Brad’s Ataxia Blog

Weekend Report

May 18th, 2009

Saturday, Brad wanted to go out to see some new sights.  We had heard about Old Town Xiaoshan which is on the other side of the mountain from the hospital.  So we hired a driver to take us to Old Town.  While there are old traditional Chinese buildings there, Old Town is quite modern with every kind of clothing shop you can imagine.  Think of an outlet mall except it is block after block of stores.  I pushed Brad in wheelchair through every one of the streets and some twice if not more.  We had a very interesting time.  We bought an ice cream from McDonalds.  As you know Brad is not much of a spender.  Well we were only about 5 miles we figured from the hospital so after walking at least that far in Old Town we started back.   We arrived back at the hospital in time to rest before going out that night for dinner.

Brad invited Sophie, one of the nurses, to join us for dinner in Hangzhou near West Lake.  There we met Brad’s friend, Mallory and her husband’s cousin.  We ate in a private dinning room where in the middle of the table was a hole with a cooking pot.  It was boiling with a broth and sliced corn on the cobb.  The ladies ordered for all of us.  Many dishes began arriving.  There was beef that was on a cutting board that resembled sliced bacon and another of lamb sliced and rolled like lunch meat, yet raw.  There was a platter of white balls about the size of a ping pong ball.  We were told it was fish.  There were mushrooms and clams along with a platter of long narrow clam like creatures.  Clams and vegetables were put in the pot to cook as we talked and enjoyed exploring the food.  We each had a laddle with holes in it and chop sticks (Brad had a fork).  The laddle was used for cooking our bites.  We would pick up a slice of beef and place it in the laddle.  Then with chop sticks to hold it in the laddle would place it in the cook pot.  We would check it and turn to insure it was cooked enough then back over our plates to be dipped in an sauce mixture of about 8 different things (who knows what) and very tasty.  So bite by bite we cooked and ate for about and hour and a half.  We could learn something from the way the Chinese eat.  They focus on the company and savor the food.  Both are enjoyed.  The people are much more relational that we as Americans have become.  We focus on the food and eat it in as little time as we can and avoid relationships.  What an experience.  And the clams as well as the long wiggly ones were all very good.  There was a vegetable that looked similar to water  cress but longer stem had a strong flavor so I passed on it but there was not much I passed on.  I figured it the Chinese can eat this and look as skinny as they do then it couldn’t hurt me to eat that way.

We are planning on seeing Mallory again before I leave on Friday.

Sunday we with another mother and son (a bit younger than Brad) shared a driver to take us to church.   Again the experience of being in worship with hundreds of Chinese singing praises to the Lord was something to behold.  There was a woman pastor who preached this week and I understood no more this week than last.  For those who may want to know the woman preached longer than the man!

After chruch the other family wanted to eat McDonnalds.  So we did and ate as Americans some greazzzzy chicken.  I am beginning to enjoy Chinese food better.  I also drank a coke as the selection was limited.

Brad and I asked to be dropped off at West Lake while the others went shopping to places Brad was not interested in.  So we walked the lake.  It was cloudy at times but a mild breeze kept it from getting really hot.  The area around the lake is concrete or stone walk ways and mostly shaddy with trees.  We continued till Brad said “Want a cup of coffee?”  We were out side a starbucks and I hadn’t noticed so we enjoyed a lattie.

When we got back Brad had had enough of me and wanted space and the feeling mutual.  There was a couple from Canada who was planning to go to the night market.  It was on my list of things to see and experience.  So I went back to Hangzhou last night leaving Brad to watch a movie.

The night market is quite an experience.  For about two long blocks are vendors selling everything imaginable.  Like a flea market and jammed with people all around.  If you looked at something too long they were putting a calculator in your hands punching their price and didn’t want you to leave till you make an offer.  One lady was selling fans and wanted 85 RMB for it (about $12) I said I did not want it and she said make an offer so I said 15 rmb she kept coming down on the price and I really did not want it so when she put the calculator in my hand I still punched in 15 and walked away.  She ran after me and said OK.  So I bought a fan for $2.15 US.

It was quite fun and I came out of there having spent about $22.50 US.  A good price for entertainment and some goodies to bring home.

Brad is scheduled to have his stem cell lumbar this afternoon.  We are going out to get lunch early as he can’;t eat 2 hours prior to treatment.  Please pray that it will go smoother this time and not be as painful.  Of course we continue to pray for the treatment to be effective.

Thanks for praying.

Craig for Brad

Entry Filed under: ataxia,Uncategorized