Winter Storms in China

Some of you have been asking about the big snows that have been going on in China. I am far enough south that I have not seen snow. Thanks goodness, because it is has been cold enough for me as it is. The bad thing for the mainland Chinese people is that this is at the beginning of their new year travel. I have heard reports that somewhere between 200,000 - 600,000 people were stranded at one train station trying to get home to their families. Most of the factory workers migrate from many miles away. The New Year holiday is the only time they get off all year. So imagine being stuck in a city many hundred of miles away from your family during a holiday time that is as big as our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years combined. Not so fun.

Need a CT?

Here in Macau you can just walk into a Radiology clinic and get what ever type of test you want as long as you are willing to pay for it. I came across one of these clinic during a walking explorations(some people may have called it getting lost, but not me.)

Letter in the mail

Kim told me that I got a letter in the mail from Johns Hopkins yesterday. I have been accepted to the school of public health. Some of you may already know, but I am applying to Preventive Medicine Residencies, so that I can get my masters of public health. It is good that I have been accepted to Johns Hopkins school of public health, but I also need to be accepted to the Preventive Medicine Residency. I should hear from them towards the end of the month. I have already been accepted to Emory's Preventive Medicine Residency. So I have to decided which opportunity is better. From the interview process, Johns Hopkins' education would be better. But their salary is rather low and even with working part time on the side I would have to take out more loans or find another way of paying for living expenses in Baltimore. Keep this process in your prayers, as Kim and I try to discern God's will for our family.

Dinner at the Humphries

Last night I had dinner at Dr. Humphries' flat. He has two boys, ages 5 and 3. They are 21 months apart just like my girls are. Because of the cold weather they had not been outside to play much this past week. So needless to say they were a little wound up. It reminded me of how my brothers and I must have been growing up, full of energy. His wife made American style chili and baked potatoes. After dinner we all played Cranium together. The staff finds if funny that there is another Dr. Humphries here, we have to remind them that I am singular and the other doctor is plural. Interesting enough, Dr. Humphries has a brother named Mark.

People of Hope Medical

I barrowed this picture from Dr. Place's webblog. It has most of the doctors from the clinic in it. Some of the Chinese people are recent graduates of the program, the others are current residents or staff. I have placed a link to his blog in my list of interesting web sites. The 3 western doctors present in the picture are from left to right, Dr. Chris Place, Dr. Matt Humphries, and Dr. Keith Morgan. The other American physician not present is Dr. Dean Sides.

Chicken and Green Peppers

So I realized that I thought to take the picture after I ate my meal, but word to the wise, be careful of a dish that has 3-4 times as many red hot peppers as pieces of chicken. The menu at E.S. Kimo (pronounced Eskimo) was in both Chinese and English. I think something must have been lost in the translation to English, because even though the name of the dish included green peppers, none were to be found when the plate came to my table. After two bites of chicken my lips were tingling. I am sure the locals in the restaurant had to be laughing inside a bit to see a westerner sweat like I did.

The Hill to My Flat

So I have learned that I do not stay in an apartment, but a flat. It reminds me of watching British t.v. My wife reminded me that I promised to show a picture of the hill to the Baptist Mission Compound where my flat is located. Below is a picture only half way up the hill. An old Portuguese fort is actually at the very top. The compound is just below the fort. The other picture is the view from just outside the gate of the Mission Compound.