Saturday, October 8, 2016

China: The Love/Hate Relationship

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Kathryn of 


Read about Kathryn's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 


About Kathryn...


In 2012, I graduated with an education degree. In 2014, I decided to quit my current job and ran away to China to teach. In 2017, I'm running away again. This time I'm starting in Australia, and seeing how far I get in the world. Runaway Teacher Travels is where I share my tales of my past, present, and future travels.













The end of this month completes my second year of teaching in China. Living here has been one of the biggest rollercoasters of my life. There are days when I think working here is the best thing and the country is spectacular and there are just as many days where I would just kill for cold milk and babies to be using diapers instead of trash cans to piss in. So, after two years, here is my view of China: the good, the bad, and the adult sh*tting in the street ugly.

The Bad and the Ugly:


In order to finish this post off on a good note, I figured I should start here. Let me preface this with I know I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity and honestly, I wouldn’t change the decisions I’ve made to live here even for a moment. However, the honest truth is some days living in China is just plain hard. There’s little differences like not being able to find cheese and trying to find lotion that won’t bleach my skin. Then there are the big things that I still struggle to wrap my head around.


Anything that involves transportation



First off, I think the cars and scooters here have the horn permanently pressed down. People honk when you cut them off, to let you know they’re behind you, to let you know they see you, and I think just to let you know they have a horn. It can be absolutely maddening. Then there’s the simple hazard of trying to get anywhere. You could walk, but be prepared to dodge scooters and cars that have deemed it acceptable to drive on the sidewalk. You could take a scooter, like I do, but just be aware you might be the only person on the road actually paying attention to where they are going (shout out to the guy who yelled at me last year because he ran a red light while talking on his phone and hit the front tire of my parked scooter). Taxis are almost always a no go for me. They don’t believe in seat belts and most seem to think they’re in The Fast and the Furious. No thank you. Even the buses seem to enjoy squeezing into gaps far too small and turning corners far too fast. That is, if the bus you want even comes. In both cities I’ve lived in the bus numbers and routes seem to change on a whim and there is no such thing as a bus schedule. Simply put: sometimes my biggest challenge is just getting from point A to point B without wanting to curl up into a ball and cry.


The number of bodily fluids that seem to exist


I do have to say that this year has been much better on this front. However, during my year living in Central China, I can safely say I saw enough salvia, urine, and feces on the street to last me a lifetime. Some days it felt like I was walking to a chorus of a million people spitting at once. There were people spiting on the sidewalks, in trashcans, on the train floors, and pretty much anywhere you can imagine. I do sympathize however. After my first year of living in one of the most polluted cities in the country, I felt pretty phlegmy too. That’s just the tip of the ice berg. It seems like the whole world is also just one giant public toilet for children here (and a good number of adults). Perhaps one of the biggest shocks I had was on my first day in China when I watched a 5 year old child squat down on the sidewalk in a pair of pants that split right in the crouch and just go to town pooing. What in the world was I seeing?!?! Then it happened again and again; on sidewalks, on a bus, in the grocery store and with people aged 0-99. Yet, here I am, two years later and I don’t even bat an eye when it happens anymore. I think that’s about all that needs to be said about that.




Queuing. 


It hasn’t been discovered in China and it doesn’t matter whether you’re waiting to weigh your vegetables or waiting for a train ticket: there is no line. Just a giant mass of pushing and shoving.




Saving the worst horror (at least for women) for last: public restrooms. Before you can you even make it in there, be prepared to wait. It doesn’t matter what bathroom you go to or when you go, you almost always will be waiting 20 minutes for a stall. I suggest going to the bathroom way before you actually need the toilet. Then, enter most Chinese public restrooms and you’re greeted with a small hole in the ground called a squatty potty for the obvious reasons. This nightmare should be pretty self explanatory. I suggest having a drink or two before you try it for the first time. On the off chance you manage to find a western toilet, don’t let your guard down. They are usually lacking in toilet paper and it never fails that someone has just decided to squat on top of the seat and it’s a mess anyways. Always carry a large amount of tissue and hand sanitizer or developing a strong bladder.

The Good:


I know I moaned and painted a pretty grim picture above, but would I recommend seeing China and possibly living here if you ever have a chance? Absolutely. I wouldn’t have stayed for two years and be getting ready for my third and final year if the good didn’t out weigh the bad.



