In China to stay!

“Whatever you do, don't fall sick in China,” my host, a childhood friend warned.

I woke up in a small room with white walls. I was lying on one of the two beds in the room. On the other side of the room, an elderly Chinese woman lay on the other bed. A young uniformed woman was checking on the old woman. I felt way better to be lying on a hospital bed but the throbbing pain on my left chin affirmed why I was there. The young woman left the room on noticing I was awake. A while later, the small room was filled with hospital staff in both pink and white uniforms. They all wanted to take a photo with me. I was the first black patient they have ever had and probably the only black person they will ever see.

I had flown in 8 days earlier through Guangzhou,Southern China. The weather in Guangzhou was relatively warm unlike Zhengzhou in Central China where I was headed. In early January, Zhengzhou was at the peak of winter. I kept extremely warm but my tooth cavities succumbed to the chilling cold. I did fall sick; 7 hours away from the capital and several phone calls away from any English speaking doctor. I took to the internet and searched for local hospitals and made numerous calls. A breakthrough came when I was forwarded to a doctor who could speak English.

There was a problem however, my body could not respond to any sedatives. The fourth shot of sedatives had almost convinced the dentist but I had shot up from the bed in pain at the attempt to extract the tooth. How did I get here?
3 days into my visit in China, my host had convinced me to take up a 2 day job in Dengzhou 7 hours by bus from Zhengzhou. The job had us dress up in Chinese traditional costumes and just greet guests at a real estate expo.

Customarily in China, visitors are treated to a big meal as a way of welcoming them to the,community. An array of pork, chicken, mutton and beef prepared variably were served alongside vegetables and drinks. We voluntarily ate but we were almost forced to drink bai jiu; the traditional white wine with a distinct smell. We were informed that the wine drinking was an important culture immersion procedure. I took 2 shots as a show of courtesy. The 2 shots had be cheered at and I could swear I felt the Great wall of China crumbling.

The reason I couldn't have my tooth extracted was the 2 shots of bai jiu still in my system. I waited in pain for 5 days while still smiling for the cameras in the hands of curious Chinese people.