Last day in Shanghai

Day 16 in Shanghai and it is my last! Tomorrow morning I will be flying out at 9:20am. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here, but as with all trips away from home, I am excited to be back home. Home to my husband and cats. Home to my own bed and pillow. Home is where my heart is.

I have so many things I'd like to share about my trip and I hope to have a bit of time once I get home to be able to write them. I also have hundreds of pictures to sort through and choose the bestest to share. ;) But until then, I'll share a bit about my last day in Shanghai (sans pictures, because I have already packed my camera cord and I am not going to dig through my strategically packed suitcase. *big grin*).

After breakfast, I headed out to Longhua Temple and Longhua Martyrs Cemetery area. I found the Longhua Martyrs Cemetery first and wandered around it for a couple of hours. There are memorial statues everywhere. Huge bronze statues, rock/concrete statues, rocks with Chinese writing on them (in several styles and colors), some fountains, flowers, trees, bamboo and a lot of green grass. This area was peaceful and as quiet as I have found in Shanghai. I really enjoyed just walking through the area leisurely, taking pictures as it pleased me and letting my ears rest.

Eventually I found myself at the entrance of the cemetery area and walked to the nearby Longhua Temple. Longhua temple is a Buddhist temple that is said to have been originally built in 242 AD, but was ruined in war and rebuilt in 977 AD. The other surrounding buildings have been rebuilt more recently and are only about 100-125 years old. The temple costs 10 yuan (1,15€) to get in. Many people go there to leave their prayers with the deities. And a stinky affair it is! LOL. Most people buy incense, say a prayer to the four corners, light the incense (before or after the prayer, I don't know) and leave it there, as the belief is it will let the gods find their way to you.

I didn't spend too much time at the temple, as it was crowded, full of incense and didn't really hold much for me other than nice looking buildings and Buddha-statues. My tour-guide book mentioned a shopping area around the corner, so I figured I'd try to find it. I think I found it, but it was just like every other place I've seen (I'm not sure why I thought it would be different), plus because of today being Mid-Autumn holiday, not all the places were open. I debated whether to get a taxi right then and head home, but I figured I would continue to walk and eventually find a metro station to get me back to the hotel. If I got lost or tired of walking, I could always take a taxi home. I walked and walked, found a dead end (but my map said differently!), retraced my steps and walked some more. I was definitely in a part of town that doesn't see many (any?) foreigners walking along their streets. By the time I finally got back to some big streets, I was extremely sweaty and my feet were killing me. I found a nearby metro and took it the one stop to get me back to my known territory.

The quick metro ride was enough to restore me a bit. I know myself well enough, that once I got back to my hotel this afternoon, there was no way I was going to head back out into the heat to find food or go to the store for last minute candy and tea shopping. So, I went to the store, returned the metro card I was borrowing up to work and then found myself some food. I purposefully ordered too much food so I could take half of it back with me to the hotel. Even though I ordered 4 appetizers and a drink, it only cost me 82 yuan. That is the equivalent of 9,50€! (I am so going to miss the cheap and yummy food here!) Then it was to the hotel for me.

Once back at the hotel, I got out of my stinky and sweaty clothes to take a shower. As I was in the shower, a hotel staff lady rang the door bell, but I didn't get out of the shower (with clear glass walls) to answer it, so she came in, saw me in the shower and explained that she had a Mooncake (or check this mooncake link) for me in celebration of the Mid-Autumn holiday. I told her thanks and that it was ok that she disturbed me and then she left. After the shower, I finished packing. (I think I'm going to barely squeak by the 23kg limit.) And now, for the rest of the evening, I'm just hanging out, munching on some snacks and waiting to go to bed (at a hopefully decent hour).

I now have 10 hours until I hope on my plane to head home.

Shanghai - doctor visit experience #2

Just as my first doctor experience here in Shanghai was not planned, this second one was planned.
I thought that since I've gone to to the acupuncturist a few times in Finland and that acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and I just happened to be going to China, I should actually try acupuncture where it originated from. So, I asked my Chinese co-workers if they could make me an appointment with an acupuncturist.

