We were getting into the swing of things in Bangkok when news came we'd be spending the next month in Guangzhou, China. Our air shipment still hadn't arrived, but that made packing that much easier! Just the same clothes from the last month to choose from...for another month.
Which leads me to a sidebar on laundry. Obviously a good deal of laundry has been done, but the first load was a good lesson in paying attention to signs. The washer and dryer in our apartment in Bangkok look more or less like every other washer and dryer I've seen. No problem, I got this. I loaded up the washer, found the pull-slot for detergent, set the water temp, let it run. Done. Switching loads to the dryer - again, no problem. Found the temp I wanted, added dryer sheet, go. This continued for another cycle, when the dryer unexpectedly stopped mid-spin. The machine was beeping - three beeps, silence, then three beeps, repeat. Hmm. I opened the door, re-set the time, and closed the door. No more beeping, so I continued the cycle. Not five minutes later, the beeping starts again. I check and THIS time I see the flashing light beside the words "empty water." Empty water? I thought - I've never emptied water from a dryer...and that's when I notice the drip drip drip down the side of the machine. Apparently there's a long, tray like container that soaks up water from the clothes as it dries, and that needs to be emptied pretty much after every load. Not rocket science once you know what to do, but confusing when you've never seen it. Anyway, I had a good laugh at myself.
Back to Guangzhou. We arrived about a week ago, and have explored a little. I say only a little because unfortunately I came down with a cold pretty much the hour we touched down. Sneezing, sneezing, sneezing - maybe I'm allergic to China? Just a common cold (sinus issues, cough), and as my friend Emily said when we Skyped last week "well it's about time!" She's right - we've been planning and executing a wedding, packing, leaving our home, flying across the world, and haven't stopped going in a few months. With time zone changes, in and out of hot, humid weather to extreme AC, it makes sense. I should note I haven't been sick in at least a year and half, if not longer - my immune system is usually pretty good to me. The day after we arrived I was determined to explore (or at least go to a pharmacy, get Sudafed and Nyquil, and go home). I soon learn pharmacies here are quite different. There is an amazing amount of Chinese herbs and medicinal powders. Unfortunately I didn't have a guide or interpreter - maybe another time.
Husband found an appointment for me at a international medical clinic near his office, as this is apparently the only way to get Western medicine. I was a little unsure - until he told me he spoke with the doctor, who was wonderful and understanding - and her name was Dr. Alice! Just like my Grandma! It was a sign I'd be in good hands. Dr. Alice took great care of me, and agreed it was just a cold, and I got the needed meds - excellent! If we were staying here longer, I'd try and figure out a more simple way to just get the meds, but here's fingers crossed we both stay healthy the next few weeks!
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