My X-Ray

Posted on 9 April 2008 | 1 comment

One of my friends told me that she’d never been in a hospital apart from the time she was born. This awed me. I’ve been in and out of hospital randomly for not very serious reasons over the years, so that awed her.

Anyway, today was one of those days so I thought I would share. Having run out of cough syrup, I went down to the Village clinic on Saturday to get more, and the doctor instructed me to get a chest x-ray done if my cough persists over the next few days. Well, I’ve had bronchitis for two weeks now, finished my antibiotics yesterday and am as bad as ever, so I trotted off to the Hospital.

I tried to take a shortcut through the science-y buildings — you know, Woodward, those places — which I figured were close by the Hospital, but that didn’t work out so well. There are disadvantages to being a completely Arts-y Arts student: you don’t know the secret shortcuts in non-Arts areas. I ended up wandering around in a circle back to the main road and found the Hospital that way.

The Hospital is a very nice, quiet place that firmly tells you to switch your phone off before you enter the building. Understandable, as this can be very disruptive. I obeyed, and followed the signs to the Radiology department, introduced myself, gave my requisition form, my Care Card and my photo identification, and was given two hospital gowns in return with instructions to remove all clothes and jewellery that might contain metal.

The gowns were really rather confusing and I had to ask a second time which one was the inner garment and which was the outer. I’m sure Scrubs fans would have got it down pat in the first go. The inner garment was the blue patient gown that you see on TV sometimes, and it’s tied from the back. The outer garment was a regular jacket-like thing worn the normal way around. It was too big for me, of course, which was what caused the confusion, but I eventually dressed properly. Within a few minutes of emerging from the changing room, I was called to do my x-ray.

It was very anti-climatic. I hugged this board, took a deep breath, held it, and then stood profile to the board and repeated the breath-holding. I spent more time changing into my clothes than I did taking the x-ray.

My results will be sent to the clinic in about a week’s time. In the meantime, I’m debating whether to go down to the clinic tomorrow or not. I really, really need to do work on some papers, but I’m also really, really tired of coughing. The problem is that they may not be able to do anything until they get my results (or they would’ve done something else by now), in which case I will waste several hours. On the other hand, I don’t want to get worse.

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Posted in Wellness

Excess Meal Dollars

Posted on 8 April 2008 | Comments Off on Excess Meal Dollars

I checked the amount of money left on my meal card today. (To do this, simply ask the person processing your card at the register to check for you.)

I have just under $800 left. If I hadn’t bought my $3-something lunch, it would be just over $800. Unfortunately, I can’t get my money back in cash. I can, however, get it transferred to a UBC Food Services gift card as long as I submit a request in writing by the end of term. I guess I won’t be making lunch next year.

A sign on the door of the office in the Vanier caf told me to go to the UBC Food Services website. There is supposedly a form available for students with excess meal points. Unfortunately, I’m having one of those days when I just can’t find what they’re talking about. Anyone else having any luck?

—

9th April: One of my friends helped me find it. Here it is, for anyone who is as lost as me: form for transfer of meal points (.pdf file).

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Posted in Residence Life

Yet another rant on China and on being Chinese

Posted on 8 April 2008 | 3 comments

People from the US have told me how much they hate it when others make gross generalisations and say horrible things like, “Americans must be stupid. Just look at their president.”

Well, tell you what. I hate it when people say sweeping things like, “China is an evil country because it is communist. [We don’t even need to talk about Chinese people’s opinions because they’re brainwashed too.]” Not only can I put forth an argument that this political analysis is off the mark, but it really, really upsets me. It upsets me when people take this superior moral stance, quoting whatever they hear and passing judgment, without ever even trying to understand where another country is coming from.

I admit: I get defensive over China. But you know, I used to be like that too. I listened to western viewpoints regarding China because I thought they were more detached and therefore more objective. It’s like how I didn’t believe individuals were the best judges of their own character. As far as I was concerned, China’s opinions were too emotional and unreliable. This included China’s feelings about the Yakusuni Shrine. I took Japan’s position on the demand for an apology regarding WWII — China is making too big of a deal.

Until I thought how I would feel if it were any other country. Pick two names out of a hat. Two countries in any other continent. Let the war replay. Let the debate replay. I would be so angry.

Studying modern Chinese history in a British school in post-handover Hong Kong was one of my most confusing experiences ever, a confusion that still continues. It’s the art of sorting through a pile of western, anti-Chinese comments and another pile of defensive, pro-Chinese ones. Which one is right — or is the truth closer to something in between the two poles?

They shouldn’t pass judgment if they don’t even want to understand.
Am I being too defensive? What if they’re right and I’m being unreasonable?
But what if they’re not? What if I’m right and they really aren’t willing to listen?

China is not changing fast enough. / Don’t rush China so much; don’t be so harsh. It is changing and it will keep changing. Let them change slowly.
Criticism is the most effective way of changing China. / Listening, coaxing and concessions would be more effective.
Regardless of what they say, they have a terrible human rights record. So many people’s rights are being sacrificed because China is taking so long to change. / It can’t change overnight. As terrible as this sounds, as long as it is changing bit by bit, how much more can you realistically expect?
They should have democracy. / If democracy is so natural, China will eventually get there anyway. Why rush — and potentially ruin — the natural progress? And do you believe that democracy is superior because you’ve seriously analysed several different political systems and have reasons for thinking that is best, or because you just accept what you’re told?

