Read between the lines
Hello people.
I had to go into Chengdu today to the medical clinic to have them poke and prod me for goodness knows what. I have the biggest bruise on my arm from where they took my blood; and not five minutes after they took the blood, they took my blood pressure from the same arm. She wouldn’t take my right arm that hadn’t just had 20 gallons of blood taken from it, oh, no that would have meant me turning my chair around, we can’t have that. I thought my vein was going to burst. The spot where the needle went in ‘bubbled’ up and looked like a black marble was sitting under my skin. I was thinking I should duck for cover because it looked like it was about to blow. I have never seen anything like it. It went down again after a few minutes, which is just as well, because I was just about to start to panic.
So my arm is sore from my blood test, they couldn’t even find the vein in my right arm. When will I remember to drink lots of water before going for a blood test? I don’t know.
After the blood test, I had to have an ultrasound, but not to see how the baby is doing (just kidding folks); the ultrasound was on my ribs. I’m still not sure what they were looking for there. They had me a little worried because at one stage the girl giving me the ultrasound had been ‘looking’ at the same spot for a while, moving the device back and forth. Then she called her colleague over to have a look at the screen, and then they both stood there looking and chattering away in Chinese before the second girl left the room. The first girl kept ‘looking’ until the second girl came back, they talked some more, both looked some more and then must have decided it was ok, because they threw some paper towels at me to wipe off the gel and said, “Finished.” I asked, “All ok?”, and was told, “Yes, all ok.” Then the second girl asked if I spoke Chinese. “No” but I wish to heck I could right this very minute.
Fiona was meant to come with me to the clinic, but she bailed at the last minute. So I found my way there and then through the maze of rooms for different tests. It would have been handy to have her there for the ultrasound to know what the problem was. I guess it will be on the report.
The experience of having my blood taken was very different to how things are done in Australia. Here in China you sit on a little stool on one side of a wall with a glass patrician between you and the blood taker. There is a hole in the patrician through which you stick your arm, they tie a rubber tie around your arm and give your vein a slap.
Oh, I have grown a centimetre since I left Australia; I’m sure I was 178cm when I had all the tests taken in Hobart, but when I looked at what they wrote today I was 179cm. I always wanted to be a bit taller back home, but I really don’t need the extra cm here thanks. :)
Jacky called while I was having lunch and wanted to know if I would agree to another interview for their live broadcast tonight. The questions weren’t as good tonight, and the girl asking the questions was very nervous. But it was still a good interview.
My lunch was delicious!!! I was searching the internet for things to do in Chengdu the other day and I found a bookshop called the Bookworm that has live music, great western food, cocktails and ENGLISH BOOKS! There was no music today at lunch, but I plan to go back on Saturday night. I was happy to see two great Aussie wines on the wine list as well as a few from other countries including Chile and Argentina. A friend of mine was telling me about the good wines from those countries just the other day, so I can’t wait to try some. Anyone free on Saturday night who wants to join me? :)
For lunch, I ordered a BLT and a Chinese ‘Harmoniser’ tea. Once again, I thought I could use all the help I could get with getting some harmony in my life. I think it worked. The tea was wonderful and had dates, cinnamon, Chrysanthemums and honey in it. I felt wonderful after lunch and my good mood has continued all afternoon, even while I was trying to find Fiona at the bus stop in the rain in Chengdu. We caught the bus back here together as she wanted to see Matt for some reason. The choices on the menu had my head spinning. I wanted it all; there were so many of the things I love, but since I had been wanting some bacon for a while now and with the lettuce and tomato, well there’s my salad craving taken care of.
I bought a couple of books too. I have finally been able to read a page, get to the bottom and actually know what I have read, it’s wonderful. So I am reading the book Jacquie gave me to bring with me. The two novels I bought today sound good, one is about a relationship between two Chinese women, ‘Snow flower and the Secret Fan’ by Lisa See, it sounds wonderful; and the other is ‘Disquiet’ by Julia Leigh (an Aussie girl). I also ordered the latest edition of the Lonely Planet Brazil, so I should have that in a few weeks; it’s a real shame I will have to go back to the bookshop to collect it. :) I will tell you though, books are pretty expensive here. Well, when I compare the prices of books to other things I can get here for the same money, not when I convert it to Aussie dollars, then it’s about the same, maybe even cheaper. Ok, so I’ll stop complaining now. :) I have new books! Yay.
Well I think it’s about time for me to go to bed and read some more. I have missed reading so much. It’s like I’ve come home to an old friend.
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
