burning koala

Not really my insides

We finally were able to get our application for our visas through and pay for them online. Since we ended up going for a two year visa (as the contract Angela has is for one year, two if it goes well) we needed to get chest x-rays to prove we didn’t have TB. Oddly, the US is considered a relatively high risk location for TB. I think you are only given a pass if you are from Finland or something.

We found that the only Panel Doctor who can give the exam was about 40 miles away in Brooksville. Luckily they had an appt available for two that afternoon. Off to Brooksville! Well, it could not have been more of country doctor office if it tried. The one patient waiting was covered in big red sores and idly complaining to no one in particular. A woman who was on the phone outside with here daughter came in just after us and her daughter was covered in red ants from sitting outside next to the grass. She started shaking them off while standing in the waiting room and the nurses went crazy. They sent her outside as they sprayed Raid and then vacuumed up the little ant corpses. Relieved of her little buggies, the girl then came back in to use the bathroom. This all within the first 3 minutes we got there.

The nurse was very helpful and chatty. We were having a nice conversation about how they did these x-rays for visas for Australia and Canada as well. What was weird was that we were basically in the middle of nowhere and they had already processed 5 application in the last month. The only other place was in Miami, which our previously pleasant nurse said was unfortunately due to all the “Spanish”. OK…, where’s that doctor again?

Dr. Gopal Korupolu was efficient, but not too talkative. Angela noted later that he never even actually looked at us. Just asked some questions and filled in the form. Then we were sent to a radiologist to get the actual x-rays done. We drove a few miles, making sure to turn right after the pink dinosaur (don’t ask) and were put through pretty quickly. With x-rays in hand we drove back to the doctor’s office and had our films sent off to Sydney. As of the last time I looked they were just leaving Los Angeles on there way to Australia. Hopefully we will know something in a day or two.

Note: That is not an x-ray of either of us…