I woke up with slight back pain, blamed it on my terrible mattress and didn't really give it another thought. As the day went on the back pain persisted, but with the boss in town there was very little I could do. Then it got so bad I could really sit straight... uh oh... as many of you know I had a bit of an accident a little over year ago while in Saudi, this was feeling vaguely familiar.
My discomfort soon became apparent to the people around me. They asked "are you ok?" I smiled, said I needed a chiropractor and tried to briefly explain what was happening to me. My Chinese co-workers looked confused "Chiropractor?" Yes, you know, someone who deals with back pain. I need a re-alignment of the spine and something to help me with the pain. "A massage?" No, not really a massage because someone who doesn't quite know what they are doing will only make things worse, and I don't have the Chinese language ability to explain what is wrong with me. I need a chiropractor. "You need a bone doctor, we must take you the hospital." What?! No, really I don't need a hospital, I just need to talk to someone who knows about how to help me with the pain. "In China, you need to go to the hospital. We will take you tomorrow. Be ready at 9am" I should mention, that "tomorrow" was Saturday morning.
Great, so Saturday morning I wake up early to go to the hospital. A place many had told me to avoid at all costs. Chinese hospitals, I had been warned, were the place of nightmares and after my experience with the Saudi healthcare system, let's just say I was really not looking forward to this "visit." So we arrive. The driver (who knows everyone in Shenzhen, but speaks no English), my interpreter (a very nice lady who works in the office, but whose name I don't remember) and me (still not quite walking upright). The hospital is packed. There are people in casts who have other people helping them keep their leg up in the air (I wish I could explain it better, but for a second imagine someone with crutches, who has someone quite literally holding their foot so that the person is like stretching their hamstrings and walking all at the same time), there were pregnant women lining the hallways, children running around and the smell of smoke everywhere.
The driver asks for directions and points to the stairs. Great. So up we go. First floor, maternity and obstetrics. Clearly not our floor. Second floor, dermatology and radiology. Also clearly not our floor. Third floor, surgery. Clearly not our fl... The driver stops and goes to the surgery wing. Huh? I really don't need a surgeon, I mean I know a hurt back is a big deal, but a surgeon?! But there we are, amid what seems like a hundred people, and the driver just kind of pushes his way past them into a doctors office. Interrupts the doctors explanation to a patient (all this seems very normal to both the doctor and the patient) and then heads down the hall. Another surgeons' office. We go in. The driver says something in Chinese, the doctor looks at me. "Where does it hurt? I hear you were in an accident." I try to explain what happened to me and where it hurts. "Please lie down." He points to an exam table, there are at least 10 other people in the room (none of them hospital staff). I oblige. He starts to pound on my back, "does this hurt?" No, not really. "How about this?" He pokes my back right where the spine meets the hip. Yes! "Ok, you can get up now." Really? That's all? "Your ligament is what is causing you pain and the muscles around it are trying to compensate. You are suffering from fatigue. I suggest one week bed rest." He then mutters something in Chinese to the driver, writes me a script and sends me on my way.
Driver says something to the interpreter. "He struggles from the same pain" she explains to me, "you really should rest." Wish I could, but this is deadline week, so no such luck. We then get my prescriptions: one is for a muscle relaxant cream, the other for arthritis pills (not really sure how fatigue is cured by arthritis pills, so I have decided not to take them) and I'm dropped off at home.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Lessons Learned (and Still Learning)
It has been about two months since my arrival in China. The time has been fraught with ups and downs (as tends to happen in life, particularly when living as expat) but I have already learned a couple of things:
1. There are people in this country are incredibly welcoming. They want people to feel comfortable and will go out of their way to make sure you are ok.
2. There are other people who don't even notice there is anyone else there, ever.
3. While they all eat very quickly, they walk very slowly.
4. The traffic laws are as follows: if you are a two-wheeled vehicle you always have the right of way (be it on the street, between streets, on the sidewalk, you name it, if you fit, you win). If you are a car or truck or bus, you have the right of way after the two-wheeled vehicles. If you are a pedestrian, you are in the way.
5. Cleanliness is subjective. Washing your hands with soap is optional, but blowing your nose in public is gross.
6. There is always room for one more in the elevator, you just have to squeeze and get friendly (without making eye contact of course).
