Chris came to visit this weekend. It was great to see him and hear how life in Yantai differs from life in Shanghai. Saturday night we went to dinner with friends in Pudong then walked along the Pudong side of the Bund. The weather was beautiful and the lights on the buildings sparkling and spinning. A man was singing and playing the guitar making our own soundtrack as we walked up and down talking about life and the changes that occur so quickly here.
Walking back to my apartment after a great evening I looked up and realized that I could see stars. I think it is the first time I have noticed them here. The big dipper was twinkling down among the lights of Shanghai. Even in Shanghai the stars are the same.
Next time you look at the stars think of me on the other side of the world and smile.
G
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Seeing red
It started with a pretty small comment a week or two before my mom came– “I think your eye looks swollen.”
Then at the beginning of April it progressed to – “Are you ok? Your eye is kind of red.”
I knew it was a major issue when the head of the Shanghai office walked up to me after mom left and out of the blue said, “你的眼睛怎么了？” (What's up with your eye?)
Thus began my third adventure with the Shanghai healthcare system.
As you know, my previous two experiences were not really planned – the knee happened at that party and the wrist as I tumbled to the ground after my client meeting. I used local hospitals and for the most part was satisfied with service and price. However, with my eye – I was a bit more skeptical and I had time to think about the process, procedure and potential problems. So, like many expats before me I made an appointment at Shanghai United Family Hospital.
My initial appointment was the Friday after my mom left. My Chinese teacher agreed to come with me and the two of us investigated the very western looking facility. I had made an appointment, got checked by a nurse, saw the doctor for a consultation; we determined I should come back next week for surgery and prepared to leave. I was starting to feel like Jasmine had come along for nothing until I tried to pay.
At the window they informed me that since I had direct billing, I did not need to pay anything. I accepted this and signed. Then I realized that I didn't have a receipt, a diagnosis form or any idea how much the cost was. Since I do have a deductible, I figured I should at least be aware of the cost. But when I asked for at least a receipt, no luck, they just kept repeating – “You have direct billing.” Jasmine and I pow-wowed in the lobby and finally she went back and said, “My friend needs a bill to show her company.” I got the receipt.
The following Friday (already feeling a bit under the weather due to a slight relapse from the flu I had in Sanya), I went back for my surgery appointment. Another friend went with me this time. We waited for a while and then I went in for the surgery. The procedure was very similar to one that I had in Chicago a couple of years ago, but took much longer due to the size of the bump. I exited wearing an eye patch, grasping some antibiotics but this time asked for the receipt for my company at the beginning instead of the end.
Almost three weeks later I am feeling much better. My eye is just about back to normal, I can wear my contact lenses again and I have now experienced another medical facility in Shanghai. Three times is enough. Let's hope this accident prone streak ends here.
Question – In my family we normally say things happen in threes – could be good things, bad things, funny things. This is my third experience. Have you had any threes happen to you lately?
Then at the beginning of April it progressed to – “Are you ok? Your eye is kind of red.”
I knew it was a major issue when the head of the Shanghai office walked up to me after mom left and out of the blue said, “你的眼睛怎么了？” (What's up with your eye?)
Thus began my third adventure with the Shanghai healthcare system.
As you know, my previous two experiences were not really planned – the knee happened at that party and the wrist as I tumbled to the ground after my client meeting. I used local hospitals and for the most part was satisfied with service and price. However, with my eye – I was a bit more skeptical and I had time to think about the process, procedure and potential problems. So, like many expats before me I made an appointment at Shanghai United Family Hospital.
My initial appointment was the Friday after my mom left. My Chinese teacher agreed to come with me and the two of us investigated the very western looking facility. I had made an appointment, got checked by a nurse, saw the doctor for a consultation; we determined I should come back next week for surgery and prepared to leave. I was starting to feel like Jasmine had come along for nothing until I tried to pay.
