Monday, June 13, 2011

Thank you to the Chinese Nurses and Medical Experts Who Supported Our International Fellowship





Thank you ALL for welcoming us to China and for ensuring that our trip was meaningful and enriching.










In particular, we extend grateful appreciation to Peiru Zhou (Peggy) ~ Vice Director of Outpatient Services and Diabetes Nurse Educator and to Wei-ju Chen ~ Director of Nursing at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University for seeing great value in our study and for encouraging us to come to China.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Lines from L-E



I took this picture of a dragon fly just outside of the Foreign Experts Building on our last day in China. It makes a nice metaphor for reflections on a journey.


Each of us will be adding our unique reflections: Anja's Analysis, Rachel's Reflections, Letter L[Laurelyn], and Cathy's Comments.



Reflecting back to my early days as a new mother, I am remembering all the toys that my toddler daughter wanted out of that McDonalds happy meal she begged me to purchase!




Where were all those amazing toys made? In China!



China is a country with huge expertise in making some of the world's best toys. Yet, physical activity and exercise is also a big part of having fun.



And, no one would argue that children NEED to play! Play is such a natural and important part of childhood. While getting impressive scores on final examinations is truly important in China, being physically fit and active is something that will follow students for a lifetime.


Playground areas should be expansive ~ grassy fields with space to have fun. In my humble opinion, the play area should be at least as important as the mathematics classroom!


To the extent that our UW-Eau Claire intervention with middle school Chinese youth addressed the importance of outdoor fun and play [balanced with sensible eating] it was a success.


Certainly, more follow-up and continuation of the work we have started is desirable. Stay tuned for additional thoughts and reflections from our research team!






Thursday, June 9, 2011

An Emerging Role for Nurses in China








More than 120 Chinese nurses attended a Diabetes Conference organized by Nurse Educator Peggy Zhou (at podium).







Below, Cathy Berry (UW-Eau Claire) and her Chinese translator present information about the role of the Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator.








A disease that was previously unknown in China, now has attracted global attention as nurses learn to provide care tailored to the specialized needs of individuals with Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Chinese Nurses Participate in UW-Eau Claire Health Education







Sunday, June 5, 2011

Chinese Fast Food



The image to the left is a paper bag that once contained Chinese fast food ~ a salty, deep fried treat on a stick. In the big city, it is easy to find food vendors who will sell fast food (for cheap).


While many Americans think that McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC are the only game in town, China has plenty of fast food joints of its own. Ready to serve up the requisite fat and salt!


The unique nature of Chinese life in the big city ~ fast paced, rapidly Westernized, changing roles of women and more disposable income among the affluent middle class, suggests that dining in a restaurant may be a reasonable option.


For poorer middle class families, for college students and for middle schoolers or kids in high school, fast food is cheap, readily available, and tasty.


While we Americans think of making a meal with the help of running tap water, our fancy western appliances, and grocery stores that are an easy drive from our homes; in China, the government has banned the use of bags (paper or plastic), and hauling water, groceries, and other food stuffs is cumbersome on a bike or while walking in hot, humid weather.


Although some affluent families drive cars, the vast majority of Chinese families do NOT drive a car. And, if you have ever seen traffic during rush hour in Guangzhou, you can make a case for the wise decision NOT to drive! Mass transit is cheap, and it is an easy way to get to one's destination.


Furthermore, some products such as cooking oils, are allowed to remain on the grocery shelf beyond their expiration date. Thus, as a person hopes to prepare a hot meal, some inconveniences are apparent.


Additionally, because all water must be boiled in the city, vegetables are cooked before eating. Taking into consideration the important nutrient value of FRESH fruits and veggies must always be balanced against the important food safety factor.


Broadly speaking, wealthy Chinese families choose to dine in restaurants rather than prepare meals at home. And middle-lower middle class families also dine out, but often at fast food establishments.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Ice Cream Wars in China








Ice cream at McDonalds is only 2 RMB (about fifty cents). Who will win the market share, I wonder?




According to data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 59.5% of Chinese youth reported eating ice cream in 1998.




Today, more than 76% of Chinese youth love the sweet treat, and regularly eat ice cream.