A day in BsAs...

Interestingly enough, I was unable to get my yellow fever vaccination in the U.S. Since the shot is required for entrance to Peru as well as Bolivia, I had to find some way of getting this done 10 days before my entry. I went to the U.S. Embassy and got the name of a reputable medical practitioner who I was told would offer me this service. I went almost immediately afterwards to this clinic - everyone wearing white and very professional, clean, and friendly.... Relieved, I went up to one of the women behind a long glass counter and with my developing Spanish skills explained that I needed the shot. She said that I would need a professional medical practitioner's order (prescription?) to do so. Of course with only 4 days to go and our trip begins I asked if there were other possibilities. She looked at me with those professional eyes and took out her professional pen and a scrap of very professional looking paper and wrote an address and phone number on a piece of paper. I took it.

Once I finally got around to calling this recommended clinic, I was told that I would have to come in on Tuesday between the hours of 11 and 12. I thought 'that's odd, no appointment? no instructions? no information?' Oh well, it's latin america...

Tuesday rolls around and I hop on the 152 to go downtown (which is exceptionally far from my location in the city). After about 40 minutes I got off the bus, walked 7 blocks and at first had trouble finding the place. The block was full of official looking buildings that said things like "servicios publicos" and had the argentine emblem all over the front signs. Confused I stopped to ask a cop - again in my developing spanish - that I'm looking for this place (points to address). NOOO problem! Right around the corner, first door on your right. Thanks.

I walk around the corner, look through the first door on my right and thought, Maybe he meant the second door... So I pass by the door housing a bare room complete with chairs lining the walls and no one at the desk with blue, chipped paint. No. Nothing farther down.. What did that sign say anyway? ... (walks back towards the first door). "Servicios Medicos Publicos." I enter, passing a few broken people sitting in the doorway. Every chair in the room is occupied. There are nearly 30 chairs around this spacious room. I walk in and I thought, Act natural. As I stand in the middle of the big room and everyone sitting in their respective seats stare at me from their literal fly-on-the-wall perspective for a good 2 and a half minutes as I struggle to read the spanish Advisos.

Finally, a stern looking woman came out of the door behind the chipped blue desk... She did not either look nor was dressed very professional. I asked her if this was the place to get the shot. No, not this place, the one a block down. Gracias (a dios).

Even better. I follow the woman's directions to what looks like a warehouse. Barred doors and a sign that says, Enter through the back door. Wonderful. I walk around to the back and enter through a garage door and walk into what really was ... a parking garage. Confusion sets in here and a young man, again, looking very normal and not very medical comes out of a door leading to what I thought was a large paybooth for the garage. I asked about yellow fever shots and even before he answered I knew I was in the right place... signs saying, "Fiebre Amarillo." "Adviso a extranjeros." "Informacion de vacunaciones." ... Hmm.

Si si, do you have documentation? My passport ok? Si si... He takes it from me and walks back into the paybooth. About 5 minutes later my name is called from the booth. So I enter into the paybooth - I mean the office - I really mean the room with a workbench and an old wooden chair. Do I sit in the chair? No no, that would be impractical. Just stand here. I will soak your arm in alcohol, stab you with this relatively sterile needle and "listo." Done. Go home, nothing more, it's free? Listo...

Now as I sit eating a fabulous beef and egg sandwich I'm wondering: Did he really give me yellow fever vaccination? Or is this what heroine feels like? (I have a slight headache and my arm hurts).