X-ray

I was recently x-rayed to see if I had Tuberculosis. This is required of all foreigners in France who are seeking a residency card. The x-ray took 15 minutes from the time I arrived until the time I left. I had the feeling that I was a product in a small medical factory. No one ever told me their name, or pretended to want to know how I am doing. I was simply invited into a small closet and told to leave my necklace and shirt on a hook. As I was undressing I could hear instructions to breath in and breath out from the adjoining room. Then I heard, “thank you” and the sound of the closet to the left of mine opening. Without missing a beat or knocking, my closet was opened and the radiologist requested my name as well as the status of my baby-maker. After assuring her I wasn’t pregnant, the radiologist arranged me so that my naked torso was pressed against a bright orange wall. The wall had smudges on it; presumably oil from other peoples skin. I wasn’t bothered by the smudges or the toplessness, it’s just different than one would expect in the United States. When my x-ray was finished, I was led back to my closet, and as I was dressing I could hear the next round of x-rays. After waiting for 5ish minutes I was handed some paperwork. The only explanation offered was, “good-bye” and a smile.