Too darn hot

The last few days have been a blur. Tuesday was another, just get to know people day. Orientation hadn’t started so we just hung out at school. Wednesday was the first day of orientation. Over 50% of the staff this year is new hire.  There are about 20 new teachers.  The school has also grown to almost 500 students so that’s one of the main reasons why there are so many new hires. Most of the people are Americans, the majority being from the Midwest. Two Aussies, three Kiwis, and a Colombian, I believe. There are 4 married couples and two of them are expecting so we’ll have lovely little babies to play with soon.

                Wednesday was mostly a getting-to-know-you day, with not a lot going on. We went to a really yummy Chinese family style place called Grandma’s for dinner. Really yummy food. Thursday was the hospital visit. Everyone had talked about this, how it’s like a machine. We took about an hour bus ride to the center on Hangzhou. It’s amazing how large this city is. It’s so spread out.

                We had to get our pictures taken and give our passports to the hospital.  I’ve heard the government like to keep track of foreigners. Once this was done, the madness started. We were all directed up stairs. First stop was to give blood. This is where the machine started. You literally stick your arm through a window and they take your blood. It’s like a pharmacy, but you give blood. Weird. After that, it’s time to pee in a cup, but JACK POT! You get to do it in a squatter. That was loads of fun. Plus, you have to bring your own tissue AND you can’t throw it down the toilet. It goes in a special waster bin. Just imagine the smells.

                After this, you walk down another hallway and there are about 8 different doors.  I went and did the ultrasound first. You jump on a table, pull your shirt up, and they ultrasound your stomach while smearing jelly all over it.  My dr actually took a phone call while ultrasounding me. They give you back a sheet of paper, you wipe the jelly off, and move on.  The next door was the EKG. All the girls were a twitter because they’ve been getting their bras pulled up. There was a lot of giggling going on.  I went in and they clipped “bracelets” for my legs and hands.  My shirt was pulled up and suction cups were clipped on the bottom of my boobs. I don’t know what happened, but about 10 second later, they were taken off and I was free to go.

                From there, I went got my heart listened to and the lady asked about my henna tattoo. I told her it washed off. The eye test was next. I did some color blind test where you have to see numbers in a bunch of colors. I didn’t know what I was looking for. I’d say a number that I saw and the lady would say “NO!”  What fun! Lastly was the room was height, weight, and blood pressure. When I exited, Peggy was there. She is the admin assistant, Chinese, and a godsend. I was the last teacher in the room (figures!) and she came to make sure I was okay. She took me to get my chest x-rayed and then we were done.

                The bus took us down to the West Lake area. It was really pretty.  The lotus blossoms are in bloom. We walked along the lake for a bit and then had lunch. From, there we went back to the school.  We had dinner at an Italian place.

                Friday was more orientation. I went to the bank after lunch and opened my account.

On the way to the bank. Crossing the river.

 Chris and I stopped and Luan hua, the grocery store, and got some food.  We walked back to school. Once I got my stuff in my fridge, I walked back to the school and we all went to a noodle place for dinner. It was really good. However, I’ve noticed that, when I eat Chinese food, I get a headache. It doesn’t hurt but things get a little woozy. I don’t know what it’s from, but maybe the MSG. The food is also really salty here. I’ve been chugging water like there’s not tomorrow.

                Today, we went to Metro, which is like a Wal-Mart. I got a lot of stuff for my apartment. I spent about 1500 rmb, which is around $250. Got pots and pans, a rice cooker, a crock pot, TP, food odds and ends. All the new staff went and, let me tell you, the bus was PACKED!!!

That's all my stuff. Shoved on the seat next to me.

Things all down the aisles. 

Needless to say, we ALL bought a whole lot.