Step Three...check

Without much fanfare or glitches (except for an apparent spike in my blood pressure), I underwent the official medical examination required of all potential conscripts at the hospital yesterday. Poked, prodded, needled, scanned, herded--I started to feel like a statistic on a government chart (I was #121, by the way). Numerous bodily fluids of over 120+ potential conscripts are now in the direct possession of the government for further analysis! Results in 2 months...

The psychological questionnaire was interesting, mostly acertaining whether the patient was capable of withstanding pressure, not suffering from depression, etc. After answering verbally that I had never tried heroine and other narcotics, one of the doctors after having looked at my file said: "I admire people like you and your family, who have the opportunity to study abroad." The government here certainly does it's fact-finding...It's somewhat Orwellian, but for an Asian country, I think the conception of infringement of privacy/big brother "looking out for you" is a bit different.

Interestingly enough, there were a few professional soldiers in the hospital, handing out flyers and propaganda about signing up for the volunteer force (a bad idea for most people), but the hospital staff (government affiliated) asked them to leave! I thought that was both surprising, but also good---asking a bunch of half dressed twenty year olds to sign up for the military while they undergo required medical examinations probably wouldn't have drew very many enthusiastic calls!

Next: Barring any major diseases and ailments, drawing straws will determine the branch of service I'll be spending the next 18 months (that's Army, Navy, Marines or the Air Force).

More later...