March 11, 2018, Sunday, Rain in Kathmandu
”生于忧患，死于安乐” is a saying in China. It means if you feel very safe and easy, you are going to die or fail; if you are alert to potential risks and difficulties, you can survive.
Today, we are going to fly to Kunming, China from Kathmandu, Nepal. Looking back at the 4 days we lived there, a lot disappointments. I underestimated the difficulties, hygiene problem, and pollution of this country. It was ten years ago, a friend told me how nice it was. Actually, the dust pollution is even worse than Delhi, India. The food and and water has potential risks too. David got a few times of diarrhea yesterday. He also got headache. I searched on line about Typhoid. His symptoms meets the most: headache, constipation, sore throat, diarrhea, feeling of nausea. OMG, if he got Typhoid, he might die. I asked him to see the doctor a few times, he refused me every time. 15,000 people died of Typhoid in 2015 in India. [David: I was vaccinated for Typhoid before this trip] He might have got it in India. I am also at risk too. I should be careful, washing hands is very important.
Luckily, David felt okay this morning after having some Chinese Medicine for cold and western medicine for diarrhea. His western habits can cause him troubles here. He assumes everything (glasses, spoons, forks) is clean, whereas I assume it is dirty and wipe it off. He also eats with his fingers, like toast or naan, which is dangerous because even if you wash your hands it is easy to touch something dirty. I got some phlegm in my throat this morning, so I had the Chinese herbs right away.
“You survive if you predict the potential problems and risks, you die if you underestimate them”. We did prepare well for our trip in India. David got a lot information from his Indian coworker. We chose the best season to travel and we lived in an expensive hotel. We only drank bottled water and even used it when we brushed our teeth. Therefore, we successfully prevented the risks and problems.
While at the airport, I searched the temperature of Kunming. It is chilly, only 17 degrees, I reminded David to wear his jacket. Suddenly, we heard thunder and saw pouring rain outside of the waiting room. David asked, “it is thundering and lightning, why are people still boarding? If it is in the US, the flight will be delayed”. “I hope I will not die on the way to China.” I was scared but I teased him. Then we boarded in the rain.
I suddenly thought about writing a will for my son, handwriting is better, because it counts even without witness. Who knows what will happen today or tomorrow. Just last month, my friend Lea almost died on the flight to Hawaii. One of the engines had a problem 1 hour before arriving to Honolulu. As they were on the Pacific Ocean, they could not land. The flight was shaking for whole hour and might get fire when landing. She told me the story on WeChat and my tears came out. Luckily, my friend survived. She does not fly as frequently as me…
I missed my son yesterday and texted him twice. He replied to me this morning. I got up with my back pain. David said that missing him gives me tension, and that tension always manifests there. This is an important year for him, the second year of high school. He must have a lot stress and taking many exams. Should I stay and support him in Beijing? I do not know. It seems he does not need me. Every time I ask him about taking care of him in Beijing, he refuses me. I do not know if it is what he really thinks.
The flight attendant asked me to turn off electronic devices now. So I have to stop writing. Hope our trip in Kunming will be uneventful…
Yanmei