawing guru, come and take my vials of blood. Something to do with microscopic veins that no nurse in her right mind is willing to tackle…so after a very tight rubber band on my upper arm, a lot of slapping and poking he came away with just enough blood to fill his vampiric needs and I got a GIANT lime green arm wrap! Luckily for me, I was wearing green today, so I got to play the part of a fashionista with difficult veins!
Now, we are just waiting for the results to come back and then I will overnight them to Washington DC. We are to send the lab reports of the X-rays, but keep the actual films so that we can carry them with us into China. Seems odd and they are gigantic, so I guess my carry-on will be one personal item and a massive envelope with chest X-rays enclosed!
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Blog of a Peace Corps China volunteer serving as a TEFL teacher in Cheng Xian, Gansu, China.
About Me
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- Name: Michelle Ross
- Location: Chengxian, Gansu, CN
In America, I teach 8th grade English and reading and really enjoy spending time with middle school students. Some people think I am crazy for it, but Marsing has a great group of kids and I love being a part of their lives as they grow up! Right now I live in China and teach English and teaching methods to students who want to be teachers. I am here through Peace Corps, which I think is a fabulous experience and something that more people should look into doing! The application process can be a bit of a pain, but it is well worth the time and effort. Check out Peace Corps and give something back to the world that has given you so much!! Teaching runs in the family, as just about everyone is involved in education in one way or another. My dad is retired, but he was a teacher, counselor and principal for 30+ years, my mom is an elementary counselor, my sister and husband are both teachers and my brother will finish his teaching degree this next spring! "Those who can, do; those who can do magic, teach!"
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