More autumn leaves are falling on the ground this week. I think I'm incredibly lucky to be here during autumn, to see the leaves change their colours and fall onto the ground. Spring and autumn are probably my favourite seasons; just a pity that we can't see them back home in Singapore.
Anyway, main highlight of the day: Coca-cola industrial visit!
Took at 40-minute bus ride to Coca-cola Beverages Pte. Ltd. No idea where it was, but it took that long. Talked to Yuhaw about random things all the way, which was weird because I was supposed to be sleeping throughout the bus ride instead.
Anyway, we were first brought to this viewing room, where we were sat down and made to watch a short video on the history of Coca-cola, just like how we usually sit potential freshmen down and make them watch an introductory video of Ngee Ann.
Was given a bottle of Coca-cola after watching the short video.
We then went to watch the production of Coca-cola through a corridor above the actual production area, from the drink and into the bottle and then to the delivery area.
Yuchuan and Coca-cola through the ages.
The trip ended after this and we all had to make our way back to WUST. It was strange how it was so short, but I guess we shouldn't expect too much either. Another 40-minutes worth of bus rides and I really slept this time.
On the way to lunch after the Coca-cola visit, I saw something interesting. This two people you see in the photo, are actually the local students' postmen (I assume). With this bike overflowing with deliveries, they actually deliver the students' packages. Obviously, unlike Singapore, they apparently don't get motor bikes, helmets, uniforms and metal containers to properly store the items.
Had our first ever presentation in Wuhan after lunch, for OIE, about the differences between Singapore and China. The lecturer seemed quite confused at some of the class' points in the slides, but I guess one really does have to experience it before you can actually understand our viewpoint.
Sheila's stomach has been pretty unwell the last couple of days, so Zhenzhao, two local students and I finally brought her to the school clinic to get a diagnosis after our OIE presentations.
The strange thing about clinics here is that before they do anything to you, be it tests, check-up or examination, they actually need you to make your way down to the counter downstairs to pay, and then return to the examination room to do whatever they need to do. Rather inconvenient for sick people, eh?
A temporary medical record for Sheila.
Local student Shen Ping and Zhenzhao looking at Sheila's medicine.
Turns out Sheila's severe stomach pains were due to constipation. Ended up having to buy lots of fruits and yoghurts for her to ease her bowels. At least it wasn't anything too serious, so all is well.
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Personal Reflection
Today was my first time ever at the school hospital/clinic, and I have to say it was pretty underwhelming. Healthcare in Singapore is probably world-class, with government-funded hospitals or private hospitals common around the island. Equipment is up to date and easily accessible, and doctors have at least their own office.
The doctor's office I went to today just seemed like a large open classroom, and the doctor was sitting at his own cubicle, a la a teacher's cubicle in a staff room. The examination bed didn't have a division for privacy or anything, it was just placed in a corner of the classroom.
The equipment in the examination room was pretty scarce too, as far as I can see. I guess because this is only an on-campus university hospital, not too much funds are provided for better medical equipment. It's strange, because shouldn't one put more thought into student welfare?
I've seen hospitals around when we're on our city tours or on our way to industrial visits, and most of them are just buildings that one would never notice as hospital if it wasn't stated. I asked the Malay girls at some point, because they couldn't read Mandarin and hence couldn't differentiate a hospital from any other building, if one of the buildings we saw was a hospital. They honestly couldn't tell.
Maybe I'm too used to the grand hospital buildings around Singapore, because the hospitals around Wuhan actually look just like motels to me.
