CCAOM goes to China

Farewell from Chengdu

2009-06-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Somehow in the past few weeks, the powers that be in China decided to restrict access to our CCAOM blog…which has meant no stories and no photos. So, I decided to send this via email in the hopes it can be posted within Canada. Our time is quickly coming to a close here. Jonna and Natalie left for the airport and their return flight to Canada this morning as they will be writing the D.TCM exam on May 29th. They’ve been working really hard preparing it alongside our regular studies, so best of luck to them on Friday! The rest of us (Jason, Michael, Eliz and myself) have only one day of clinic and classes left, which is almost unbelievable. Tomorrow brings not only a completion to our program in China, but to our five years of study together in Canada. It’s a bittersweet goodbye we’ll be saying when we leave here, and an exciting beginning to what’s next. For some of us, it will mean preparing for licensing exams in the Fall, for others it will mean embarking on a professional practice upon our return…imagine that…ha! We will all be heading our separate ways over the next week. In the short term, Mike will be returning to Victoria, Jason to the Squamish area, while Eliz is heading to London and I will be going to Tibet. Last night the University and Hospital Administration hosted an amazing graduation for the six of us. There were congratulatory speeches and toasts, beautiful framed diplomas, a delicious dinner and entertainment (the President of the University sang Karaoke!). We had a fantastic time and felt that it was really a celebration of all that our time here and the past five years have come to symbolize for each of us. Because I can’t post this myself, I’m not able to send many photos…here are a few I thought you might like to see.

Jonna celebrating her last day of school with a little dance

Natalie trying to pack herself into Lesley's suitcase for the trip home

The 'girls' enjoying a final foot massage together

Lesley receiving some TLC at Dr. Wu Jie's clinic

Photo with the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) staff and all our translators

The gang with our diplomas!

Photo with the Hospital and University Administration, our Professors the FAO and our translators at Graduation

Jason signing our Graduation banner

Mike, Marianne and Jason at our Graduation dinner

This has truly been an unforgettable experience that we are incredibly grateful to have had. We look forward to sharing more tales of our time here once we're settled back home.

Man zou,
Lesley

Upward Rising Yang

2009-05-11T01:32:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, our time in China has been devoted to studying Chinese Medicine. However, in keeping with the underlying principle of balancing Yin and Yang, we have from time to time, needed to blow off a little steam and clear our minds of the reams of herbs and formulas packed in there. One such endeavor took Nat and I to the first ever 'Zebra Music Festival' held in Chengdu over the May Long Weekend (in honour of workers around the world). The festival was 3 days in length and was in part intended as a positive way to bring people together in acknowledgment of the devastation suffered from the earthquake one year ago. When we entered the concert site, we were amazed. We could have been at any (high end) festival in Canada. There were 3 huge stages, a food market, tenting area, non-stop bands and artists performing and THOUSANDS of people (young and old). We had a fantastic afternoon and night there....one of the most memorable days, without a doubt. Take a look.....

Main stage at the concert....fit with 3 massive screens for the reams of onlookers.

a diversity of people enjoying the concert, including some security guards and anarchists...what a combination.

A group of bohemian drummers playing a live set to a film camera; Nat and I feeling the vibe

The centre stage crowd thickens as the headliners come to the stage.

Perhaps the highlight of the day....watch closely as you may see someone you know ;)

Okay, back to the books.
Zai Jian,
Lesley

2009-05-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

Steve and Les about to feast on fresh noodles.
Bu yao La Jao!!

Natalie

Searching Through the Bamboo ;?

