Today is “Medical Check” day.  All family members load the bus at 7:30 am. We take a long ride out to an official facility to complete all medical exams for the “Foreign Expert Certificate”, and the “Residential Permit”.  We tried to do as many of the required tests before we left the US, and it paid off today.  Judy had to do nothing else.  I had to get a blood test.  I had the required test in Arlington, but the results weren’t in any of my paperwork, so I got poked again.

The building is very plain, and all the workers are wearing face masks.  The BISS doctor is translating and guiding us as needed.  It’s an assembly line as teachers and family members are guided to the necessary rooms for the appropriate tests.  We had to “fast” this morning, so when we board the bus to depart, each of us gets a snack sack and water.  Everyone chows down.

There is a long drive back to BISS where the teachers are dropped off.  Family members are returned to their apartments.  I eat some lunch and focus on my list of “to-do’s” for the day.  I contact our housing agent Lisa (assigned by BISS) about how to “top off” (pay ahead) on our water cards.

We have two cards, hot & cold, and value must be added to each card, and then read by the meters at our apartment.  She meets me and walks me over to UHN management offices (hidden in a basement, no signs, down a long dimly light hallway.  I pay 500y total to both cards ($83).  Cards are “loaded” and I return to the apartment, not really sure how to use the cards, but confident that I’ve paid into both (not sure how it was divided between cards.

Offhandedly, Lisa asks when do we want to make our visit to the police station?  Huh?  New residents must register for temporary residency at the local police station. We must carry a copy of this permit until we get our “Residence Permit” which is good for a year.  She’s leaving town tomorrow for a HS class reunion for a week.  Suddenly we have a tight deadline and no help.  Oh well.

I need to find an electronics store (like Best Buy).  I’m told “Gome” (gomay) is the place to go.  I’ve seen one not far away (7 or 8 blocks)  Our “Taxi Book” has one listed so I jump in a cab, show them my book, and off we go.

We drove right by the one that was close and passed two others that I saw.  I was finally dropped at a really big store, far from the apartment.  I have learned a new lesson about taxi book usage:  don’t assume the destination listed is the closest site.

I walk in and after much gesturing, and hand signals, I walk out with an iron, tabletop ironing board, hair dryer, several extension strips, and a hand vac.  It’s cash only, I discover.   Out to the taxi area and home.  Three drivers look at my instructions for home and “shake me off”.  I’m beginning to get a little worried, and finally a driver seems to be able to read, or at least decipher the description.   Arrival at home is a relief!  Judy arrives later and we unpack the prizes from today’s safari, eat little dinner, swap tales of the day’s adventures, and prepare for the next day.  Jet lag is still affecting both of us, so the bed is a welcome destination.