The people 


As with any country, I think sometimes the worst thing and the best thing can be the people. Obviously, there are assholes everywhere and it’s easier to focus on these negative interactions when you’re so far from home. But, I have befriended, quickly met, and just passed by some pretty great people here. Just to name a few: the fruit stand lady who always seems to let me slide on the one or two yuan I’m short and then passes me some free watermelon. The man who stood up to a guy trying to rip me off by making me pay to park my bike in my apartment complex. The guy who randomly carried my groceries home for me one day when he saw me struggling with a giant bottle of water. The old lady who told off a very strange and creepy man on the bus for me. Not to mention the kids I have taught and absolutely adore and the number of my coworkers who have always been there to help me out.

The ability to save money


 Working for a school that pays up to $1400 for plane tickets a year, gives a housing allowance that allows you to live rent free, and covers all visa charges definitely helps to save you a few dollars each year. I’ve gotten lucky and have been working at an International School for the last year, but even before that my rent was covered and compared to the cost of living, the salary isn’t too shabby. I have plenty to travel on holidays and have managed to save up enough to take a break from teaching for at least a year (hopefully).

You don’t need to know the language


Would it help? Probably. I wouldn’t know. After all my time here, I still don’t even know when someone is asking my name. I know it sounds horrible but I’m terrible enough with languages and when you throw in the fact that Mandarin is a tonal language, I’m out. It rarely affects my ability to function in China, though. People seem to enjoy my poor attempts at the language and then usually play along with my game of charades until something is worked out. I feel like there are few places in the world though, where you can survive for two years without ever needing to know how to say much more than “thank you” and “you’re welcome”.



The ease of travel


China is a great country to travel through and from. Get to Shanghai, Beijing, or Hong Kong and cheap flights are super easy to find. China also has a brilliant high speed train system which makes it easy to access most parts of the country quickly and cheaply. Just make sure you book ahead and don’t end up on an overnight, standing room only train. Otherwise, you might be moving trains from your list of pros to cons.

 


I have never been as confident as I have been since coming to China. I’ve never been one for make up, curling irons, and straighteners. I don’t know how to do much with my hair besides throw it in a ponytail and I think contouring is just a thing people make up. It has never mattered here. There’s something freeing about walking to the store in my slippers with greasy hair and not caring because I’m not even sure what beauty standards I’m suppose to be living up to here anyways.

I bought Nutella that cost 5RMB (US$0.90) this last weekend. Try to tell me that isn’t the ultimate positive!

I could go on but I think you get the idea. My conclusion after two years here? There are good and bad things everywhere you go, especially in a country that is so different from everything that you know. Culture shock is definitely a real thing but you adjust to it after a while. Like a lot of countries, China can be a bit rough around the edges and it’s easy to get bogged down in the craziness. It’s just about finding what you like about an area and focusing on the positives. Two years in China down, one more year to go.



Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Would You Rather Experience the Fall Colours in Vermont or Michigan?

Would You Rather Wednesday!


     I absolutely love fall. I love the temperature cool down, apple picking, Fall sweaters, and of course the beautiful changing colors of the leaves. Richard and I are lucky to live in a beautiful country with lots of trees, our hometown is also known as "the forest city". However, like all of you we are always looking for somewhere new to experience and Fall is no exception. I know Northern Michigan has amazing Fall colors and Fall festivals. I have also read many features in travel magazines about the beauty and ever popular Fall foliage of Vermont. 

    In both locations accommodations book up quickly and can be quite costly, as there are "regulars" who return each season and many newbies looking to catch a glimpse of Autumn. Driving or the use of a car rental is a must, much of the beauty can be seen on long and scenic drives. There are festivals to attend, bakeries to visit, and hikes to take. This is a relaxed kind of trip, but will likely be enjoyable for all. 

Our choice?

Vermont. We have visited Northern Michigan in the past and absolutely loved it. We would choose Vermont for a new experience.



Saturday, September 24, 2016

Hospitalized Without Travel Insurance


Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Ressa of 



Read about Ressa's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 


About Ressa...

Born and raised in Texas, Ressa spent the majority of her life pursuing music and the creative arts. After graduating college, she immediately traveled the world in order to grow inspiration for her career and hopes to one day create a charity organization that builds music programs in developing countries. For now, Ressa shares her adventures, daily life, and interests on her blog. 













It all started when I had lunch with my cousins. We planned on hanging out at the mall, and I suggested eating at a restaurant that catered to everybody's food preference. I ended up ordering a chicken meal with rice and macaroni salad. Everything tasted great, and my cousins and I even ended up watching a movie afterwards. It was another typical, great day with my family. As we ended the day grocery shopping, I didn't think there would be a problem until I immediately felt like fainting in the middle of the store.