2009-05-04T03:23:00.000-07:00

Our adventure together really began when we all met up at the airport for our flieght to Bei jing. It was a little over a month since I had seen my Peng You-s' Lesley, Trudy,Natalie, Steve ( not a chinese med student but has been listening carefully), Jonna, Jason, Mike, Ian, and Maryanne. We were all arriving from diffrent parts of the world. Bei jing was a 3 day trip to help us adjust, and a good place to warm up to china. We visited the Great Wall, visited the Forbidden Palace, walked threw palace gardens, and checked out the Wang Fu Jing Market ;)! The city was busy being covered in red for the Chinese New Year. Jonna and I traveled to Lan Zhou for the Chinese New Year. We played cards at the airport enjoying/savoring our popcorn, and finally memorized "Xin Nian Kuai le!". Yes, we high-fived! Lan Zhou is where met up with our TCM sister Yan. It was New years day, and as we left the airport in Lan Zhou, it began to snow! Yan's hometown was exploding with colorful decorations and fireworks. It was strange to see children that young playing with fireworks. We learned that a ban on fireworks was lifted off of big cities this year. Sooo people were basically going ape crazy over lighting them. We celebrated new years eve eating at a beautiful restraunt with Yan's family. It had floor to ceiling windows and were able to watch the fireworks and street action. I presented a bottle of Tuaca to the gentlemen in the family to celebrate. Then they introduced me to Bai Jiu. Bai jiu is strong! All of Yan's family also had a double shot glass of tuaca. When I presented the bottle to them I tried to say " Strong enough for men, and sweet enough for the ladies" in mandrin. I did not pull it off the first time I spoke, but 3x later I presented the bottle again and did it right! It may seem ridiculious to get so happy about that but, easy tasks can be exhausting when you try to speak mandrin. I found that out my first 3weeks in Chengdu. Setting up our fantastic apartment was easy thanks to Yan. It has been a wonderful retreat from the daytime hustle. Our neighborhood is full of trees that line a river, and almost all of the locals are friendly. Hmmmmm, I forgot to mention that all of us having been laughing alot through out the entire trip together. Jason and Jonna are my current roomates, and we have group movie nights at our house. We have all learned how to play Ma Jiang and sometimes play it in our free time. Ok, Gotta get into some more adventures here! - Eliz

2009-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

2009-04-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

It is about time that I have added an blog entry...as we are moving into our 14th week in China.
We have been immersed in the Chinese culture, experiencing delicious food, tea, mah zhong, tai qi, friendship, and of course - the traditional medicine.
The language has provided us with some entertainment. All of us have improved in mandarin, yet there is still an significant amount of pointing and charades. We have been offered free, one on one, language lessons by the school....but like these blog entries, we've been slow on getting involved.
Our days in the hospital have been action packed...that is, us sitting still and absorbing the swirl of patients all around. So far, we have shadowed Doctors in rheumatology, respiratory, cardiology, gynecology, digestion and neurology. We will make it through each department with the opportunity to follow several Doctors in each. Western medicine and traditional Chinese have been integrated in many cases. Patients get sent for diagnostic tests and come back the same hour with the results of CT scan, ECG, ultrasounds, etc. It is amazing. It has been incredible to follow such experienced Doctors. I have really expanded my herbal knowledge, especially with modifying formulas and dosages.
Our time out of the hospital has been spent wandering around Chengdu. It is a wonderful city. The locals are champions of lounging in outdoor teahouses and parks. This city is known for its' relaxed pace. It is a nice balance to the typically busy student life.
We have enjoyed the occassional badminton in the park and outdoor ping pong games. Some of us have also frequented the mechandise markets. We are talking numerous blocks of warehouse stores where bardering is the norm, and low prices not hard to find.
Now for something I find humerous here....The street cleaning trucks belt out the tune HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Take care all.

Natalie

The hospital and more...

2009-03-30T21:46:00.000-07:00

Spring in Chengdu...

Thought I'd post a few pics and videos about what's been happening lately here in Chengdu. A couple of weeks ago, the hospital opened a new department which is the first of its kind in China, specializing in 'latent diseases'. The director, Dr. Wu, practices classical Chinese Medicine and developed this department from the perspective of 'disease prevention'. It's an impressive modern facility resembling something more like we'd see in the West. Patients are treated in semi-private areas on new massage tables with other comforts not available in the outpatient clinics of the hospital. There are 'VIP' rooms set up with leather chairs and individual stereo systems! In addition to acupuncture, moxabustion, tuina and herbal medicine, this department offers treatments such as herbal medicinal steams and baths. Not surprisingly, for this kind of care and attention the patients are charged more.

