Medical check

Countless other bloggers have no doubt discussed the medical check that English teachers receive when they come to Korea. I'll throw mine into the mix as well.

Melissa, another new English teacher, and I were picked up in a van and driven to the hospital, where doctors and nurses performed a series of tests.

The tests were similar to an American doctor's physical, except they were performed in several different offices as opposed to one. The most unusual test involved a nurse hooking some sort of electric device up to our wrists and ankles. She then attached to our chests these little medal cones with suction cups attached to the ends so they would stay on. Then we were zapped, presumably, though we couldn't really feel it. 

Following this, we were given an X-ray. Except there was no lead pad to hang over ourselves, like they give you at the dentist's office. Instead, we stood with our face to a wall and had the X-ray beamed through our backs. Someone shouted in Korean, and I wandered away back to my chair to wait for the next test, wondering whether I would ever be able to have kids. 

Blood samples were drawn, and a few other tests were performed as well. It wasn't a horrible experience by any means, but slightly amusing for those who find humor in subtle differences.

All things considered, the exam was pretty thorough. The only thing they didn't make me do was turn my head and cough.