Since the hotel ambulance is only for our guests and emergencies, Lidija had to go to the city ordination for taking a blood sample which will prove she has no tuberculosis. Every worker has to go through a basic systematic check twice a year. When she returned, she was pretty upset and she made us laugh hard telling us about her experience.

Lidija: I was never in that building before, so just as I entered there was a counter on my right.

Lidija (to the nurse): Good morning, I need to take a blood sample for …

(To us): She didn’t look at me, my referral and she didn’t let me finish.

The nurse: Around this corner.

Lidija: Thank you.

(To us): I walked around the corner and there was only a waiting room full of people. There was no ambulance door. I asked one lady where I can ask about taking blood samples and she said:

- Do you see that wall over there (pointing with her finger)

Lidija: Yes, ma’am. I do.

The lady: Go around that wall and on the second corner turn left. There is an ambulance for blood sampling. Wait until the nurse comes out. Then give her your referral.

Lidija (to us): I thanked her and I went where she directed me. Coming to the front of the ambulance door I waited some 20 minutes before the nurse opened the door. When she did, I approached her and showed her my referral. She read it and said:

- It is not here. You must return to the main hall and show your referral to counter number 3.

(To us): I returned to the main hall and of course, there was a big waiting row in front of it. I waited again some 20-25 minutes before it was my turn. Then I showed my referral to the nurse, and she read it and said:

- You must go to counter number 2 across the hall.

(To us): I turned my head to counter number 2. I was shocked. The waiting row was three times longer than the one I was just in. But, since I had to do it, I went to the end of the row and waited an hour and 30 minutes. When I finally reached the counter, I showed my referral to the nurse. She read it and said:

- Yes, it’s here. Find yourself a seat, and wait until you hear your name.

(To us): It was impossible to find a seat for the waiting room was full to the top. Anyway, I waited and waited until I had to go to pee. So, I went to the ladies’. What I didn’t know was they called my name while I was in the toilet. Since there was no response, they thought I left and they continued taking other patients. I waited some 45 minutes more and being surprised they didn’t call me, I came to the waiting row again to ask the nurse at the counter what was the problem; why didn’t they call me? When I finally reached the counter, I asked the nurse why didn’t they call me. She said:

- We called you, Mrs., but you didn’t respond. We thought you left and we took other patients.

Lidija: What now?

The nurse: Now you wait until we call you again.

(To us): I waited almost two hours to be called again. Can you fucking believe it?! I was there at 7.30 and was done after 12.00 just to take one stupid blood sample which takes 2 fucking minutes!

Fran: If it can comfort you, it is the same all over the world, honey.