Day 13- Dorm Sweet Dorm

It's time to go back to our dorm! Dorm Sweet Dorm :) [can't believe we were missing it!! hehehe]

But before we set off, we still had one more stop-- to see the hydroelectricity dam (I think.. something along that line.. ya, I know.. I don't even know what I'm looking at, right? :P)

Right at the top, we'll have the bird's eye view of the thingy

The Gang (Dr lau look too kind already! Hahaha)

A high class restaurant for lunch. Very nice food! Yummy! :D

After a nice lunch, we were ready to go! (Finally...) The whole bus ride is soooooooo long!!! There was a jam halfway through because a truck was overturned and all the cabbage was spread on the road!! Jam was about half an hour long :(

We reached our 'condo' at about 6 plus. Rushed to shower and do laundry.. I ran to the washing machine place in shorts, T-shirt, and slippers. The temp outside is like super cold! (even colder than an air-con room!) Hahaha... What an experience!

Reflection

I had a great time chatting with my friends on the bus today. And I'm sure all of us had bonded pretty well.

On the way back, I saw many plantations and farmers. This makes me wonder: What if I was born in this environment? How would life be like? This has really set me thinking. Maybe life won't be as stressful as that in a city. But, do these people living in the outskirts also realise that there are other things that they are missing out? And same goes to people who live in the city. Life in the outskirts is so different. Will city dwellers be able to adapt to the changes? What a difference!

Day 12- Yangtze River Cruise

Today is the 2nd day of our cruise. Below is my breakfast for the day, yummy...

Nice red dates milk (taste like strawberry milk)

As I looked at the sceneries, I marvel at God's creation. Indeed, he has created this beautiful earth. What an awesome God.

Halfway through, we had to transfer to a small boat whereby we sail through the narrower rivers

Melissa and I :)

This was our boat (It's a convertible..top part can open and close.. haha.. just the wooden version)

We got down fromthe boat and walked through a trail

Rani, me, Melissa, Letty and Hana :)

Finally, the last stop is climbing 300 plus steps...

This is just the beginning...

Hana, Eddy and Rani (Kimberley was at the back! Her hands are raised! Hahaha)

Yay! We reached the top!! :D

After such a long walk, we had a great dinner! :)

Reflection

Today, I see hills after hills and all the pictures I took all look so similar. But actually, you can create a picture out of a rock or the shape of the hills. Like, a person lying down, etc. It's indeed interesting to see how these landscapes can also be a form of art. How different people have different ways of interpreting things and how people have various perspectives. The mind we have can be so imaginative!

Day 11- Yangtze River Cruise

Today is the first day of the Yangtze River Cruise. Was quite excited initially because there won't be lessons for 3 whole days. Haha.. Anyway, we gathered together at 12.15pm. And, off we went! The bus journey was super duper long! I think it's even longer from Singapore to KL! :O

Finally, we arrived at our destination :D And here are some photos:

Yan Fang and my room

The very small toilet (like airport toilet)

The city

Getting ready for ship lock!

Ship lock in action! The water is rising....

Yay! Water has risen to a certain level and the gate is going to open..

Ship lock was at about 9.40pm. After seeing the ship lock, we went back to our own rooms.

Reflection

Today, I've learnt about some history about the Yangtze River. And today was also the first time I experience a ship lock. Something new I learnt today.

Day 10- Physiology quiz and bye Da-jie...

Felt really sad today when I woke up because Da-jie will be leaving for Shanghai in the afternoon :(

Woke up early to have breakfast at the hotel. Food was not too bad.

Had a nice morning walk from the hotel to the classroom with Da-jie :) Reached the classroom super early, but I studied for the quiz while waiting for class to start.

Physiology quiz was quite ok because Dr Lau went through with us what he has taught before quiz started. Then, after quiz, he continued with the lesson. And today, he cancelled the afternoon class again. So some of us went out with the china students to eat the xiao chi while others went back to the hostel to rest and pack for tmr's cruise. As for me, I met Da-jie at my classroom block, went back to my room, put down my stuff then went out with her for lunch.

After lunch with her, we went to the bakery and the supermarket. Then, took a bus back to her hotel and check out. After that, walked to my school and put down her things in my room. We left hurriedly to the place we went last night because Da-jie wanted to buy a thick, good jacket for her tibet trip. Finally, we reached the place and bought one which I thought looked quite pretty :)

Then, we had to rush back to the hostel so that Da-jie can catch her train back to Shanghai on time. Reached the hostel, quickly packed everything and I left with her to the main road outside my school. Managed to catch a taxi quite fast (Didn't take a bus because she might not have enough time) Said my goodbye to her and watch her leave in the taxi :( See you again next year.

First and foremost, really want to thank Dr Lau for allowing me to stay with my sis for 1 night and entrusting me into her hands.

Thank you Da-jie for keeping me company. It's been great having you around :D Will remember what you told me and all your encouragements. And to always count my blessings that God has given me.

Thank you Father for providing this opportunity for Da-jie and I. And thank you that Da-jie managed to make it on time to catch her train. I pray that you continue to keep both of us safe and that as we're away from our family, in a foreign land, we can learn to always depend on you and to be the salt and light of the world wherever we are. May we always be reminded of the verse in Joshua 1:9 that says :" Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Amen.

Day 9- Physiology lesson and presentation; Meet up with Da-jie!!!

