Chinese hospital

When you call in sick at work, even with something simple like the flu, or bowel issues (luckily I've so far managed to avoid that!), the school sends someone to your house to take you to the hospital!  The Chinese appear to be very quick to go to the hospital, even if it's something as simple as 'needing rest, over the counter medicine and fluids'.

People's # 1 Hostpital

When we first arrived here we needed to do a medical for visa purposes and we were taken to a brand new, very modern hospital.  Since then, they've used an older, more popular hospital.  At first I was a bit thrown off by this as you don't get private consulting rooms with the doctor and everthing looks so old.  However, once you get used to that, they are meticulous about cleanliness and their system seems to work. 

ambulance bay

While waiting to be seen (or to pay) I've been watching other patients.  I've obseved people walking around carrying their drip attached to a stick to keep it high, I've observed Traditional Chinese Medicine being practiced and have partaken in some acupuncture sessions. 

Here they don't just give you acupuncture, they also use 'cupping' to draw out the bad energy and burn moxa herbs to aid the treatment.  Sometimes the hospital is extremely busy as it's an auspicious day where they burn moxa herbs on ginger directly onto your body.  This is supposed to aid circulation. 

cupping leaved marks that last about a week

I've also seen treatment on the ears (to help weightloss) and on the face to clear sinuses.  It's interesting to see what the locals believe in.  One girl got an injection with vitamins (I think) which is supposed to help thicken her hair.

I'm generally the only western person there and it's been a real draw for doctors and nurses to come by and practice some English (for the courageous ones) or just to 'see a foreigner'.  I'm used to this by now as in Nanning you get stared at a lot and often people just say 'hello' when they pass you.  There are relatively few white foreigners here so we're still a novelty.

Life's a beach!

About 3 hours south of Nanning is the South China Sea.  There are a few places to visit on the coast, most notably Bei Hai.  Following a school trip to Fang Cheng Gang (a port city) a few of us continued onto Bei Hai to relax on the beach. Whilst it's not a Carribbean beach, we had fun there.  I think we were a real sight for the locals as it's not often they see foreigners, and we stayed on the sand whilst they all sat in plastic chairs, hiding from the sun.  The Chinese are so afraid of getting dark skin that they even walk down the street using an umbrella as a parasol to avoid the sun.

beach at Bei Hai

at Bei Hai beach

We also had a fantastic seafood lunch at the beach and enjoyed some 'western' food in town.

crab for lunch

Mike, Chris, Becky, Edward

Bei Hai town was pretty quiet, perhaps as it's the end of summer and school starts again this week.  We did manage to find a Dutch bar in town, and the guy was very excited to speak dutch to me!

Whilst walking through town, we came across some outdoor massage tables.  I think this would be a little too public for me.  I'm happy to do this on the beach, but not in the centre of town.

massage tables

Bei Hai

school trips

Our school has been running a summer school course and keeping us very busy!  We recently moved location and got a shiny new school, with new equipment so the management is wanting to promote this.  I can hardly believe I'm saying this but I can't wait for the new school term to start again!

On Fridays we've been taking the younger children out for an activity.
The first week we made sushi at the school.

hard at work rolling sushi

Next we went to a park to play games like 3 legged race etc. but we 'camped out' on a concrete patch in the park and at first the kids complained that they were too hot to run around!  Eventually they got into it though.

3 legged race

The following week we went to the Guangxi museum of Minorities.  Keeping the really young ones (3 years old) interested in this was a challenge - fortunately I had older kids.

my class at the museum, with Ashley (who works at the school)

Becky 'pulling' her 3 year olds along

Then we went to McDonald's where they were taught how to make hamburgers.  The younger ones pretty much watched, whilst the older ones made them.  I think the kids mostly enjoyed eating the burgers!

making hamburgers

happy kids

The following week we watched a movie.  This was a cartoon movie (in Chinese!) which unfortunately scared some of the young ones.  The non-Chinese teachers were mostly reading a book or listening to music as we couldn't understand the Chinese. 

The last outing is a trip to the beach.  We were there with about 30 kids and their parents.  We had activities on the beach and then stayed for lunch.  Some of us teachers decided to stay on for the weekend and visit the Bei Hai beach, a few hours from the one we were at with the school.

Bai Liang Tan beach

kids (and parents) in tug of war - they beat the teachers!

Yang Mei - Ancient Town of Nanning

About an hour and a half out of Nanning is Yang Mei, known as the ancient town of Nanning (http://www.chinahighlights.com/nanning/attraction/yangmei-amcient-town.htm).
To get there, you travel through lush countryside and rural areas.  I went there with some Chinese friends who tell me that this is what most of China, outside of big cities, is like.

Yang Mei has an abundance of fruit trees and natural produce.

pomegranate tree

drying rice and peanuts

vats for fermenting pijiu (rice wine)

 The town is very picturesque and traditional.

carrying goods up the hill

It is mostly known for its preserved buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

entrance to a preserved home

inside a preserved home

We had a very relaxing day there, with a superb lunch cooked with local produce of fish, starfruit, dragoneye fruit and other delicacies.

local crab

Jing, Troy, Lining, Mike