One of them, Nan*, said she had a doctor friend (let's call him Dr.Boy) at a TCM hospital that she would ask if he could help us get an appointment there. I say us, because two of the girls, Nan & Cece* (I mentioned her in my previous post) decided to join me. Neither of them had tried acupuncture before and thought that this would be a good time to check it out with me. Sunday arrived and I took a taxi to a predetermined place where Nan met me and then we walked to the clinic. Celia was waiting for us and away we went. This TCM hospital is a medical place like any other where people go to get treated. Just as you and I would go to our doctor's office or RE clinic, many Chinese people go here (or to another one that is similar) when they need to seek medical treatment.

The first building we went into to find Dr.Boy ended up being the wrong building, but I got my first taste of where real** Chinese go for medical help. It was an older building that looked a bit run down. Definitely not western by any standards. There was people everywhere and they didn't look to be waiting in any orderly fashion. I mean, I saw 10-15 people in what looked like the treatment room (or maybe the admittance area), all just standing around where you could definitely over hear what the other people are saying. And I was the only foreigner there, being stared at intently by everyone!
In the second building we found Dr.Boy or maybe he found us. Before we talked to a doctor, we went to pay our visit-fee and to get me signed in as a patient/customer there. The patient booklet and card (to track my treatments) and the visit-fee cost less then 7€. We then went to the intake room where people were diagnosed before they were treated by acupuncture and cupping. The girls decided I would be first. Thanks girls! LOL. I sat there talking to a doctor trying to explain my 'pain' and what I wanted treated with my coworkers standing right behind me and several other people who were waiting to be treated also. Again, I was the only foreigner there. I started by telling the doctor that in Finland I was being treated for back and neck pain, but mainly for fertility issues also. The first part the doctor understood, but not the latter part. So, I quickly explained to the girls and they translated to the doctor. He still seemed sort of confused, so I just forgot about that issue and kept the focus on the back and neck. Sure it would have been great to have a treatment geared towards helping me get pregnant, but really I just wanted to experience acupuncture in China. After my diagnosis was made, I needed to pay for my treatment. It only cost 4€. Then it was back to the room where I was diagnosed and I waited my turn to be taken to a bed.


The receipts, my membership card (credit card looking item) and treatment book.

The inside of my treatment book with my 'diagnosis' written in Chinese.

 The treatment beds were cordoned off by curtains (like you see in a hospital). I was sitting in my little room for about 5 minutes waiting for the doctor to come. An older lady came in the 'room' and asked me to take my shirt off and lay down on the bed. I did tell her that I have experienced acupuncture before. She then made sure I was comfortable and away we went with the treatment. I know she used brand new needles, as I could hear her opening the package (and I saw the same happen to someone else after my treatment). Only 1 of the needles twinged a bit uncomfortably as it went in, but that feeling went away almost immediately. Once all the needles were in, I was hooked up to a light electrical current for about 30 minutes (sort of like the TENS unit (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator) I used for a while right after the car wreck I was in when I was 14). During this time, I also had a heat lamp placed on my lower back. The feeling was so relaxing,k that I think I actually dozed off for a bit. Once the time was up and the needles removed, it was time for the cupping. I've never tried cupping before, although I did know what it was. 12-15 heated glass globes were put on my back in traditional pressure point areas (if I remember correctly). Since the cups are heated before being applied, they suction onto the body and also pull a bit of the skin and muscle inside. Cupping promotes blood circulation, remove stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain. I found this procedure to be a bit painful, but not unbearable. I was left this way for 5-10 minutes and then they were removed. My treatment was complete and I was free to go.

I got dressed and then waited for the girls to finish their treatments. During this time, I was intently scrutinized by all the other patients there. Dr.Boy came to talk to me and asked questions about my experience that day and previously. He's a very sweet, young and cute guy. When the girls were done we went to have lunch and we invited Nan's friend along. At lunch, Dr.Boy explained to me the lady who did my acupuncture is ~80 years old, although I wouldn't have guessed that. She is also very well known (famous?) as a doctor in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was quite lucky to have her treat me, as usually it takes a long time to get in to see her. I was also told that this hospital is one of four, very well known and I believe one of the oldest hospitals in Shanhai.


My back  a bit more than 24hours after cupping.
(Even 5 days later, some of the markings can still be seen.)

It was a good experience and one that I am definitely glad to have been able to do. All of the doctors and staff that I came into contact with were very nice and professional. (Nan even went on about how the admittance doctor was so nice, took his time to ask questions and behaved as if he truly cared. He is her type of guy. *giggle* She's so cute, naive and young at times.) The price of the treatment, only 11€ total, is insanely cheap compared to my 45€ per visit in Finland.