7. Hong Kong loves escalators.
8. Wearing very short skirts and see through clothes is totally acceptable, but low cut tops will draw attention.
9. Commuting is unacceptable.
10. When driving, best not to stay in one lane, that will just confuse everyone around you. Also, honking is a way of say "hey what's up?" "I'm here" and "get out of my way, NOW!" How to determine which honk is which, well that is a completely different lesson.
1. There are people in this country are incredibly welcoming. They want people to feel comfortable and will go out of their way to make sure you are ok.
2. There are other people who don't even notice there is anyone else there, ever.
3. While they all eat very quickly, they walk very slowly.
4. The traffic laws are as follows: if you are a two-wheeled vehicle you always have the right of way (be it on the street, between streets, on the sidewalk, you name it, if you fit, you win). If you are a car or truck or bus, you have the right of way after the two-wheeled vehicles. If you are a pedestrian, you are in the way.
5. Cleanliness is subjective. Washing your hands with soap is optional, but blowing your nose in public is gross.
6. There is always room for one more in the elevator, you just have to squeeze and get friendly (without making eye contact of course).
7. Hong Kong loves escalators.
8. Wearing very short skirts and see through clothes is totally acceptable, but low cut tops will draw attention.
9. Commuting is unacceptable.
10. When driving, best not to stay in one lane, that will just confuse everyone around you. Also, honking is a way of say "hey what's up?" "I'm here" and "get out of my way, NOW!" How to determine which honk is which, well that is a completely different lesson.
Reaching the third floor
Last week I turned 30. It's funny to think about how much that number
used to scare me. When I was younger, being 30 just sounded so... old.
There were so many things I thought I needed to do before reaching the
dreaded "third floor." Now that the benchmark has come and gone, I
realize that while I didn't quite live up to all of the plans I made for
myself when I was younger, I certainly have a lot to be proud of. What I
failed to see when I was younger is that life doesn't always work out
the way we want to because it isn't supposed to. Life has a sense of
humor and you need to learn to laugh when things don't go your way.
My birthday reminded me of the many steps (and missteps) I've taken along the way. It reminded me of the many friends I have that have accompanied me along the way. It reminded me of the many adventures that I've had and compelled me to look ahead at the many adventures still left to be had. In my "short" 30 years I have met incredible people, seen amazing things and learned about myself and the world around me.
The day itself started out rainy, very rainy in fact. It was as if the world had conspired to evoke from me a feeling a loss. Undeterred, I dawned my rain jacket and headed out the door. After getting soaked, I reached the subway station. Off to Hong Kong. The trip was uneventful, the border was full of others who like me where also escaping Shenzhen (or so I'd like to think). I arrived in Hong Kong eager to greet an old friend. This friend had flown in so that I would not have to spend my big birthday alone, I will forever be grateful to him for that. And so we did what any sensible person would do on their birthday in a rainy HK, we went shopping. After my shopping extravaganza (I had a dress made), I met up with another friend for dinner. It was supposed to be a restaurant with a spectacular view of the city, sadly the clouds had another plan. Fortunately while the food was not that exciting, the company was great and my birthday dinner was spent laughing and drinking good wine.
The next day, I arrived in the office to find a huge bouquet of roses on my desk. How nice, I thought, I wonder who they are from. Well turns out I am one lucky girl who has amazing friends, because they were from another dear friend who lives in Germany! What a treat and a lovely surprise. The week ended with a free bottle of bubbly at my "local bar" surrounded by my new Shenzhen friends (all of who, as luck would have it, speak Spanish!). All in all, I have to say that while this birthday did not include a big bash, it was probably one of the most celebrated birthdays I have ever had. I can't thank the people who made it memorable enough. All the phone calls, text messages, facebook posts (which I could actually access easily while in HK) and well wishes reminded me that even though I am very far away from the people I love, you are all still very much a part of my life. Thank you for being the amazing people that you are.
In the end, I have to admit the view from the third floor looks pretty good!
My birthday reminded me of the many steps (and missteps) I've taken along the way. It reminded me of the many friends I have that have accompanied me along the way. It reminded me of the many adventures that I've had and compelled me to look ahead at the many adventures still left to be had. In my "short" 30 years I have met incredible people, seen amazing things and learned about myself and the world around me.
