Chinese Experiences

In China, it seems that "complimentary and alternative medicines" are sorta more mainstream that "conventional" western medicines. It might seem like I'm stating the obvious but when I think of mainstream chinese medicine, I think of the country side and "the old times". I'm in Shanghai where it's very modern and skyscrapers are constantly being built at a ridulous rate (If it was up to the Shanghainese, the Queen St revamp in Auckland would take weeks rather than months/years). This is a part of the world that it definitely up with the play. I think that it's the most modern city in China (at least according to the lonely planet guide).

 

I went to the post office yesterday to send a few postcards to NZ. I excepted it to be similar to every other part of the world that I've been to. Since its just a post office right? Go there, get some stamped, wet the back of the stamp and stick it on. Or if you're fancy like NZ, you can get sticker stamps instead. Once I was at the counter, I was given three stamps for each postcard. While this transaction was taking place, 2 people had entered the building also and decided to wait right next to me. My personal space was being horribly violated by these strangers. I wanted to to turn to them and say "BACK OFF" but I can't speak chinese. Once I paid for all my stamps I was directed to a table to put the stamps on myself. I had no intention of licking the stamps. I think it's gross enough in NZ! At the table, I didn't find anything to moisten my stamps with. Only a big ugly pottle of glue and a well used brush. "No way!" I thought. Yes, that's the norm in China. regardless of whether you're in a big modern city or in a rural town, that's how you put stamps on.