*Not their real names
**I say real, because the Parkway Health hospital I went to previously seemed more for expats and foreigners. I could very well be wrong, but that is what it looked like to me.

Shanghai - doctor visit experience #1

During my visit to Shanghai, I've been to 2 different doctors. One was planned, the other not. What follows is my experience of going to a doctor here in Shanghai. I have a feeling this is going to be long, so I'm breaking it down into two posts.

The first time I went to a doctor was because I felt like I had an infection in my throat & nose area. It was something more than just irritated asthma, plus my asthma hasn't ever been quite like that, even when I don't take my medication regularly, which I have been lately. As my voice started to go, I told the team leader, Cece*, here in Shanghai, that I needed to go to the doctor for this. One of the ladies called Parkway Health hospital. From their website: "Parkway is a leading healthcare group based in Singapore, operating 16 hospitals with more than 3,000 beds in Asia." The staff is quite internatioal and the doctor I was booked a time with happened to be American (although, he didn't know I am too, because I am here with my Finnish passport).

I took a taxi to the hospital as that is the easiest way to get there (and quite cheap at aprox 3€), especially when I don't know where it is. Neither did my taxi driver. So as I am in the cab, I called Cece to have her explain it to the driver. He still didn't understand, so she hung up with me, Googled it and then called back. *phew* Finally the taxi driver understood. He got me there about 15 minutes before the appointment, but I still needed to find the exact buiolding I needed to be in.

I quickly found the building and entered it. I saw signs to the OBGYN, surgery and other places, but not a sign that looked like an outpatient clinic. Thankfully some guy in the lobby saw that I was lost and got my attention and pointed me to the elevator. My instructions said floor 2/3. Of course floor 2 wasn't where I needed to go. Once I was where I needed to be, I handed them my passport (to take a copy) and quickly filled out the registration form. Then I sat and waited.

The waiting room wasn't fancy but it was decent, clean and somewhat busy. The nurse took me to a room, asked basic questions and took my blood pressure. I then waited 5 minutes (or less) for the doctor. He asked some more questions and I explained to him that I had horrible mucus in my throat that wasn't like the healthy stuff. I was also coughing quite a bit (to try and dislodge the mucus so I could breath) and as he could hear, I had lost my voice. I also told him it wasn't in my lungs nor did it feel like a sinus infection. After examining me a bit more, he agreed. He said that it wasn't because I am a traveller here that I got sick, because locals were coming down with this also. His verdict: "Shanghai, she won this time". He wrote out a prescription for some antibiotics, hystamine/allergy pills and cough meds (pill form). These were filled for me in the pharmacy they had there as I waited. Once I got my meds, it was time to pay. And that was that! This experience was quite nice and very "western-like".

I left the building with my meds and found a taxi to take me back to work. The trip back to the office took about 45 minutes, twice as long as going there. Much more traffic and we were smack-dab in the middle of it. (I'll have to post another time about taxi drivers and traffic in general.)

The meds started working within 24 hours and now almost a week later, I feel much better. My voice is back, no more mucus and I have less coughing, especially at night. Now the only symptoms I have are asthma related. and they aren't too bad, especially when you think of how big a city I am in and the amount of pollutants are in the air.

The following are some pictures of my journey from the hospital back to work.

Street view - laundry hung out to dry

Wifi-"phone"box

There's a bunny in the cage on the right. When I asked about it later, it was mentioned that maybe it was meant to be eaten. :(
Sorry for the bad quality, but the taxi was moving.

*Not her real name
  

6 down, 10 to go (in Shanghai)

Wow! I have now spent 6 days in Shanghai, China. In some ways, I still can't believe that I am here. For that matter, I still find it quite unbelievable sometimes that I've been living in Finland for the last 12 years. How did I, a small town girl from the west coast of the USA, manage to end up in Finland and now Shanghai?! I tell you, the life I live would never have been possible without the internet. I LOVE the internet and all of my friends in and on it.

Anywho, enough about that, I just wanted to give a quick update on some of my many thoughts and experiences during these 6 days in Shanghai.

I've seen and experienced so much here in the short 6 days that I've been here. It's been a bit confusing at times, but mostly it has been great! It's late (just after midnight) Friday night and it's been a long week, so I'm just going to do bullets for now. Enjoy!