At the window they informed me that since I had direct billing, I did not need to pay anything. I accepted this and signed. Then I realized that I didn't have a receipt, a diagnosis form or any idea how much the cost was. Since I do have a deductible, I figured I should at least be aware of the cost. But when I asked for at least a receipt, no luck, they just kept repeating – “You have direct billing.” Jasmine and I pow-wowed in the lobby and finally she went back and said, “My friend needs a bill to show her company.” I got the receipt.
The following Friday (already feeling a bit under the weather due to a slight relapse from the flu I had in Sanya), I went back for my surgery appointment. Another friend went with me this time. We waited for a while and then I went in for the surgery. The procedure was very similar to one that I had in Chicago a couple of years ago, but took much longer due to the size of the bump. I exited wearing an eye patch, grasping some antibiotics but this time asked for the receipt for my company at the beginning instead of the end.
Almost three weeks later I am feeling much better. My eye is just about back to normal, I can wear my contact lenses again and I have now experienced another medical facility in Shanghai. Three times is enough. Let's hope this accident prone streak ends here.
Question – In my family we normally say things happen in threes – could be good things, bad things, funny things. This is my third experience. Have you had any threes happen to you lately?
Also - thank you to my loyal fans. I have had several comments and emails asking why I have not been posting as much lately. Work has been keeping me busy and with the eye issue looking at a computer for a while was pretty challenging. I pledge to do better moving forward.
G
Saturday, May 9, 2009
15 seconds
Two weeks ago I went to the Shanghai motorshow with a friend. It was enormous - 11 huge areas full of cars, parts, models and people - over 500,000 attending the show over the course of the week. The highlight though was that I was interviewed by a local news station while we were there.
After 7 hours of looking at cars I made it home around 7pm to receive several text messages that I was on the 6:30 news! Luckily there was a repeat broadcast at 9:30 which we recorded in the below. If you're curious I'm saying that I am for electric cars and that I believe this year and next year we should all start using them.
The next day I was in the elevator and one of my colleagues said, "I saw you on TV in the subway!" It appears that this story was also played on the TVs in the subway during Monday morning rush hour.
I am famous - at least for a little while - maybe 15 seconds of my 15 minutes. No autographs, please.
Cheers!
G
After 7 hours of looking at cars I made it home around 7pm to receive several text messages that I was on the 6:30 news! Luckily there was a repeat broadcast at 9:30 which we recorded in the below. If you're curious I'm saying that I am for electric cars and that I believe this year and next year we should all start using them.
The next day I was in the elevator and one of my colleagues said, "I saw you on TV in the subway!" It appears that this story was also played on the TVs in the subway during Monday morning rush hour.
I am famous - at least for a little while - maybe 15 seconds of my 15 minutes. No autographs, please.
Cheers!
G
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Guest Post
Written April 14, 2009
Greetings to those who follow The Shanghai Chronicle. Today I picked up the mantle of its first guest blogger. I am G's mother, and have been in China for two weeks and will leave tomorrow. We have had quite a time. I've decided to give a list of thoughts I've collected over the trip:
1. It's a very long flight when you add a five hour delay in Chicago. (From home to Shanghai took approximately 24 hours.)
2. Thrilled to see my daughter alive and well. (Deep down I knew she would be, but it's so good to touch!)
3. I met Ade, one of G's good friends. She's a lovely, happy person with a beautiful smile and sparkly eyes.
4. We had a wonderful Beijing hotpot dinner with Curt and Sara. I've decided Curt's a foodie. If you need a great place to eat in Shanghai, ask Curt.
5. I had my first pedicure and manicure at the same time... I felt like a kept woman with all that pampering. :)
6. Part of the program was a four night stay in Sanya, which is an island in the South China Sea. The resort and spa were wonderful. Thoughts about the stay:
- WILDLIFE - lots of dragonflies, butterflies, feral cats singing at 5am, the best was a Wall Tiger (壁虎 - a gecko) sitting next to G; she was not amused
- SPA - four hours of bliss, I know I'm a kept woman (thank you David)
- THE VIEW - a private coral bay, lovely mountains and a restful horizon line
- FOOD - simple and of course we ate too much
- PROBLEMS - Although covered and sunsprayed, I got sunburned. G on the other hand picked up some sort of "flu bug" (very nasty!)
