it's already begun

So, I got an email last night saying that we're sorry, but Russia just decided that all student visa applicants need to have an HIV test to get a visa. So, would you please go to a local clinic and get a same-day result HIV test and fax it to us no later than Friday, ok thanks, bye.

sounds easy enough until you call the health district place in Pasco and they tell you "oh, usually it takes two weeks to get a result!" um. not okay. called the lab that processes the test: "oh, we have a 48 hour turnaround time, but we send all the samples to Spokane to actually be processed." LOVELY.

I suppose it's always something. I'm off to play "run around in circles and make people get stuff done"...