Health and hospitals

IF YOU ask your local doctor back home, he'll tell you to avoid tap water, street vendors, open-air markets, local meat, restaurants and general air inhalation while you're in China. That may minimise the risk, but you're going to have to make a decision when you come here - you can either spend the whole time sitting quietly in your apartment drinking bottled water sent from home, or you can accept that, just like in the West, you may get sick. In this section, you can read about the general health situation in China, the choice between traditional and Western medicine, hospitals and how you can expect your school to react if you get sick. For more city-specific information, check out the health advice in the City Guides section.

It's no secret - most Western cities are generally cleaner than most Chinese cities. There are probably a few reasons for this. First, Chinese law with regard to littering is not particularly strict and many Chinese people think nothing of dropping rubbish in the street. Second, differences in city zoning laws mean that industrial facilities are often closer to residential and commercial areas than is generally allowed in Western countries. Third, buildings in China generally don't receive an exterior makeover as often those in the West and the building materials are often cheaper, which means they deteriorate more quickly. If you really can't stand the idea of a little dirt, I hear Canada has some pretty clean cities, maybe you can go there and teach English. The fact is that a little dirt won't kill you (do we need to include a disclaimer here?).

There's a chance you'll catch a flu within a few weeks of arriving in China, because different parts of the world have different strands and variations of influenza, to which you won't have developed an immunity. Schools are generally very protective of their foreign staff, so you can expect to be saturated in attention if you do get sick. Most schools will give you the necessary sick leave so you can rest and recover from an illness. Your school staff will probably want to take you to hospital, even if you just have a case of the flu. At a Chinese hospital, you may be surprised by how quick they are to administer IV fluids for minor illnesses. This is a good, quick fix and, unless you have a strong fear of needles, is a wise way to go. Make sure you're very clear with the Chinese medical staff about any allergies you have, as the saline solution they administer usually includes some anti-biotics. You'll notice that Chinese hospitals are generally a little older and don't smell so strongly of disinfectant as Western hospitals do, but rest assured that the medical staff are trained and understand the concept of sterilisation. If you're really concerned about sanitary levels in Chinese hospitals, major cities have large, expensive, foreign hospitals with internationally experienced staff.

You can also try traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional medicines and doctors are still common and highly respected in China. It's really not just for hippies - you may be surprised by how fast and effective some traditional Chinese remedies can be. Just try to keep an open mind during the treatment process.

On the matter of drinking water - the water you get from the tap is not guaranteed to be clean, and you probably won't get very far trying to sue the water bureau if you do get sick from drinking it. Most Chinese people boil tap water for drinking or have bottles of purified water delivered. Many schools include a water dispenser as part of the furniture in an apartment and purified water is much cheaper in China than it is in the West. Tap water is usually fine for brushing teeth, however, so you needn't worry that you'll be "roughing it" for your whole time in China.