July 10

Sick again, but this time I caught it early. I went to a clinic and bought an antibiotic right away. The medicine cost me 7 Yuan, which is just over $1. Going to the clinic was a much better, and cleaner, experience than when I went to the hospital and the doctor was friendly, sympathetic, and helpful. All I had to do was point to my throat and say “this no good” and “can you give me an antibiotic.” Often simple language is really all we need.

By the way, Wuhan is infamously known as one of the four hottest cities in China. How do I know this? Just about everyone I have met here has told me so, but I am also experiencing it first-hand. Today’s temperature was officially only 33c (92f), but with the humidity at about 90% the weather online says it “feels like” 45c (113f). Hot. And in this heat I decided to explore Wuhan on foot—maybe not my most brilliant moment, but the visit to the Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan’s most prominent and iconic building, was pretty cool.