across from the crazies

So today was probably the most bizarre day I've spent here. The plan was to take my friend to get a medical test done. We set out to find this private clinic because the government ones can be a little shady. On the way there, we get a call to go to the US Embassy's clinic instead. Great!...a little mini-trip to America. We get there, get hit on by a local (surprise, surprise) and then get told that "No, we are only set up to do testing for Embassy employees." Awesome. So they direct us back to the private clinic. I told the taxi driver where to go and apparently this clinic is close to a mental hospital. So in Arabic, he asks me "Do you need the hospital for the crazies?" Laughing, I answered, "No, across from the crazies." Never a dull moment.

Once at the clinic, we state our business, get our passports and cameras confiscated, go through a metal detector and get led to the office by security--visitor badges in hand. Once inside, we were greeted by some friendly Americans. Finally! Only to discover that they have no idea who the person is that sent us and that they also are not able to perform the test. They gave us some good info and sent us on our way. 4 hours and no test performed. What's a foreigner to do?

Laugh and try again tomorrow.