Now mind you, this experience could happen to anybody anywhere around the world. I just happened to be the "lucky" one that experienced it during my travels to the Philippines. This story does not reflect my experience of the country as a whole, but rather, an unforgettable, difficult memory from my trip. I wanted to share this experience to let you understand that traveling is not always pleasant and easy, and I would never want to falsely expose it that way. What made this circumstance uneasy was the fact that I did not expect anything horrible happening to me, which was why I decided to not get travel insurance during my stay. Boy, I was so wrong.

I left the grocery store to get some fresh air, and although my family bought me water to help me hydrate, it shortly backfired as I puked during the jeepney ride back home. When I reached back to my auntie's place, I immediately wanted to lie down on the couch. The idea of me walking around, or even attempting to eat dinner felt overwhelming for me. My body felt like it was all tied up and inflamed at once, as if I had a bomb inside my intestines that wanted to explode. Going straight to bed sounded like the perfect idea to erase the horrible stomach aches from my memory.

Despite the pain I was feeling, I did feel comforted by my family's care. My nine-year-old niece heard I was feeling ill and walked up to my room to fan me with the puke bucket next to my bed. She promised she would take care of me as she handed me hot tea from my auntie and some vapor rub for my headache. Right when I needed to use restroom, there was a brownout from the whole village. The lack of electricity meant that the whole house was pitch-black. I didn't think I would be able to walk downstairs and properly find the restroom, especially when I had my stomach ache. Fortunately, I only waited for 15 minutes until the electric outage turned on again, and I was able to use the restroom. That whole night, I ended up vomiting and experiencing diarrhea. I knew that I had some food poisoning condition, but I had never felt this sick in my life.

The following morning, I knew this was an illness I could not treat without medical help and decided I had to go to the hospital. At this point, I didn't care about the cost; I just wanted to feel better asap. Due to the lack of energy and sleep, my cousins had to lift me to the van and accompany me during my ride. My senses spiked as I was easily nauseated by the smell of gasoline and irritated by the noise from the morning traffic. When I arrived at the hospital, the medical staff assisted me in a wheelchair, and I immediately felt scared. For the first time in my life, I felt like there was a good chance I might not live to see tomorrow.

I was bawling as I was lying down on the hospital bed in the ER, and the nurses rushed over me, inserting an IV and asking me medical information. "Are you allergic to this? When was the last time you did that?" I was so overwhelmed by everything that was happening at once that I felt really unsure whether or not I really wanted to go through with my hospitalization. I just continued to cry telling the nurses I was scared. However, I knew there was no other way that would help me get rid of my illness. After a talk with my doctor, I signed my medical contract and decided to stay.

Being hospitalized in a developing country outside of home was difficult. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to take medicine, and I didn't want to get out of bed to pee in a cup. I just wanted to be alone, focusing on staying alive. My relatives took turns visiting me, telling me to "stay strong" and "keep praying." I didn't know if I was really strong enough to battle it. I just remembered what it was like when I was healthy, but those feelings didn't motivate me to get better. It just amazed me at how quickly my life could be threatened by the choice of food I eat.

I ended up being discharged the next day, but I did not fully recover until a week later. It was quite scary looking at myself in the mirror the first day I returned back to my auntie's place, being so thin ( I was 104 lbs prior to my illness) and looking so lifeless. As far as medical costs, I had to pay all of it, and I was lucky that my family helped with the coverage as well. I was just relieved that this experience didn't hinder the remainder of my trip, although I wished I did a better job at preparing for emergency situations prior to it.

Some things to know if you travel without travel insurance:
Be sure to have extra money in your budget for ALL emergency costs
Know your medical history
Be sure you have a copy of your important documents- ID, immunization record, etc.
Bring a good range of medicine with you
Stay hydrated with drinking water- not tap!
Be wary of meals- always inspect it before you bite it!


As for the ending of this story, I am completely well and can even look back at this experience with laughter. Who knew macaroni salad would have such a dramatic impact on my life?! Leave a comment about your thoughts on travel insurance and if you ever experienced being ill while traveling! The lesson learned is that the best option is to get travel insurance, even if your trip is less than 6 months. I must say, if I HAD to be hospitalized anywhere outside of home, I'm quite blessed to have this experience with my extended family there for me. 


Until next time- Ressa