It's beginning to get scary now. We've got flight details, and found out what events we'll be working at. I've been assigned to the rowing, canoeing and kayaking events. To be honest, I didn't even know that kayaking was an olympic sport, but there you go. And there's a chance that Britain could pick up the gold in the rowing events, so that'll add to a bit of excitement. The events run every day throughout the olympics, and will be taking place at the Olympics Rowing-Canoeing park. Should provide some relief from the heat of Central Asia in the middle of August though, which will be a welcome relief.
The flights meanwhile, involve a 13 hour trip (assuming I've worked out the time difference correctly), with a stop-over in Munich. Assuming I can get a laptop sorted and working, it seems like a good excuse to play Football Manager for 30 minutes, and then sulk for the remaining 12 and a half hours.
I seem to be circling the globe this year. Despite the fact the furthest abroad I've been is Italy, I'm flying to China later on, and then I've a trip to New York booked upon my return. You can't accuse me of letting my fear of flying rule my life.
Monday 21 April 2008
Wednesday 9 April 2008
Reasons to be cheerful
My left arm is a little numb as I write this. The reason for this is that I currently have immunisations for Hepatitis A & Typhoid fever swimming around in my system, following the doctor's visit this morning. Some marketing genius somewhere thought of the idea of combining the two though, so that's made life a little less painful.
Still, when I go to the doctor I like to feel a little reassured, knowing that I've done my part in avoiding horrible diseases. Unfortunately, I was also given a 4 page print-out of things that can kill me. Admittedly it's allowed me to cross a few shots of the list - I'm already immunised against Diptheria & Tetanus, whilst Hepatitis B can only be transmitted through shooting up or unprotected sex (and my girlfriend may have something to say about that). However, there's still Rabies, which is apparently invariably fatal once symptoms begin, but contained in rural areas. Japanese Encephalitis can only be found in rice fields, whilst Tick Encephalitis is only found on the border with Kazakhstan, Inner Mongolia & Heilogjiang. I'm not sure where the last place is, but apparently I should be safe in Beijing.
And then there's Malaria, which gets it's own page. Apparently only in the southern rural areas, antimalarial tablets are to be avoided at all possible, unless you plan on being bit by a Malaria carrying mosquito. Does anyone? The doctor said the best bet was to buy a mosquito spray, and almost bathe in it, and run to the nearest hospital if bitten.
Unfortunately, this was only the horrible disease section of the list, and took only the first two pages. I've also got to look out for Travellers Diarrhoea. There's a moderate risk, and usual advice applies (don't drink the water, make sure all food's cooked etc). There's also HIV. Apparently China has one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world, with a 100 fold increase in STI's over recent years. However, as said earlier, I fear my girlfriends wrath more than any horrible disease, so I should be okay there.
Schistosomiasis infections are on the increase in the Yangtze River valley, apparently caused by wading or swimming in fresh water. It's treatable, but I have no intention of contracting any disease that I can't pronounce.
Hand, foot & mouth disease is on the increase in Beijing, and is spread by person-to-person contact. This did concern me, until I saw the part that said it generally affects young children. The sympathetic side of me thought "Aww". The practical side of me breathed a sigh of relief.
Other diseases to look out for include: Dengue Fever (no vaccine), Angiostrongyliasis Meningitis (caused by eating undercooked snails - I should be safe), Avian Influenza (remember that?), Measles (I'm vaccinated), Meningitis C (again, vaccinated). Oh, and apparently Rabies is on the increase, and cases have been reported in Beijing after all. Maybe the vaccination would be a smart move...
If that list isn't bad enough, there's also a list of security advice from the Foreign Office. Tibet protests and riots are the obvious problems, and Tibet is to be avoided at all costs (especially without permission from the Chinese authorities). Run like hell from any demonstrations.
Thankfully, China is only a low threat from terrorists. Although we should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in public areas, but that's the same all over the planet.
Despite all this, apparently most visits are trouble free, and the main incidents requiring consular assistance involve lost or stolen passports.
And that, in probably the longest post that I've typed for this blog, is the comprehensive list of things that can kill me in China. And despite this, I'm still looking forward to it. Group photo, press conference & fundraising meeting this afternoon - more later.