• Food - The food is just amazing here. I am totally loving everything I've eaten. It's cheap too! Have you ever had a huge, fill-you-up soup or rice meal lunch for just 2€/$2.5? This evening was the first time I've eaten western food all week and that was because our team leader at work went and got us some KFC for a snack. (This topic will have a full post of its own, with pictures, later.)
• People - The sheer number of people is just amazing. There is over 23million people in Shanghai! Walking through one of the many malls in my 'neighborhood', even at 9pm, it is full of people. The only times I've seen malls that full in the US and Finland is around the holidays or when there a huge sale going on. I do have to say, it hasn't been so packed that I've felt clausterphobic, but then again, I haven't been in the metro at rush hour. I'm told that it is packed with people like sardines.
• Toilet paper - In several places I've been (one place even had a sign on the wall), people put toilet paper in the garbage can instead of in the toilet (to be flushed). I haven't asked anyone about it yet, as I'm not sure how to approach it. I just find this strange.
• Weather -  It's been roughly 30C (86F) degrees each day and even into the night. The weather is such, that it reminds me of summers in So. Cal when I was little. I love it! I haven't been cold once.
• Traffic - Everyone drives everywhere regardless of the markings on the road. And horns are used all the time to mean any number of things. I don't think I'd ever want to drive here. Thankfully, taxis are cheap. (Another topic that I'm thinking of posting more about.)
• Hotel - When I first arrived, the hotel room smelled musty, damp and moldy. I've turned the air conditioner off in the room and opened the window, it's much better! I've even put a piece of paper over the air conditioner controls with an X on it. I don't want the thing on, I think it makes the room smell even more and it also makes it cold! I want warmth. I also don' t understand why hotels (this isn't the only one) put a sign in the room saying that they'd like to conserve water and if you want to help. If you don't want your towels washed, then keep them hanging. If you want them washed, put them on the floor. I don't mind using my towel a couple of days in a row and so I hang my towels up, yet each day I come home I have all new clean towels! Why oh why put that sign up if it doesn't mean anything?
• Language - What an interesting language! I know 2 words: Xié xié (thank hyou) and ni hao (hello). I would like to learn more, but with losing my voice (that'll be another post), I just can't make many of the sounds needed to (try to) speak Chinese. I'll try a few new words this weekend as my voice gets better. Also, the Chinese characters fascinate me to no end. They are just so interesting. Each little line, the thickness, angle and tales all change what is means. And even how you combine characters changes the meaning of things, which really isn't so different to English or any other language, except for the fact that I understand these characters. (Think of the word honeymoon. Honey and moon by themselves mean something totally different than when they are combined.)
• Shopping - So many shops with packages and products that are very different than what I'm used to. This is one of the worst places for people like me. I'm a crow and I'm totally attracted to anything that glitters, shimmers and shines. This is fun!!!

And with that last point, I'm off to bed so I can get up in the morning for a fun and exciting day and weekend. I've got places to see and money burning a hole in my pocket.

p.s. I can't access Blogger or my site here in China (thank goodness the posibility to do email postings), except for while at work. And well, while I'm at work I really should be working. So, that means that I don't really have time to reply to anyone right now, but I love comments and will do what I can to catch up when I'm back in Finland.

Remote blogging

So, it seems that Blogger, along with Facebook (which I can live without) is blocked in China. I am not able to access my own blogger page, except at work (because we use a Finnish server). Thankfully it is possible to remotely post using email, but that means that I can only post basics: text and images, as you can see from my previous post. I'm excited I can still post, but I also hope I'll be having so much fun after work that I won't have much time to post until later.

In any case, my first day in Shanghai went well and I am now at work. Our offices are on the 22nd and 23rd floors, with great views!

I made it!

A quite uneventful trip although I think the taxi driver gave me a few more grey hairs. But more later, I'm going to take a quick nap before exploring a bit.
Here is the view from my 9th floor hotel window.

Away I go!

I am finally finished packing! I have also double checked that I have my ticket, passport, wallet (with money & cards) and work laptop. Everything else is just a luxury for travel and not must to travel. I'm not sure if I'll have access to my blog while in China, as I know many websites are banned. I know Facebook is banned in China, but I also know that because my work uses a Finnish server, they can access FB. Hopefully the same is true for Blogger, because then I can share some photos!

I hope everyone has had a good August ICLW. Thank you everyone for your comments, I've enjoyed every single one of them. And now, I have 5 minutes to give the cats one last pet and kiss and a quick snuggle with Mr Siili.