SonMan Is In China! (Year 5)

This term has been strange due to H1N1. The campus was on lockdown for about 2 months+. Starting on last Friday, the campus is now open with students able to go off campus to return home or simply to go out into Siping. I’m sure the businesses around the campus are happy because of this change. They can now visit us in our apartments as well. Student visits have been nil for a long time.

Wu confirmed last week that our last day for teaching classes will be Christmas Eve. Our final exams will take place the week of Christmas or the week before. Since the schools in China function on the solar calendar, we will not have to teach again until Monday, March 1st, 2010. Spring Festival is on February 14th next year and then two weeks later school commences. Of course, I am in the middle of planning my trips from when classes are done until they begin. Figuring hotels, flights, and dates for 2 months+ takes a lot of logistical working and plenty of time on the Net searching for prices on all of these things.

This coming weekend I will be taking the HSK (汉语水平考试). It’s the Chinese test that foreigners take for gauging their Chinese levels. The last time I took it was completely for the purpose of knowing what to study and to see where my gaps were. In gathered that I needed to write less characters, improve my listening, and increase my knowledge of characters (for reading) and grammar (for sentence creation and clozes). With the reading class that I have been taking this term, I feel more equipped for the exam on Sunday. I basically think, “If I don’t know it, I don’t know it. So there’s nothing I can do about it now.” I do have a lot of confidence that I will do well – especially for never having formally studied Chinese in a university or school. All the Chinese I’ve learned has been within the time range of teaching classes full-time over the past five years. 加油!

On Halloween morning, I woke up to snow on the ground. Temperatures hovered around the low 30s for a couple of days. Siping shot up to around the low 50s, but the temperature has again lowered. I am writing this with snow falling down quite quickly. Winter has officially arrived. Last week, my building turned on the coal radiators, and warm weather has completely disappeared. With the change of weather comes more cold weather as opposed to snow. This weekend we are scheduled to hit the mid teens. Yikes!

In other news, the team has finished Week 10 of teaching. All of our official teaching schedules will end on Christmas Eve. My thoughts have been turning to Thailand, as planning for my conference time commences. The team has secured a 4-bedroom home in Hua Hin, Thailand before our conference time. I’m not sure of the exact dates, but around 10 of us will be staying there for a week before heading to Chiang Mai. I know Wu is really looking forward to warm weather, poor lil’ small guy! I love this weather, and, like a bear, I’m soaking it all in. Siping’s wind is heavy, and it can feel like knives on the face with the freezing cold, but, at some sadistic level, I still love it.

Inquiry into university graft widens (October 16, 2009, Xinhua)
Investigators probing a campus graft scandal in central China over student apartment construction have uncovered a web of deceit. They were first tipped off by the wife of the apartment developer who was placed in custody and then cooperated with authorities. Prosecutors said more executives at the prestigious Wuhan University in Hubei Province were likely to be involved since both vice president and vice Party secretary of the school have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes over major infrastructure construction projects, People's Daily reported yesterday.

Software Pirates in China Beat Microsoft to the Punch (October 18, 2009, Reuters)
At shops in the bustling Xinyang market in Shanghai, fake Apple iPhones and Bose speakers were displayed alongside bootleg copies of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, a week before it officially was to go on sale. People in mainland China have been able to buy pirated copies of the newest version of Microsoft's Windows franchise this month for just 20 yuan, or $2.93, each - a fraction of list prices, which are as high as $320.

Beijing has 200 A/H1N1 flu cases each day (October 28, 2009, Xinhua)
There are 5,800 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu in Beijing, as of 12:00 am on Monday, xinhuanet.com reported Wednesday. The fight against A/H1N1 flu in Beijing has become more serious, Fang Laiying, the top leader of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, said at late Tuesday night. 200 new cases were confirmed each day over the last two days, Fang added. Fang said this year's flu wave came earlier than normal and added that the combination of the A/H1N1 flu and traditional flu may mean a record number of flu cases this year. Flu season is usually in December and January.

Beijing reports more violent crimes on campus (October 28, 2009, Xinhua)
A Beijing court has reported an increase of violent criminal cases on university campus in the past five years. Since 2004, 20 cases of intentional injury or homicide were heard at the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate Court, involving 26 college students, Wednesday's China Daily reported. There were four such cases between 2004 and 2006. This number grew to ten from 2008, an increase of 150 percent, a court press officer surnamed Guo was quoted by the newspaper as saying. The crimes were mostly caused by trifles, love affairs, or post-drinking provocation, the court was quoted by China Daily as saying.

Here’s an article on a Christian view of the use of the Internet. It was translated from China’s Three-Self Church’s magazine.

Visit zgbriefs.com for more stories about China.

With the past weekend being Halloween, the team took an early evening trip to the countryside where we cooked hot dogs and roasted marshmallows around a warm fire. We actually woke up that morning to snow – on October 31st for crying out loud! It was truly cold, really fast; it was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But we decided to brave the elements anyway with hot dogs and smores.