We left Sanya whipped and spent the next few days recuperating. The apartment is great so we read lots, laid around and watched TV - she has English cable! There also were these wonderful peanuts with salt and sugar on them. I'll miss those (and my daughter) when I come home.
Today she went back to work [BOO HISS, but one must pay the bills]. My final test here in China is to walk by myself to her office. Map and cell phone in hand, I'm up for the adventure!
Signing off-
Mom
Monday, April 13, 2009
Hot Pot, Pedicures and Pools
As you know, my mom has been visiting for almost the last two weeks. We have been having a great time meeting my friends, shopping and then had our trip last week to Sanya. I am very lucky that she was able to come.
The night before we went to Sanya mom and I got the works - manicures and pedicures (mom's first) and then went to dinner with my friend Curt and his wife Sara for Beijing style hot pot. Hot pot is one of those meals that because you cook it yourself really allows you to linger - which we did.
In Sanya our hotel was beautiful (mom is going to be doing a guest post later), but the swimming pools were absolutely fantastic. I went swimming every day, only limited by the last day when I unfortunately came down with the flu. Don't get sick on a tropical island. Starting to feel better now, but still not 100%.
Happy Easter to you all.
G
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Spring cleaning
We had a bit of a warm spell a couple of weeks ago, but the last two weeks have been on the chilly side with lows in the low 40s and highs in the mid 50s. Today was still chilly, but the sun peaked out and I finally took some "me time" for the afternoon. I headed up to my old neighborhood with the intent to get my hair cut and then possibly a massage and some window shopping.
The area where I got my haircut (Wujiang Lu) has had some pretty major changes happen and I knew that they were proceeding with knocking down some of the storefronts. Unfortunately, sometime since my last haircut my salon has also closed. I stood in front of the door forelornly for a while, then decided to try a new place. I had seen a sign for a salon close by and proceeded to find it. Alize Salon was on the second floor with a little boutique on the first. I paid considerably more (almost $12) for my wash, blow and cut, but James (or Jin) did a great job - putting shape back in my hair and awesome layers in the back. I am starting to be able to banter in Chinese and that made the afternoon even more enjoyable. Sunlight streamed into the pretty salon as we chatted and relaxed. I liked it so much that I bought a discount card. :)
I then walked home via one of the parks. The confidence that only comes from a great haircut added bounce to my step as I took in the city beauty surrounding me. The trees are in the "lace" stage and flowers are peeping up. I tried to take a picture, but my camera battery was dead. No matter - it was a great glimpse of spring. Dinner with a friend and then finishing up my taxes. Spring means April 15th is coming too.
Question - What do you consider your signs of spring? Baseball games? Twilight walks? Daffodils?
Mom comes on Wednesday. We head to Sanya on Monday, April 6th - Qing Ming Jie [Tomb sweeping day]. A week of rest. A week of family. Both much needed.
G
The area where I got my haircut (Wujiang Lu) has had some pretty major changes happen and I knew that they were proceeding with knocking down some of the storefronts. Unfortunately, sometime since my last haircut my salon has also closed. I stood in front of the door forelornly for a while, then decided to try a new place. I had seen a sign for a salon close by and proceeded to find it. Alize Salon was on the second floor with a little boutique on the first. I paid considerably more (almost $12) for my wash, blow and cut, but James (or Jin) did a great job - putting shape back in my hair and awesome layers in the back. I am starting to be able to banter in Chinese and that made the afternoon even more enjoyable. Sunlight streamed into the pretty salon as we chatted and relaxed. I liked it so much that I bought a discount card. :)
I then walked home via one of the parks. The confidence that only comes from a great haircut added bounce to my step as I took in the city beauty surrounding me. The trees are in the "lace" stage and flowers are peeping up. I tried to take a picture, but my camera battery was dead. No matter - it was a great glimpse of spring. Dinner with a friend and then finishing up my taxes. Spring means April 15th is coming too.
