So Much More!!!

I have now had my medical in preparation for getting my license but it was more extensive than I expected. I was taken to one of the exam rooms but a nurse who first of all wanted a urine sample (!!!!) then she checked my weight and height, followed by an eye sight test for each eye. Then she checked my eyes with a very close eye sight test, then my hearing, my blood pressure and my pulse. I was then asked to remove my top and was seen by a doctor who checked my ears and throat and listened to my chest. I then had to show movement by touching my toes and squatting before he did the cough test (guys will know what I mean) and then checked my grip in both hands before asking me the questions on the form. I now have several bits of paper signed by the doctor which I have to take along when I apply for my license. At that stage I also have to go through a number of computer questions on the road rules. Just to get a learners permit! On that note, kids of 16 can get their drivers license, but they can’t drink until they are 21. Strange….

I have mentioned the choice in shopping here and the low prices. I have really discovered how true this is. I know that in Australia they have Factory Outlets but here it is something else again. I gather this particular complex is unique to this area with people driving for many hours to get here, but I also gather that there are similar outlets around the country. In this one there are three large buildings. When I say large, I mean huge, imagine a large hardware store, building may be narrower but they are as long and each have three floors. There are also another five smaller buildings. You can get clothes and/or shoes from companies such as Wrangler, Lee, Vanity Fair, Addidas, Reebok, Chic, Nautica and I don’t know who else. One of the smaller buildings contains housewares and furnishing again with many brand names available. The clothes available are not only top quality they are ridiculously cheap. I got four pairs of trousers (by Wrangler, Lee and some others), and three T shirts for less than US$50.

However, it can get very confusing. The ground floor (level 2….) is one long open plan store in three sections, the first floor (level 3….) has a number of individual shops including one called Scrubs, where you can buy nurses outfits. On that note, forget plain dreary nurse’s uniforms, here they are multicoloured and you can choose your own design it seems. There is also a very good store where you can get good quality suits. In this shop they have more up market clothing, but with sale stickers on. One are may say that everything there is 20% off the marked price, then underneath in a red sign that may say 40% off. I eventually found out, you check the marked price, take the discount marked in the red sign off, then take the discount on the top off. Got that…

Took me a while to understand and then even longer to work out how much it each thing actually was. Then of course it is not the price you pay due to sales tax (see an earlier blog).

If you want to get a better idea of what I am talking about, I have discovered the web site so go and have a peek:

http://www.vffo.com/