One of our Senior English majors, Alan, was nice enough to arrange the place and firewood for the event. We went to his uncle’s farm. We had a simple time, enjoying around 3 hours of eating and fun. By far, the most exciting event was the bonfire’s – how shall I say it? – explosion. First of all, the wood that was brought out had nails in it. I know that’s not good as those can somewhat explode as they’re metal. For the entire time, the fire made abnormally large “mini-booms” as I think nails were melting or slightly exploding. No one was hurt of course – thankfully.

Anywho, we had secured a nicely-paved area for the bonfire. About 3 hours in, there was a massive “boom”, – I didn’t see the fire as I had turned my head – but the sound caused me to jump up and run. In unison (minus the children), the team ran away from the fire. In sheer parental speed, Daren had picked up both Jude & Will in a dash; Samantha was actually away from the fire trying to play with the dogs that her parents kept saying to her, “Sam, NO!” Come to find out, the cement under the bonfire had cracked. I guess with it being so cold, then being heated up by a bonfire, this caused a massive, localized cracking of the cement. At the boom, pieces of cement broke away from the ground, throwing wood, ash, and coals in a massive spray. Mark actually got hit in the head with a piece of wood. Charcoal chunks flew over Nancy’s head, one of Alan’s younger cousins who came with us. It was hilariously dangerous, but everyone was okay. :-) You can see pics of this event from our “team photographer” Kat on flickr.com.

I began my gym membership this past week. The place is fairly nice and well-lit, unlike most “jungle gyms” in China. A cultural incident that merely reinforces something I’ve experienced over the past five years is the “shamelessness” of women to see nude men. Now, at my gym, there is no door to one of the guys’ locker rooms – where my locker is located. It’s literally a room at the end of a long hall where anyone could walk into unknowingly – or knowingly for that matter!

I was in need of a change of locker, so I got #66 (on the top) rather than #87 (in the middle) because, according to Coach Zhou, the top lockers are nicer. Anywho, one of the old ladies who works at the gym – like with general cleaning, checking gym membership cards when people walk in, and overall simple “presence” at the gym counter – walked me back to the locker room to change lockers. She simply walked in, not checking to see if anyone was in their skivvies, and switched lockers for me. I think she’s got to be the owner’s mother or something for her to be able do this.

But this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this phenomenon. When I am going to bathroom in a public restroom, it’s common for cleaning ladies to simply come in the bathroom and begin cleaning. It’s not a privacy issue (like in America) but a practical one: “I need to clean, so I’m coming in.” If people are pooping, they’re pooping. If people are changing, they’re changing. If people are naked, they’re naked. All you have to do is take an overnight train ride, and you’d COMPLETELY understand all this!

My teammate, Anthony, sent me the links to the videos below. The first is awesome, and the second is absolutely hilarious!!! You gotta see them…

First video: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzQxMTY=.html

Second video: http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/CNirp7FhTtg

Enjoy!!!

Last Thursday found me headed back to Beijing. I had a follow-up appointment to the one that I had scheduled the week before. Dr. Yanzani, an Australian, saw me. He commented on the need to monitor my blood pressure as the key indicator to future problems. Tests results from the summer showed an elevated level of possible inflammation of my liver. He thought perhaps I had extra iron in the body or Hepatitis. Both tested negative. However, I did end up having an ultrasound of my liver. Another new experience to my list of many.

On Saturday, I had an appointment to have an echocardiogram, which checked out normal save a small anomaly in the size of the left-side of my heart. The specialists I saw (yes, Dr. #3) indicated there was no need to wear the 24-hour heart monitor and that I should just monitor my own blood pressure. He also believed that the numbness was somewhat of a fluke given all the tests I submitted to. Basically, after all of the visits and tests, there seems to be nothing medically wrong, save the warning of a slightly higher than normal blood pressure. I truly know WHO was involved in this, and I truly know the One who saved me during this time.

This is my testimony, and I’m sticking to it!!!

Last Saturday, I felt slightly “under the weather”. I went to bed with a sore throat, thinking nothing of it. The weather in Siping was getting colder, and, with changes in weather, I often get some sort of sore throat/cold going on. The sore throat was worse on Sunday, but, again, I felt fine.

I woke up Monday morning to numbness in my left hand. I had a sore back that night, so I thought it was just the way I slept. The numbness gradually spread to my feet and face (both on the left side). I became a little concerned. I was looking up information online in regards to these symptom, but there was a ton of stuff on it. I told Jennifer & Daren about it; they gave me some medicine, some advice to just monitor it, and watched out for me.

It was Tuesday morning that the numbness persisted – not any stronger than Monday – and, I found myself calling a doctor with SOS in Beijing. The doctor said I should take a shower, a couple of Ibuprofens, and rest for 3-4 hours then call back. It was while I was in the shower that I noticed the numbness had spread to my lower back, abdomen, and groin (again, all on the left side). I called SOS back, and they recommended that I go to a hospital in Siping.

Steve, one of the foreign affairs officers in my school, took me. This was my first experience in a Chinese hospital, and I was a little freaked out, but Steve was great, always willing to give me a correct translation, explaining all of my questioning, and doing an A+ job at helping me out. I had a CT scan and an ultrasound. The neurologists that I saw said I had high blood pressure (which I had never experienced before) and recommended a couple of medicines that are used traditionally in China. I began taking them and over the next 24 hours, I felt better with the numbness slowly going away (but not completely).

