H1N1 and a decision
on Tina's Journal (China), 22/Oct/2009 10:52, 34 days ago
I was asked by the college if I wanted the H1N1 vaccine. It has been available in China for a few weeks. After some deliberation with my colleagues and friends I decided to accept the offer. Today on the college campus the people from the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) turned up giving vaccinations to some teachers and those students who where entitled to it, basically the class monitors who have more contact with the most students! So, this morning I received the vaccination and was told I could possibly have some side effects over the next three days. Touch wood I feel OK so far! I have been told many people now have H1N1 in Simao. Of course, if I do get it I will be put into isolation and not be allowed out. Last week, I was told to move from my room on the 5th floor of my building as they wanted to use this floor for H1N1 cases. I obediently moved 'my home' to another floor only to be told the next day that I didn't have to move after all as the CDC had decided to use another building! I was VERY annoyed. The next day I moved 'home' again, back to the 5th floor. I do prefer it here as it is slightly quieter a feels more private than the other floors. Two young volunteers who are working in Simao No1 Middle school went to Shanghai for a few days during the mid autumn festival. On their return they were told they could not go out for 10 days, despite not having any symptoms of any kind. I personally felt this to be discrimination as every person from Simao who has been away and returned is not expected to stay in. Unfortunately, I believe they were treated like this only because they are 'foreigners'!!Other news this week is that I made a decision to only do a one year placement in China, which means I will leave at the beginning of January. I am enjoying the work and feel there is still so much I could do next year, however, because of many different personal reasons, one of which is finances, I am going back to live in Sardinia. I feel quite excited at going back home and look forward to help run the family business, teach, possibly do more studying and pursue other hobbies. I felt guilty when I informed the Director of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-President of the college and VSO Programme Office. It means they will need to find another volunteer as they were expecting me to stay at least two years. I feel sad at leaving some friends behind too, especially Gao Lin and Jiang Yun Qin in the photo. My non Chinese friends I feel I will see again but I am not sure when I will see my other friends again. It is not easy for them to get visa's to visit Europe, I do hope to come back to visit China again though. So, I only have two and half months left now and there's still work to do before then!