Question - What do you consider your signs of spring? Baseball games? Twilight walks? Daffodils?
Mom comes on Wednesday. We head to Sanya on Monday, April 6th - Qing Ming Jie [Tomb sweeping day]. A week of rest. A week of family. Both much needed.
G
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Americans shake hands
Today, like many days I had multiple meetings. It was the first time for a long time that I wished that I wasn't an American.
Last Wednesday when exiting a client meeting I missed a step and fell flat on my face – or rather, flat on my hand. My shoe came off, my computer went one way, my purse the other and as I put my hand out to stop my fall my right side hit the pavement. I didn't know if my wrist was broken or not but after getting into a cab and talking with my colleagues I wound up going to the emergency room. It was the same place where I had the knee incident a few months ago – and I am much more familiar with the procedure now. Register, pay, see doctor who says get an X-Ray, pay for X Ray, get X-Ray, see doctor again, have him say it's not broken and I should take two weeks off work.
Right…
I took one day off work and have been typing with one hand for the last week. It slows down my speed considerably. Silly things like turning a door knob are difficult, which leads to my dilemma today. We had a meeting with a German client who stood up when he saw me and before I realized it grasped my hand with an incredibly firm grip. I nearly screamed in pain, but managed to choke it back and say, “How nice to meet you!” After finishing that meeting I had another, but this one was with a Chinese company (which normally means an exchange of business cards, but no handshakes). Lucky me, they all wanted to shake my hand. It was one of the limpest handshakes I have ever given. My father would not be proud.
Getting injured changes your point of view. Hurting my knee I learned that I typically put on my pants with my right leg first. Hurting my wrist I realized I typically put on shirts with my left arm in first. Who knew? It does feel much better over the last week, but I think I'm going to skip our team bowling outing this Friday. Just don't want to push it.
Hope you all are well. Those of you who know my mom please send her a safe travel shout out. She will be coming to visit me beginning April 1st and I am very excited.
Cheers!
Last Wednesday when exiting a client meeting I missed a step and fell flat on my face – or rather, flat on my hand. My shoe came off, my computer went one way, my purse the other and as I put my hand out to stop my fall my right side hit the pavement. I didn't know if my wrist was broken or not but after getting into a cab and talking with my colleagues I wound up going to the emergency room. It was the same place where I had the knee incident a few months ago – and I am much more familiar with the procedure now. Register, pay, see doctor who says get an X-Ray, pay for X Ray, get X-Ray, see doctor again, have him say it's not broken and I should take two weeks off work.
Right…
I took one day off work and have been typing with one hand for the last week. It slows down my speed considerably. Silly things like turning a door knob are difficult, which leads to my dilemma today. We had a meeting with a German client who stood up when he saw me and before I realized it grasped my hand with an incredibly firm grip. I nearly screamed in pain, but managed to choke it back and say, “How nice to meet you!” After finishing that meeting I had another, but this one was with a Chinese company (which normally means an exchange of business cards, but no handshakes). Lucky me, they all wanted to shake my hand. It was one of the limpest handshakes I have ever given. My father would not be proud.
Getting injured changes your point of view. Hurting my knee I learned that I typically put on my pants with my right leg first. Hurting my wrist I realized I typically put on shirts with my left arm in first. Who knew? It does feel much better over the last week, but I think I'm going to skip our team bowling outing this Friday. Just don't want to push it.
Hope you all are well. Those of you who know my mom please send her a safe travel shout out. She will be coming to visit me beginning April 1st and I am very excited.
Cheers!
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