And cripes, it was easy.
I’ve been working on my visa now for about a year and a half. Seriously. We were told about delays, things getting pushed back 6-8 months because they were backlogged, eventually got our approval, sent in all of our paperwork, they sent some of it back, changed their name and told us to send it elsewhere, we made phonecalls to help us figure things out, they told us to go to the website, the website told us to call, so we went to our service centre and were told to go back to the website. What fun!
So a couple of weeks ago, we said screw it. We hired a lawyer. HOORAY! Today was my medical!
Now, a few years ago, I also had to get a medical, because I was engaged to a guy from here who ended up leaving me for another woman. Thanks, dude, left me with the bill and no fiance. Peckerhead. Anyway, back then, the nearest approved doctor was a six hour drive away, and it cost me close to $600 (US!). It took an hour for him to examine me, and it was pretty intrusive. I also had to be sent to the hospital to get blood taken and chest X-rays. The whole thing was an exhausting day’s work. My father drove me early in the morning and we didn’t get home until after dark. All in all, that day sucked.
Today, I go in, I wait about ten minutes, the nurse comes in, she takes a few minutes to check my blood pressure and ask the nurse-y questions, the doctor comes in, feels my nodes, listens to my heart, checks my hands and feet, declares me healthy and sends the nurse in to take the blood, give me a skin test (for TB - I didn’t have it three years ago, and I doubt I have it today) and one MMR shot that apparently I didn’t get in the past. And that was it! Done! I didn’t even have to take off my underwear. And this one only cost $371 US. I don’t need X-rays unless I test positive for TB, which the doctor will look at on Monday. (I have no idea why the last doctor I went to had me get X-rays, since I didn’t have TB. He didn’t give me a skin test or anything, though, so maybe it’s different in Canada?)
I’ve been dreading this day all week, thinking of how hellish the last medical was. This went quicker than my regular visits to the family doctor. As far as I’m concered, the hardest part is over. Yeah, yeah, the interview is yet to come and all that, but they won’t be sticking needles into me or making me get naked and prodding my tender bits. Or, you know, at least I hope not.
Anyway, I was just so pleased about all of this, I thought I’d share. Mundane and pointless to everyone except me and my husband. And our lawyer and immigration. 
Go, me!