Lab Made ice cream

This places serves ice cream made-to-order...with liquid nitrogen!

I chose the purple rice flavor.  I really enjoyed it...just sweet enough for my taste.  Texture is different than other "gourmet" ice cream--not creamy or smooth--but delicious nonetheless.

Let's do the eight clap!

I just signed the letter of acceptance today.  Starting PhD program at UCLA this fall.  

I am so very grateful to everyone who helped to get me here.  Thanks!  This is indeed exciting.  It's taking me a while to come to terms with what all this means.  I am really happy.  Ecstatic.  But because I am who I am, I've been a little busy freaking out over what's to come.  Hahaha.  But instead of screaming "OMG what have I done," I'm going to do a happy dance today.  Hee hee.

Oh, I can't wait to do the eight clap at the next football game!  Go Bruins!

Bucket list: Doctor's visit

I know that's a silly bucket list item.  But I had to check it out.  For research purposes.  Hahaha.  Then I can actually say I've had personal experience in another country's health care system.  lol

Step 1: Call the phone appointment line.  You will likely get an appointment 2 days later.  Yes, you have to wait 2 days to see the doctor to alleviate symptoms that will probably be much better by the time of your appointment.  I guess the point is to let the doctor deliver the good news.

Step 2: On the day of your appointment, you have to bring your HK ID, Staff ID, and form 181.  This form is endorsed by someone at the school (I don't know what she does) and the form entitles me to free visit at the staff clinic.  DO NOT forget this form.

Step 3:  Find the staff clinic.  9th floor of old building.  Or is it new?

Step 4: Check in.  This is when you have to present your two IDs plus 181 form.

Step 5.  Two measurements--blood pressure and weight.  Then you're directed to sit here.

Step 6: Have you 4 minute visit with doctor.  "What's wrong with you?"  "Let me listen to your lungs"  "Do you have a fever?"  "I'll prescribe drug A and drug B.  Do you want drug C?"  And then you walk out with a prescription.

Step 7: Take prescription to main pharmacy.  The trick is to drop it off and come back waaaaay later.

Step 8: Probably make another phone appointment.  You get enough meds for 4 days.  Yes, 4.  Which means it might be a good idea to schedule the next appointment (which would be in 2 days), just in case you still don't feel well after you have gone through your meds.  

Takeaways:

1) You need to anticipate when you'll be sick--remember that next appointment is usually in 2 days--or be ready to pay a private doctor for an immediate appointment

2) You are expected to get well within 4 days (that's how long the meds last)

3)  Seeing the doctor is more for your mental peace of mind.  Just to say you went to the doctor.  For free.

I ended up seeing a private physician... and slept a lot and drank a lot of water.

Congee King

Tiff and I went to Congee King after Chinglish.  It was deeee-licious!  The congee base is made with fish broth.  And it had other small plates that you don't find everywhere.

Glutinous rice with pork and salted egg

Pig liver

Fish skin

My new obsession #3

Back to a childhood favorite.  It is all Nat's fault.  She needed to collect stamps to redeem a pan so we went to Mannings (local CVS-type store) and bought a bunch of stuff to make sure she had enough stamps.  Haribo earned double stamps so I grabbed a couple.  And two days later I went back to get a few more.  And then two days later...hahahaha.

Starbucks in HK

You can get full meals here in HK!  No, you will not get a review of their meal offerings from me.

SARS conference

March 12, 2003.  10 years to the day when the WHO issued a global alert for SARS.  The School of Public Health hosted a conference to reflect on what had happened 10 years ago with sessions on health policy, clinical information, and personal stories.  I was particularly intrigued by the personal stories and accounts from practitioners who were part of that challenging time in HK history.  It was a nice touch to invite people to share their experiences.

I guess you can say this is the group of who's who in the SARS crisis

This conference was covered by many media outlets and some panelists were interviewed afterwards

I talked to one of mom's students, who worked at the SARS ward at United Christian Hospital, and one of mom's colleagues, who was in charge of staffing nurses at the hospital, about their SARS experience.  They, and many others, are the true unsung heroes of SARS in HK.  They didn't get their pictures taken.  No one hosted dinners in their honor.  And when talking to these two aunties, it was clear to me that they weren't really in any mood to brag about things they did or relay stories from that time.  Because it was tough on them physically and mentally.  They would say that they were just doing their jobs and would rather leave things in the past.