I don’t even know what I’m asking for anymore.

3 Comments

Posted in International

A UBC Legend

Posted on 6 April 2008 | Comments Off on A UBC Legend

This is UBC’s finest and only ghost story. That is — it would be, if it involved any ghosts. So let me adjust that.

This is UBC’s finest and only mythical creature story. That is — it would be, if the creatures were mythical. Many people believe that they are, but in truth, these creatures are very much living, breathing entities.

This is the story of UBC’s little-known, legendary lint bobbles.

Lint bobbles?

Yes, I should have warned you about them earlier. You won’t be needing this knowledge for much longer with only three weeks of rez life left. But mark my word: You’ll be glad you heard about them come September when you move back in.

So. Lint bobbles. Look fairly harmless. Grey balls of dust, that’s what they look like. Occasionally come in dirty red colours too. Strands of grey dust and dirt hanging from their sides sometimes. Easily collapsible. Can be found breeding in laundry rooms — specifically, in dryers — but can also be found everywhere.

Here is how they work.

After breeding about for so-and-so many tumble dries, they decide they’re ready to leave the warmth of their tumble drier. A batch of wet clothes come in. Occasionally a lint sheet. The person does not clean their breeding site (i.e. the lint catcher thingymabob at the front or back of the drier). Lint bobbles happily attach themselves to the clothes. Of course they don’t cling to clothes in great big lumps — that would be too obvious. No, lint bobbles are smarter than that. They send off little strands of themselves. Fairly unnoticeable. The unwitting victim removes clothes — also without cleaning the breeding site — and then leaves with baby lint bobbles stuck to their clothes.

At night, they strike. The lint bobbles get up and walk all over the room, hanging in places you would never see them in unless you were looking. Inside your lampshade. Between your keyboard keys. Of course, they’re fairly harmless to human beings. At most, they’ll give you a constant sneeze. Unless they decide to destroy you and you inhale a whole army of them in your sleep, but I haven’t heard of any such cases happening here at UBC.

Then again, not many people know about lint bobbles…

But you do. You know about them now. And now that you know about them, you must learn how to defend yourself against the possibility of inhaling a giant grey dustball that resembles tumbleweed in shape and size. (And against little bits of grey dropping off your sleeves every time you move around in class.)

It’s all really very simple. Just clean out the lint box in the front of tumble driers after you’re done drying (and before, in case the person before you didn’t think of it). Throw the lint bobbles into the bin. Save your fellow unwitting human beings from these little creatures. Be a superhero.

If everyone did this, then we’d only have our own little lint bobbles to dispose of and the world would be a happier place.

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Posted in Residence Life

Being a UBC Blogger

Posted on 4 April 2008 | 2 comments

Someone asked me, “What does it feel like to have other people come up to you and say they’ve read your blog?”

It’s not the first time I’ve been asked something similar to that. Every now and then I’ll be having a conversation with someone and they’ll suddenly repeat something that I said here. I’m always a little stunned. Don’t worry — I’m not creeped out. I don’t think that you are stalking me. Actually, I’m quite touched that you’re reading this. It’s always gratifying to know that my blog is achieving its purpose. I want people to read my blog — and if it helps, I’ll be even more glad.

I admit it: I love writing. That’s why I leapt at the opportunity to blog for UBC students, particularly my fellow first-years. Let me reemphasise that point: I’m writing for UBC students. I write about my experiences as a first-year student, both good and bad, because I really hope that it will resonate with other people, or at the very least entertain them. Or if it doesn’t — if what I say seems really wrong or inaccurate — then I’m keen to hear other opinions. I’m not writing here just because I like it.

Believe me, when I want to do that, I write plenty of stories and poems that will never see the light of day.

Do I dislike talking about my blog in person?

It’s true I don’t mention it very often. I’m not great at self-promotion; I much prefer it when other people bring it up. Any short silences don’t mean that I’m offended, though — it’s usually me trying to reorientate myself. An unexpected reference to one of my blog posts is like the continuation of a conversation I wasn’t aware that we were having. I just need to remember what the conversation was about before I continue it. After I’ve found my bearings, I’m quite happy to talk.

Am I creeped out by how much you know about me?

At first I did find it mildly unsettling to have people know random details about my life. Then I got used to it. I’m the one putting myself out here anyway. If I don’t want you to know something, I’m not going to talk about it — and there are some aspects of my life I am fiercely private about.

Being honest is scary. I started out my blog determined to be all peppy and happy, until I hit this phase when I thought I didn’t belong at UBC. It was scary admitting that UBC isn’t this perfect place for me — I thought there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t as happy as everyone else seems to be. Turns out lots of people felt the same when they first moved here. Admitting UBC isn’t perfect was the first step to realizing that I have to work really hard to make a place for myself, but that it is possible. It’s kind of sad it took me so long to settle in and deal, but on the up side, if I can do it, then anyone can! It’s normal to take some time to adjust to a new school setting or country or living on your own.

And so I blab a lot and put myself out there for you to make judgments about, but hey. I figure that you would find out what I’m like if you met me in person anyway. This way, you’re a step ahead of me and we can focus on you when we do meet, no?

P.S. Sneak peak of the next post: The rarely heard legend of the magical creatures that haunt UBC’s laundry rooms is about to be revealed…

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Posted in Involvement / Leadership