Hey Aqualung! I'm digging your blog.
I've found myself in a simmilar situation here in the states, looking at teaching in Asia. The two things holding me back, however, is a rather hefty car payment and my dog. (You must be a really strong person to have had to say goodbye to your best friend like that...you have my empathy)
I'd like to see you write more on the social spects of being the only foreigner there. I'm an outgoing (33 year old) guy and a big fear about living and working overseas is being stuck in my apartment with no one to go out with and/or talk to. As a traveler, I know how time away from home can get lonely, but traveling for vacation and living in a new country for 6 months or a year is totally different.
It sounds like you've become friends with your IARs. Have they introduced you to new people around town? What about other coworkers or parents of some of your students?
Keep up the good work!
Greatful lung Dr Li was treating you "emperically". This means she had no lab culture to go on, but just decided that a little Amoxicillin would give the bad infection something to think about. Hope it does.
We in the American self parody that is the "health" "system" would have treated you like a McDonnalds customer without the service, keeping you waiting in the ER for a couple of hours (if there was anything more interesting to do) and then relieving you of about $300. And you might have gotten nothing but the cherry surup and aspirn -- we're trying to train the docs not to empereically prescribe antibiotics: most of the time URI's are viral and antibiotics train the bad bugs to be immune. Not that they don't get enough training when we overuse them in meat production and even soap. Kurt Vonnegut said that the elements wanted to get rid of man, so they gave us antibiotics realizing that we would overprotect ourselves to death. Your fate should be much better. Make sure you are taking vitamins and omega-3: cheap insurance.
In my experience, the Chinese have a tendency to over-worry about these things but I guess their worries were justified this time! I was told it's pretty common to get a respiratory infection your first few months in China...this never happened to me beyond a minor cold or two...but I'm glad to hear you are alive and well and that the hospital was actually functional.
> my bedroom is chilly. I have a thick acrylic blanket ... I'll probably buy another blanket
If possible, get yourself a down quilt. I think you'll find it's going to keep you a lot warmer than any acrylic blankets!
cold remedies However they write it in Chinese, get either some Yin Chiao or Gan Mao Ling for the cold. If we can buy them here, certainly you can buy them there.
Could you post more frequently? I love reading this, mr Seam Allowance.
How is your Mandarin coming?
bacon, other, and other Oh Joe, I kinda know the feeling you are feeling. But hang in there, you will find bacon...and from reading your other writings I know that bacon is an important food group. Now, the question is, can you get yeast, baking powder, and baking soda? Coz if you can get those, and flour, you can make every other baked good you'd like to have. I can personally send you recipes for cornbread and pancakes made from scratch...provided that you have baking powder. I am still in search of Peking restaurant menus to scan and send you. I have not driven anywhere in about 2.5 weeks...I am on a home care internship for myself. It is quite dull.
Best,
Tam
Oh hell, you had to leave your girl behind I cannot imagine how hard it must have been for you to leave your canine girl behind. I love my canine boy Rory so much that I actively miss him when I am away from him, even if only for one night. Wahhh! I hope your girl is in good hands...and you KNOW she'll remember and love you when you see her again.
avoid the turtle Avoid the Turtle: That sounds like a good name for a band, actually. Nice to be a rock star, eh, Joe? And remember if you get toasted with "Up bottom", as my friend Fiona was, in Qufu, back in the early 80s, be sure to respond with "...and up yours too"!
Happy Hallowe'en Joe Joe, your account of your Hallowe'en is terrific. It's true, the kids look like any kids anywhere, I love the
faces they're pulling. And trust me, your "tribe" looks nothing like Brazilian showgirls: they're completely adorable! If there's a "next year" you'll have to bring along some mini Reese's peanut butter cups!
english in october you do know that self respect and the saying of 'give me something good to eat' do indeed go together, right? just ask my youngest brother in law. pretty sure he said it at every door ... may still.
Joe the rock star I think you are having as much fun as the kids! How does it feel to have rock star status with all the photo ops you've been involved in? Smile Joe!!
Confused middle-aged schlub, former hipster, goes to China in order to escape the US recession, teach good enunciation and eat mounds of pork dumplings.
Follow along as I embarrass myself in another language.
Parental caution advised.... full info
liz
non-member comment
Feel better!