Since I get to enjoy the luxury of assistance, I only had to endure a teeny bit of frustration but at the time really ticked me off (so far, I haven't gotten my driver's license yet...so we'll see how that goes). To get a visa, we had to visit the TECOM office to apply and of course pay the large fees for not getting the process started before 30 days; which couldn't be done until Marcus had his visa that took way longer than 30 days to get. So after we couldn't understand what we were supposed to do when Marcus received a call from the office, (they like to call everyone here, which I hate because I can't understand what is being said over the phone! Why can't they just email?) Marcus went back and asked the Emirati (local) what he needed to do with my visa receipts. We were told he would be called in just a few days to set-up my medical test since we paid extra to expidite the process. Of course, several days passed with no call and we are left wondering how long we really will have to wait for this call and that there was no point to paying extra for a faster result. Turns out the TECOM office calls the Cerner process assistant instead of Marcus! So now we're left with both the feelings of happiness to continue this process and irritation that what we were told didn't actually happen.
Now, on to get my medical test. In order to get my visa, I have to be tested. For what? I don't really know and the nurses don't tell you. I find that odd but whatever. The clinic is a bit far from the apartment and my appointment was in the morning so I had to leave early enough to get there on time factoring in sitting in traffic. I actually arrived earlier than expected and didn't have any trouble finding the place but had a large taxi fare since so much time was spent sitting in traffic. The barely English speaking desk clerk thumbed through the papers I was told was all I needed to get my test. She then asked for identification so I show her my Missouri driver's license because that is all I have. Of course, no one knows what this is and this form of I.D. does not work. She asked for my passport. "The TECOM office takes that when the visa process starts and doesn't give it back till it's complete. I have to get this test in order for it to be completed," I explained. But she does not understand; how would she not know this? Aren't there thousands of people doing the same thing I am to stay in this country? Or am I the only person the passport is taken from? I doubt it. She mentions some sort of other picture I.D. that TECOM can give but I have no clue what she is talking about because I was told all I needed were those papers. Finally, after interrupting a nurse drawing blood because I was told to ask her, I find out I'm missing a stamp on one of my papers. A stamp that is exactley like the one that is on the first page of my papers but that stamp doesn't work...it has to be on my passport copy in order to get my test.
I was really upset that I couldn't get this done. I was mad because my time was wasted and had to spend 30 bucks for a taxi. I think I was mostly worked up because of my nervousness building up about getting my blood drawn. Anyhow, I was supposed to go back to the TECOM office and ask for this stamp, but I figured I would end up confused and more irritated so I asked if the process assistant could do it.
A week or so later, I return to the clinic with the same papers but another stamp, annoyed that I have to spend more money on a taxi and wondering if this will work. This time I get a desk clerk that speaks English much better but again I was asked for identification. I tell him the same story, "I was told all I need are these papers," and try to show him my passport copy to see if that will suffice. He doesn't say anything but "take a seat." So I do, hoping that this means I can get my test but not really sure what's going to happen. I didn't have to wait too long before my name is called and I'm told to go around the corner to draw blood. Yay! So I find my way to the correct door after stopping at a wrong one first (information isn't labeled here very well). Again, I'm asked for my papers and identification. What!!?? Didn't I already go through this? So I go through my MO driver's license and passport copies with the nurse while explaining, AGAIN, that I thought I only needed those certain papers. After those forms of identification didn't work, I flip through these supposed needed papers to the other passport copy with the stamp. The STAMP! "Oh, that's all I needed to see," she casually states pointing at the stamp while I'm trying to stay calm. To me, stamp doesn't = form of identification. So I guess next time I go to a bar or have a run in with the police and they ask to see my I.D. I'll pull out my stamp and say "yep, that's me"!
So, long story short, I get my test done! The nurse who took my blood was very good (only one poke); all those nerves built up for nothing! I think she liked me because she saw my Red Cross cards while I was showing her my MO license and went on talking about how she also worked with Red Cross. Then I went to get my chest X-ray and was free to go. I passed the test (no swine flu) and got my Visa a few days later.
