I followed the doctor to the room. Not very surprised to see the same old furniture and smell with the very familiar white wrinkly paper on the exam table.

"Andy please sit on the table. You're here for your Green Card exam, correct?"

"Yes, Dr. Murray. Here is the form I need and here are my medical records from Venezuela" I say as I hand him the papers.

"Oh. I'm sorry Andy. Venezuela is on the list of countries we can't accept the records from. I'm afraid I will have to assume you don't have any and start from scratch"

"What? Doctor what do you mean? I am up to date on everything. I wouldn't have been able to attend school in the United States otherwise" I said protesting. My heart was racing.

"Well Andy. Unfortunately we can't trust records from Venezuela because it's a country that's on the blacklist. Unless you have them notarized and verified I can't take these"

I must have looked horrified. I didn't know what to say. The doctor went on.

"I will assume you have never been to the doctor and do not have any of the vaccines required for the Green Card. But don't worry we don't have to do everything today, we can split it into multiple visits. Why don't you go ahead and go to the bathroom and change into the gown that's there? Make sure to leave a urine sample and take everything off. Nothing should be under the gown so I can examine you properly"

I was so shocked. This is not what I was expecting at all. And my friend didn't mention anything. But she was not from Venezuela so maybe that's why? I thought about leaving. But I really needed the Green Card and every other doctor did not take insurance and it was a lot of money. I figured I'd just do what he asked and get it over with. I nodded and went to the bathroom. Left a urine sample and changed myself into the gown. I took my bra and underwear off like he directed and came back to the room.

"Great Andy. Please hop on the table and let's have a look. I will begin with a physical exam"

I was so scared. Everything sounded so intense. What did he mean by assuming I'd never been to the doctor?

He looked into my eyes with a flashlight. "Andy please follow the lights". Then he took an otoscope and looked into my ears. First the right side then the left. I was anxious. My mind was spinning. "Now open your mouth and say AHHH". I did and he looked at my throat. "Very well Andy. Everything looks good. Now I'm going to take your vitals" he said as he put a blood pressure cuff on my arm. He inflated it and inflated it. It felt very uncomfortable. He manually listened with his stethoscope as he deflated it. I had not had my blood pressure taken manually since I was in Venezuela. This was a throwback. "Andy your blood pressure is elevated. Is this normal for you? Or is it because you're nervous?"

"I'm just nervous doctor. I thought this would be a quick exam for the paperwork. I'm up to date on everything"

"Well Andy I already explained things to you and I don't think I need to repeat myself. I'm going to let this one slide but from here on out you need to be a good girl for me. Now I'm going to go ahead and take your temperature which I do rectally. Please turn over and lie down on your stomach"

"What?? Rectally? I've never had my temperature taken there. Not even as a kid"

"Well you're proving that I can't trust those records from Venezuela. This is the only truly accurate way. Now lie down and don't make me wait"