dashingwell.weebly.com/blog/health-checkI met Giang (pronounced Yang) at a different hospital than I went to before. So, my experience here was much different. First of all, I drove myself there and I am always super anxious finding new places. But I found it and parked and still had 10 minutes to spare. There are 6 entrances to the hospital so we had a bit of confusion as to where I was, but we found each other and headed inside. This experience was a bit more like China in the way that it was a bit like a scavenger hunt around the hospital to have the different tests done. However, this hospital was much more modern than both of the other hospitals I've done health checks in and the process was much more smooth and less confusing. Maybe because I know what to expect now since this is my 3rd health check in a year or maybe because most of the doctors and nurses I saw spoke English fairly well. While trying to find our starting point, we were in an elevator with an old man who couldn't stop staring at me. When we got off the elevator, he asked me in perfect English where I was from. He smiled so big when I answered USA and then shook my hand.
We finally found my starting point. We started by having my blood drawn, one of the nurses spoke English very well and they were laughing about how they were going to fit my full name on the tiny test tubes...my full name has 23 letters. They handed me a test tube, pointed me towards the bathroom and told me to fill it halfway. No cup to use to pour the urine into the test tube this time...I had no idea how I was going to do it BUT I DID. Somehow, no spilling or anything.
We then headed to another building to get my eyes checked. Then on to the chest x-ray. This part keeps getting better with each visit. They made me take my bra off but they let me keep my tank top on. When I responded to the tech that I'm American (in Vietnamese) he started chanting Obama and continued to do so as he lined me up and left the room.
We then went and got my teeth checked out, the next room they checked my heart and lungs and then my ears. And, then finally, my blood pressure, height, weight and medical history. This was the only pretty awkward part. The doctor here asked if I spoke Vietnamese, I answered a little (in Vietnamese, I try to answer this way, when possible). So he said "ok! English it is!" He asked my height...I don't know in their measurements so they measured me. Same for the weight. I know I've lost weight since I've been here but after they weighed me (and I used my converter) I'm pretty happy with the number. I'm about 30 pounds (13 kg) lighter than I have been since I stopped sitting behind a desk. Then he asked if I've ever had surgery, I said yes...he asked why and I pointed and said I had a breast tumor 10 years ago but it was benign. Then, everyone in the room just stared at my boobs for about a full minute. In silence. There were 4 people just staring. Then he said ok! And that was that. Then he asked if I had given birth to anyone. The phrasing made me chuckle. Anyone? But, hey, he is speaking my language a billion times better than I can speak his so...no, I have not given birth to anyone.
I don't have pictures because Giang took my purse and carried it for me throughout this escapade. But at least it's over and even cost less than expected. Another win!