It was during the next day (on Wednesday) that I received a call from an SOS doctor in America who had been looking over my case. He recommended a trip to Beijing, have some extra tests done, and to see a doctor who speaks English and perhaps could give a secondary diagnosis. So, by Friday evening, I had booked a flight for me and a friend to go to Beijing, reserved a hotel room in Beijing, secured a doctor’s appointment for Saturday, and headed out.

At Beijing United Family Hospital, I saw Dr. Hilka, a sweet and funny German woman. I explained my symptoms, and she checked me out. I gave her the names of the Chinese medicines and showed her all of the test results that were done in Siping. After further exploration of my symptoms and performing rudimentary neurological testing, she thought it necessary that I have some blood drawn for some tests and to submit to an EKG. Blood was drawn, the EKG was done, and I headed out for some lunch awaiting the results.

When I returned after a couple of hours, Dr. Hilka told me that nothing was conclusive as to my problem. She mentioned that I may possibly have had a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), but more tests were needed. I did have high blood pressure – that was comparable to the blood pressure tests done in Siping – that would be handled and controlled, at least temporarily by some blood thinners to be taken daily. Blood tests showed normal in many key areas, like white blood cells, triglycerides, glucose, and cholesterol, but the TIA was not ruled out. I will need to return to Beijing next week for an echocardiogram and have a 24-hour period of blood pressure testing with a brace on my arm. As of now, that is where I am. Thank you in advance for remembering me.

Princess starts semester with 19 suitcases - and two guides (September 8, 2009, Shanghai Daily)
A university freshman from an apparently wealthy family has stunned her fellow students by bringing along 19 suitcases to the campus plus two professional tourist guides. Her actions have sparked online discussion about luxuries enjoyed by wealthy families, a report said in today's Xinmin Evening News. The student's parents drove a luxury limousine to send her to college in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to register for the new semester on September 2, the report said. The family is from east China's Zhejiang Province, according to the girl's tutor.

Suicide remains top killer of young Chinese (September 4, 2009, Shanghai Daily)
Suicide remains the top killer of young Chinese aged between 15 and 34, according to a Beijing health official. China reports a high suicide rate with 2.25 million people attempting to commit suicide every year. About 250,000 are successful, said Deng Xiaohong, vice director of Beijing Health Bureau, citing research by China Diseases Prevention and Control center and Huilongguan Hospital. Deng made his remarks yesterday to coincide with the 7th World Suicide Prevention Day, today's Chongqing Evening News reported. The research found suicide is the fifth-largest cause of death in China. For every 100,000 people, 22.23 had tried to commit suicide.

Student suicide survey shock (September 11, 2009, Shanghai Daily)
Almost one in four students has thought of suicide, according to a survey released yesterday at a seminar in Yangpu District to mark the seventh World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide has becoming the prime cause of death among 15 to 34-year-olds with students accounting for a large proportion of the total, experts said. The thought of killing themselves had occurred to about 24.39 percent students while 15.23 percent had taken suicide into serious consideration, according to the study by the Children's Hospital of Fudan University and local education authorities. Of the 2,500-plus students questioned, 2.85 percent had planned how to commit suicide and 1.71 percent students had tried but failed.

Confucian family tree branches out (September 24, 2009, Xinhua)
CHINA celebrated the completion of the first full revision of its philosopher Confucius' family tree in 72 years at his birthplace Qufu City, east China's Shandong Province yesterday, three days before his "2,560th birthday." Kong Deyong, a 77th-generation descendant of the revered Chinese philosopher, disclosed the family tree covered with red silk at 9am. The family tree has 43,000 pages and is bound in 80 books. It records all 83 generations of Confucius' offspring of more than 2 million people and is believed to be the biggest in the world, Kong said. The new list, which includes minorities, overseas and female descendants for the first time, added more than 1.4 million names than the previous revision in 1937, said Kong Dewei, head of the family tree editorial office.

And in honor of Chinese 60th Anniversary on October 1st, check this out.

Recent news, firstly, involves the upcoming holiday. Starting October 1st to the 9th, there are no classes. Sadly, we do have to teach on the 10th, a Saturday, making up classes for Thursday, October 1st – but no biggie. The holiday time involves China’s National Day on October 1st and the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 3rd. It’s nice to have some time off, especially after four weeks into the term.

In team stuff, Wu was surprised with the news of being awarded a “Foreign-Expert-of-the-Year” Award in Changchun yesterday. He got a certificate and a free meal. How awesome is that? He’s said for four years now that he’d never get one because he doesn’t look “foreign enough”, but, dog gone it, he beat me to it. Jerk!

With the holiday, we also are having some visitors. Sarah, former Siping teammate from last year, will be visiting us for the next couple of days. She’s a teacher in Changchun – both with a kindergarten for bi-lingual children and as a one-room school teacher with the children of our organization’s language school for adults. Lisa, a friend and Wheaton classmate of Kat, will be spending time with us as well – traveling to see us from Shandong on a 16-hour train. Wow, now that’s commitment!