Differences
A recent evening out with friends started at an Irish pub and ended at a Chinese hospital. One minute we were laughing and clinking our glasses; the next, we were rushing to the hospital in the old French Concession…
I’ve only been in Shanghai 8 months and two major events have happened. And I’ve come to realize how important it is to have close friends so far away from home – friends who’d drop everything they are doing to be with you in times of need; friends who share in your joy and will not shun you because of your sorrows.
You’ve already met my savvy and sexy entrepreneur girlfriend who has lived in China for 13 years. And there’s another girlfriend who’s a banker. Let’s just call her Looloo for short.
It was Looloo who introduced me to Shanghai’s hospital. Looloo was telling a funny Hokkien (Fujian) joke when she hit her head against her wine glass (deleted remarks), and so the drama unfolded. The wine glass didn’t break but her skin did. Deep red blood was oozing out of a cut above her eye.Savvy-sexy entrepreneur (SSE) was out elsewhere (in a very pretty black dress and faux fur coat) when I made the call to her just past midnight, that we had to rush Looloo to hospital. In less than 10 minutes, SSE was in a taxi picking us up and we were headed to the nearest hospital.
And this is what struck me about the hospital. There are two separate out-patient emergency sections. One for the local Chinese and the other for the foreigners (aka Wai-Bin)This is where you see the stark difference.
The foreigner’s section was brightly lit, immaculate, modern and everything you’d expect a private hospital to offer, with lift attendants and attentive staff. The section for the local Chinese was somewhat different. Everything seemed several shades paler, in every sense of the word.
Back in the foreigner’s section, an eye-specialist was woken from her sleep and summoned to attend to Looloo’s cut. A quick eye check and cleansing of her wound and we were out of the hospital. It was efficient and quick beyond my expectations. Of course the speed and the bill would have been very different, had we had gone to the local section. Going to the hospital is not exactly one of the must-do things while in Shanghai but at least I’ve experienced it. Hopefully, I won’t have to make another trip anytime soon.
And just in case you are wondering how Looloo is doing, she is fine. We just have to wait for the wound to heal to see if it leaves any scar.
** some circumstances have been adapted to protect the identity of the subjects
November 26th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
It’s been a long time since u last update yr blog and glad to hear that everything is fine. How much longer will u be station in shanghai?
I realli miss the weather and the Mutton Sticks(Yang Rou chuan) in shanghai
November 27th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Hi Glenda, then are you alright? It must be terrifying when having to visit a hospital in a foreign land. But this is the culture Chinese has – to let the guests have the best fine things and themselves live spartan.
Merry Christmas (Snowy Shanghai) and Happy New Year 2009 in advance!
Warm Regards (It’s cold in Shanghai
),
Wee Chye
November 29th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Who is your sexy and savvy entrepreneur friend? waahhh!
I’m sure you would do that for your friend too, riiiight?
Well its the decent thing to do, isn’t it!
What kind of person would conveniently excuse themselves from such a situation?
Anyway, enjoy your winter solstice(dong zi) and merry christmas
November 30th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Nicely written.
Can’t wait to read the part where Voldemort whines endlessly because of his botched manicure though.
Will definitely stick around for more.
Sincerely
Ardent Fan of Sinks and Hot Tubs
PS. how in the world did the glass wine manage to find its way to Lulu / Looloo’s head???
December 1st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hi Glenda,
Hmm, going to hospital is certainly not a must-do thing while in Shanghai. Seems like it’s still following the long standing culture with better treatments for ‘wai bin’. But of course the fees will be different as well.
Do take care & Merry X’mas !
R u coming back to SIN during CNY ?
Cheers !
December 15th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
How did she hit her head against her own wine glass is really beyond by imagination!. Perhaps, only in China wl u get to see such class act!.
Cheers!, Merry Christmas & Happy 2009!.
December 16th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Hi Glenda,
It’s been a while since you’ve updated your blog. Sounds like your adventures are getting more exciting… and outside your apartment.
Have you learnt to post photos? :-i It’s very simple ~ just click on the post photo icon and upload. You can’t be in Shanghai and blog without photos lor!
Anyway, Merry Christmas & hope to see you back in Singapore soon……
December 24th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Hi Glenda,
Thought it was you I saw at our apartment lobby the other day. So, at least now I know there is a fellow Singaporean living in the same block!
Finding a place in SH is no easy task but at least I didn’t view 50 units before settling in here! And the famous maple trees which line the neighbourhood are battled by the cold and wet winter. Can’t wait for the greens to return in Spring.
Hope to see you around again and if that happens will say Hi to a fellow comdrade. (didn’t the Chinese use to call each other that? )
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cheers!
DL
December 27th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Hey you,
I tried reaching you at the usual place; I didn’t get through though.
I’d like to wish you a Merry X’mas and a wonderful New Year!
You stay bubbly there!!!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
i love the way you blog, do share with us more!
January 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Cute little one,
Remember to steer clear of radish and seafood for the next 10, 20 days …
January 26th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Have a prosperous lunar new year, Glenda.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:32 am
It was around midnight at the hotel when father-in-law has a stroke right there in Shanghai Pudong! We called the desk manager and he quickly had a taxi waiting at the lobby. Naturally, our first instinct was to tell the driver “the quickest and closest hospital, its an emergency!” Sure enough, we arrive very quickly, but alas, a local ER. Just as Glenda described and worst, we saw people lying around on makeshift beds, benches, seats, some with self-made bandages, others had masks! Dim is an understatement, luckily our nightvision was saved by the flickering light at the counter. Once they realized we were foreigners, a doctor came out quickly and made preliminary checks. Eventually, they asked for USD10k cash before they will begin treatment! Naturally (again) we negotiated and agreed to admit my in-law for emergency treatment while I called for delivery of the money. And yes, they hung on to my credit card even though they have no machine to swipe. To cut the long story short… my in-law died. Not because of the slow treatment, not because of the bumpy ride on the metal trolley bed that they had him on from the ER to the surgery room in another block out in the open in the drizzling rain, but his body give up mostly of age which had lasted this long on medication.
If it were not so hilariously sad, I would have laughed out loud. All this happened within 8hrs. When I realized nothing more could be done, i started called my friend that I can’t join him for dinner. Then he asked why I didn’t call him when it happened, he would tell us to go to the American hospital! duh… My in-law might have lived for another year or so, and I wouldn’t this story to tell. This was 6 years ago.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Dont be too schocked! I have been to hospital where there were no doctors
February 24th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Hurm … it’s been 3 months now. I wonder when you’ll be writing a new entry to your blog? Perhaps, I should make my way to Shanghai to track Looloo down; when found, I’d politely ask her to show me her hand and finish the little mission with the coup de grace — I’d gently prick her thumb with a little needle. That should encourage you to write another interesting entry. Darn it … am I a genius or what? Hahaha !!!
July 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Hi Glenda,
I was wondering what happened to you.
Thanks for keeping us updated. I enjoy the sincerity of your blog. 