The day itself started out rainy, very rainy in fact. It was as if the world had conspired to evoke from me a feeling a loss. Undeterred, I dawned my rain jacket and headed out the door. After getting soaked, I reached the subway station. Off to Hong Kong. The trip was uneventful, the border was full of others who like me where also escaping Shenzhen (or so I'd like to think). I arrived in Hong Kong eager to greet an old friend. This friend had flown in so that I would not have to spend my big birthday alone, I will forever be grateful to him for that. And so we did what any sensible person would do on their birthday in a rainy HK, we went shopping. After my shopping extravaganza (I had a dress made), I met up with another friend for dinner. It was supposed to be a restaurant with a spectacular view of the city, sadly the clouds had another plan. Fortunately while the food was not that exciting, the company was great and my birthday dinner was spent laughing and drinking good wine.
The next day, I arrived in the office to find a huge bouquet of roses on my desk. How nice, I thought, I wonder who they are from. Well turns out I am one lucky girl who has amazing friends, because they were from another dear friend who lives in Germany! What a treat and a lovely surprise. The week ended with a free bottle of bubbly at my "local bar" surrounded by my new Shenzhen friends (all of who, as luck would have it, speak Spanish!). All in all, I have to say that while this birthday did not include a big bash, it was probably one of the most celebrated birthdays I have ever had. I can't thank the people who made it memorable enough. All the phone calls, text messages, facebook posts (which I could actually access easily while in HK) and well wishes reminded me that even though I am very far away from the people I love, you are all still very much a part of my life. Thank you for being the amazing people that you are.
In the end, I have to admit the view from the third floor looks pretty good!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The meaning of friendship
There are many ways to define friendship. To me, it's not about the
times you hang out with someone, it's about their actions when you need
them most, it's about how they react when you're not looking. The people
who make you smile just by being there (be it physically or not).
As I have mentioned in past posts, meeting people in China has not been easy. I have resorted to means that I would not have otherwise considered, and (I think) have been pretty lucky thus far. In my short time here, however, I have been reminded (over and over) of the incredible friends that I have around the world. The people who have always been there for me (even when I wasn't willing to listen), the ones who know when to hand me a drink, or just give me a hug, the ones who inspire me to be a better person and who believe in me (even when I don't believe in myself).
Friends come in all shapes and sizes and you never really know when you are going to be fortunate to make a new one. Being here I have realized how much we all need our friends and how we all seem to looking for people to talk to (even if you don't say much). I have met people here in China who like me seem to be yearning for connections to someone, anyone that resembles something they find familiar. In no way do I mean to speak ill of the Chinese, they have been spectacular hosts, but in the end they are very different to anything I know (and as it turns out, I am not the only one who feels this way).
I guess in the end that is what friendship means. It means finding a piece of you in someone else (however small or ridiculous that piece may be). That is what we are all looking for, whether it's in China, Saudi, expat or native. We all want to meet people we identify with, people who understand us when we talk, people to share something (anything) with. For me, it's not about how many friends you have, but about surrounding yourself with friends that are going to make a difference in your life. I think that some of the people I've met here will become a part of that group, and not a moment too soon.
As I have mentioned in past posts, meeting people in China has not been easy. I have resorted to means that I would not have otherwise considered, and (I think) have been pretty lucky thus far. In my short time here, however, I have been reminded (over and over) of the incredible friends that I have around the world. The people who have always been there for me (even when I wasn't willing to listen), the ones who know when to hand me a drink, or just give me a hug, the ones who inspire me to be a better person and who believe in me (even when I don't believe in myself).
Friends come in all shapes and sizes and you never really know when you are going to be fortunate to make a new one. Being here I have realized how much we all need our friends and how we all seem to looking for people to talk to (even if you don't say much). I have met people here in China who like me seem to be yearning for connections to someone, anyone that resembles something they find familiar. In no way do I mean to speak ill of the Chinese, they have been spectacular hosts, but in the end they are very different to anything I know (and as it turns out, I am not the only one who feels this way).
I guess in the end that is what friendship means. It means finding a piece of you in someone else (however small or ridiculous that piece may be). That is what we are all looking for, whether it's in China, Saudi, expat or native. We all want to meet people we identify with, people who understand us when we talk, people to share something (anything) with. For me, it's not about how many friends you have, but about surrounding yourself with friends that are going to make a difference in your life. I think that some of the people I've met here will become a part of that group, and not a moment too soon.
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