Today, I woke up feeling both nervous and excited. Nervous because of the presentation later on. And excited because I'm going to meet Da-jie later in the afternoon! :D

When my friends and I walked out of the hostel, we were surprised! Wuhan is finally raining and the temperature has dropped a lot!! Wow, it's now even colder than air-con! Haha.. Here are some pictures outside my hostel:


So Physiology lesson started at 9am. And my group was the last to present because we were the most unprepared :P Anyway, it turned out quite ok, I guess :)

Dr Lau also cancelled the afternoon class which means I get to spend more time with Da-jie. So, after class, Dr Lau and I waited at the hotel that Da-jie will be staying at. Waited quite long though. But, glad that Da-jie managed to find her way to the hotel on her own :)

After checking in, we went out for lunch at the soup stall. It's nice to drink a bowl of hot soup in a cold weather. Haha. After lunch, we went to the bookstore nearby and bought a few things for my friends and mummy's bible club kids. Hope they like them.

Next, we went back to my room to pack my stuff as I'll be staying with Da-jie for 1 night in the hotel :D After packing and everything, we had a nice walk from my school to the hotel. And the next activity was dinner and a bit of shopping. Because Da-jie said on her way to the hotel, she saw a few shops and a big supermarket so we decided to take bus 551 to that place. Journey was only about 10 minutes. Saw a few shops (mainly sports shop which reminded me that I need to get a jacket for Rhoda) Anyway, we walked around and found a resaurant selling beefsteak set meal for 29 yuan. Thought was quite ok as it came along with bread, soup, egg, pasta/potato, and free flow of salad.

I had a great talk and dinner with Da-jie :D

Da-jie :)

After dinner, walked around a bit more and headed back to the hotel (took a taxi). Because I have Physiology quiz tomorrow, I had to study at night :( If not, I will definitely watch the DVD Da-jie brought. So, while I was studying in the hotel room, she was doing her own things then took a nap. After my studying, she woke up and we talked a bit more then fell asleep at about 11.30pm.

I had lots of fun with Da-jie today!

Day 8- OIE Lesson, Physiology Lesson and Melissa's Birthday!!!

Today, is our 3rd OIE lesson. We had a different teacher today and I found her quite funny sometimes. Hahaha.. We learned about the geography of China and the popular food in China. Glad that I've tried a few of the dishes already (Eg, Tang Bao aka xiao long bao) :) One interesting thing was the nickname given to the people of Wuhan: Nine Headed Birds. This means that they're crafty (say it nicely, they're smart. Hahaha)

Our class group work: locating a few of the cities on the map of China! Those are placed wrongly :P

Cheaters caught! Use ipod touch to help them... -.- hehe

Here comes the highlight of the day: Melissa's 17th Birthday Surprise!!! :D

All of us da bao food to eat in class--got air-con! :) While some of them went to buy cake, Letty, Kimberley and I pulled Melissa back to the room to get their physio notes.

So when it's time to begin the party, we return to the classroom and wa-la! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!!! :D And she was so surprise to see the cake! Haha.. Glad she loved the surprise! :)

Reflection

For today's OIE lesson, I've learned a different aspect of China. There are actually so many things to learn about China and it's always enlightening to find out more and realise that one lesson is just not enough to cover so many topics.

Day 7- OIE lesson and Visit to Medical School

Today, we had our 2nd OIE lesson at 8.30am. And what we learned today was about China politics. It was actually quite interesting to learn how the government works and about China being a communist party but Taiwan, HK, Macau are not. I see....

During the break, many of them fell asleep except for the 3 MDE guys seated right in front asking the teacher qns.

OIE lesson ended at 11.30am and a few of us went to the small canteen to have our lunch. Place was super crowded and so we decided to da bao. Ate rice with veg, potato , meatball and chicken. (All these dishes had already been scooped--no choosing) Food was actually not too bad but just a bit too salty for us.

Next, we gathered together for our visit to the medical school. An extremely long bus ride= sleep. (auto-mode) Finally, we reached the school campus and we stayed on the bus as the bus drives along the road so that we can have a look around the entire school. The school is huge! I thought the hostels looked like condos from the outside but I don't know about the inside. Heard from the China students that each room has 4 people. While looking out of the window, I saw so many basketball courts!! That was the first time I saw so many at one glance. (The basketball courts are like side by side)

After the tour around, we alighted from the bus and the China students started to talk to us. They're really friendly! :) And they brought us all to the room with lots and lots of specimens! And I saw so many real body parts! Some of the skin and hair are still intact, facial features and all that. Was so fascinated by so many different specimens!!!

Shelves of specimens! (there were so many shelves!)



Even the baby's face is still there!
Does he/she have the chinese look? haha

The hair is still on the head!

The Brain.

After looking at the amazing specimens, we (LSCT students) gathered in a room where we get to interact with the China students.

Look! They gave us a mooncake, a bottle of water and banana! (All that I wanted! :D)

Eddy prepared a ppt slides about Singapore and Ngee Ann while Letty presented the slides to the local students (She spoke chinese so fluently! :)

Letty in action!

Then after that, it was the china students turn to present to us.

After the presentation, we broke up into 4 groups and presented a performance for everyone. Quite fun! :) Following that, we played charades! Super fun and exciting! Hehehe :D

After the interaction, we went to the library. It's located at the centre of the whole school. And it's huge! Hahaha...

The library

When we entered, I thought it looked like a hospital. Haha. Anyway, we had a tour around the "school museum" in the library and there was a tour guide to show us around.

The entrance of the school museum

The miniature of the school compound. In the centre is the library.

Refection

For today's OIE lesson, I've learned that the government is very far-sighted as they've already planned a strategy that will be carried till 2050. (sth like that) And like what I've previously mentioned, planning ahead is so essential in a government as the nation is all dependent on how the government plans for the future. I've also learned about the fact that China relies too heavily on foreign investment. And I feel that a country should always base their economy on not only one sector. For if that sector fails, the nation will be in trouble.

For today's medical school visit, I've learned more about the education system here in China and I interacted with students who are studying something similar to what I'm studying. I realised we have more things to talk about and I can better understand how it is like studying in China. This trip had been a great one and I hope I won't forget what I saw and heard today.