As visiting international students, we were asked to attend the opening ceremony, which was a gala affair fit with government officials, tv cameras and reporters. Eliz gave a great speech on behalf of our group and the tv cameras filmed Michael getting a consultation from one of the departments' Doctors.

Eliz addressing the crowd of Officials, Doctors, Nurses, Students and the Hospital Administration. Michael having a consult amidst Sichuan television cameras in the new clinic.

Nursing students...hmmm.; the foyer waiting area for the new department

One of the acupuncture treatment rooms; Nat pointing to the 'Ghost Crying' moxa treatment we have learned about here.

Some of us posing with Dr. Wu (Director), Wil Morris (President of AOMA), and Mrs. Liu (in charge of International Students for the hospital); moxa on ginger slices - commonly used treatment in this department.

Back to our time in the hospital....For the most part, the outpatient clinics are amazingly busy. There are crowds that hover around the Doctor's desks and lineups of people waiting for their turn out in the hallway. None of the clinics seem to be as busy as the Gynecology department. One of the Doctors that we observed had 3-4 students interns (usually Masters students) simultaneously doing patient intakes, which then have a follow-up consult with the Doctor (which lasts mere minutes). The Doctor confirms the intake information, pulse, tongue, and diagnosis and then verbally tells the intern the name of the formula (and/or modifications) for the patient, which is then written out with any additional instructions by the students. It goes like this for 4-6 hours without a break, and then again, in the afternoon. Here are a couple of photos....

One of the Doctors in the Respiratory department was nice enough to let me videotape an intake with one of her patients. Unfortunately, the sound isn't great, but you'll get the idea. The translator, Xi Tao, is one of our favorites....a Master's student in the Hepatology department. The next video is one of the foyer of the hospital where all of the herbs are dispensed.

Zai jian from the gang,
Lesley

An Intro to life in China

2009-03-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we've finished our first month of hospital internship and lectures here in China. It has been amazing...from the fact that we are living in Chengdu, to witnessing and participating in the treatment of patients (sometimes up to 50 in a morning!) at one of the most renowned hospitals in China, to learning about techniques and therapies that we've never even heard of in Canada. We are definitely going to return home as more confidant, knowledgeable and experienced practitioners of TCM. All of that, alongside the surprises and challenges that come with integrating into a different culture, language and cuisine. There has been a lot of laughter and questioning looks over the past 2 months. Take a look at some of the photos and videos below.... I'll leave more story telling to the others.

Man Zou,
Lesley

Ling Zhi (Reishi Mushroom), Wu Shao She (black striped snake), and Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps - $30,000 a kilo!) at one of the largest herbal markets in China.

New Year's Day at the Wen Shu Temple in Chengdu, and our vegetarian feast afterward!

more market herbs and our friendly neighborhood grill...pick whatever you want and it's grilled in minutes (make sure to include 'bu wei jing' (no msg) and 'yi dian la jiao' (just a little hot pepper) for a buck or two.

Temple on Qingcheng Shan (Taoist Mountain); typical signage found at tourist locations; giant Buddha near Le Shan

Facial paralysis patients receiving treatment....it makes up approximately 90% of what is treated in the acupuncture department!

Baby Tuina! This peaceful little one is the exception to the rule of very very unhappy babies being massaged.

Welcome to our blog.

2009-02-24T03:24:00.000-08:00

On January 18th, 2009 students from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Victoria B.C. left for a semester of study at the Chengdu University of TCM in Sichuan province, China. This blog is a collective account of our experiences in the hospital, and our explorations of China for people back home to enjoy.

Zai jian.

Ian, Lesley, Eliz, Jonna, Jason, Natalie, Mike, Dave, Kailie, Trudy