Nick
Still, when I go to the doctor I like to feel a little reassured, knowing that I've done my part in avoiding horrible diseases. Unfortunately, I was also given a 4 page print-out of things that can kill me. Admittedly it's allowed me to cross a few shots of the list - I'm already immunised against Diptheria & Tetanus, whilst Hepatitis B can only be transmitted through shooting up or unprotected sex (and my girlfriend may have something to say about that). However, there's still Rabies, which is apparently invariably fatal once symptoms begin, but contained in rural areas. Japanese Encephalitis can only be found in rice fields, whilst Tick Encephalitis is only found on the border with Kazakhstan, Inner Mongolia & Heilogjiang. I'm not sure where the last place is, but apparently I should be safe in Beijing.
And then there's Malaria, which gets it's own page. Apparently only in the southern rural areas, antimalarial tablets are to be avoided at all possible, unless you plan on being bit by a Malaria carrying mosquito. Does anyone? The doctor said the best bet was to buy a mosquito spray, and almost bathe in it, and run to the nearest hospital if bitten.
Unfortunately, this was only the horrible disease section of the list, and took only the first two pages. I've also got to look out for Travellers Diarrhoea. There's a moderate risk, and usual advice applies (don't drink the water, make sure all food's cooked etc). There's also HIV. Apparently China has one of the most rapidly expanding HIV epidemics in the world, with a 100 fold increase in STI's over recent years. However, as said earlier, I fear my girlfriends wrath more than any horrible disease, so I should be okay there.
Schistosomiasis infections are on the increase in the Yangtze River valley, apparently caused by wading or swimming in fresh water. It's treatable, but I have no intention of contracting any disease that I can't pronounce.
Hand, foot & mouth disease is on the increase in Beijing, and is spread by person-to-person contact. This did concern me, until I saw the part that said it generally affects young children. The sympathetic side of me thought "Aww". The practical side of me breathed a sigh of relief.
Other diseases to look out for include: Dengue Fever (no vaccine), Angiostrongyliasis Meningitis (caused by eating undercooked snails - I should be safe), Avian Influenza (remember that?), Measles (I'm vaccinated), Meningitis C (again, vaccinated). Oh, and apparently Rabies is on the increase, and cases have been reported in Beijing after all. Maybe the vaccination would be a smart move...
If that list isn't bad enough, there's also a list of security advice from the Foreign Office. Tibet protests and riots are the obvious problems, and Tibet is to be avoided at all costs (especially without permission from the Chinese authorities). Run like hell from any demonstrations.
Thankfully, China is only a low threat from terrorists. Although we should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in public areas, but that's the same all over the planet.
Despite all this, apparently most visits are trouble free, and the main incidents requiring consular assistance involve lost or stolen passports.
And that, in probably the longest post that I've typed for this blog, is the comprehensive list of things that can kill me in China. And despite this, I'm still looking forward to it. Group photo, press conference & fundraising meeting this afternoon - more later.
Nick
Friday 4 April 2008
90 days to go...
Lying awake last night, I worked out that today marks to 90 days to go point (fairly accidentally I worked this out - I was trying to work out whether or not I'll see the series finale of Dr Who before I fly out. As long as there's no delays, I should just make it). Flying out from Heathrow (in theory, given recent events) on July 3rd, the deadline seems frighteningly close now - something that has made me step up the shorthand efforts, and made me think further about learning a bit of mandarin before I go. Annoyingly, I'm just about to send off a drivers licence application form. So unless I turn out to be a prodigy behind the wheel, I'm going to have to deal with a two month gap. Which is annoying.
I'm also trying to work out how to deal with my final project for uni, which is due to be started soon. A 30 minute documentary, to be recorded over the summer. However, unless the uni are happy for me to take a video camera to the other side of the world for 2 months (unlikely), I'm going to have to go like the clappers before and after.
Meanwhile, next Wednesday appears to be the busy day next week China-wise - doctors appointment in the morning to discuss what shots I need, before a photoshoot and interview with local press in the afternoon. I'm not sure which I find more terrifying.
Nick
I'm also trying to work out how to deal with my final project for uni, which is due to be started soon. A 30 minute documentary, to be recorded over the summer. However, unless the uni are happy for me to take a video camera to the other side of the world for 2 months (unlikely), I'm going to have to go like the clappers before and after.
Meanwhile, next Wednesday appears to be the busy day next week China-wise - doctors appointment in the morning to discuss what shots I need, before a photoshoot and interview with local press in the afternoon. I'm not sure which I find more terrifying.
Nick
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