Duan, Guangxi April 2005

April, not in Paris, but in Duan, Guangxi, saw our stalwart team once again in action. Pauline, Colman and Maureen (Rotarians) were joined by regulars Dora, Astor and Tsui Tsui, with new recruits Maner, Mr Wong and Mr Fong (sorry no Mr Dong or Song!). The last two had their arms badly twisted by Colman to join the team (actually there should be four but two managed to escape). Colman met the team in Shenzhen, having been collecting medication for trachoma which he had earlier arranged via the Sun Yat Sen Medical University, and also small tools for adjusting spectacle frames. As a result, he nearly missed the plane (Shenzhen to Nanning), being stuck in a traffic jam from Guangzhou to Shenzhen.

Mr Pang and his gang met us at Nanning Airport, and took us to our ‘favourite’ frog restaurant, but thankfully, our hoppy friends were off the menu. We were introduced to a new dish – ‘three seven’ chicken soup (as in 777 for the one-armed bandit). Pauline has been raving about this soup ever since.

Then it was on to our usual hang out, the Yin-tar hotel, which has now lost its garden wall, and we believe is soon (???) to be renovated. After a bit of re-packing, off we went to bed. Thankfully, it was a lot warmer this time and the air conditioner was working in all the assigned rooms. All was not fine, Mr Wong-Fong’s room was without the toilet seat, and Colman managed to pull out the door knob of his room.

Early morning, it was time to divide our forces. Colman led the team of volunteers to the middle school to deliver and fit the new spectacles for 110 students. Thank you again, Mr A-Nonymous of Kowloon North, and the lens cutters and spectacle assemblers of Poly, and Hoya ( Japan) and The Hong Kong Optical Lens Co. for the spectacle lenses.

At the Middle school, our experts at work adjusting new glasses for the students

Maureen, the woman who ‘nose’, fully armed set off to the unsuspecting kindergarten with her stock of swabs and a few volunteers. We were delighted at the conditions of the kindergarten where the staff could be seen to have really made an effort to brighten up the environment, even though they are severely pressed for rooms – 650 children in 13 rooms for teaching, sleeping and eating.

At the kindergarten… morning exercises

At the kindergarten… morning exercises

At the kindergarten – Neat and tidy….

At the kindergarten… “Where is my food?”

The staff were incredibly helpful in lining up the children and 300 specimens were collected most efficiently with the aid of Pauline, labeler extraordinaire, Tsui Tsui, the recording angel, and Maner and Astor, comforters and dispensers of sweeties.

At the kindergarten…waiting patiently for their turn to have their noses swabbed.

Our third objective was to dispense medication to the primary school screened for trachoma on our last visit, but sadly, the requested doctor was noticeably absent, and the medication apparently had to be officially approved by the Health Department (new rule).

So, we had to leave our tablets with Mr Pang who promised that he would arrange delivery and take photographs (on Maureen’s threat that if not done, she would pull out all his fingernails when she sees him next time). However, we did give each child a new towel. Colman took the new volunteers to one of the mountain schools ¾ obviously no one is going to be allowed to escape being bounced up and down and twisted around on a visit to Duan!

 

Clean towels?

The next morning, the whole group set off to find the farmers’ houses where we had sampled the water in our last visit. The bemused farmers were quite surprised to receive two large boxes of biscuits (and family photographs taken at the last visit), accompanied by a bus-full of visitors.

And finally, it was time for the caves……. and the minority Zhuang people. After an al fresco meal, accompanied by millions of flies (note exaggeration), we learned how to performed bamboo dancing, and as nobody else would volunteer, our Maureen had to sing her Liverpool Home song to allow us to pass through the barrier. We then had to pass the mangy monkeys which Colman insisted on feeding which only encouraged them to fight (!). The guide in the caves pointed our numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations which with enormous imagination (oh Maureen’s brain hurt so much from trying!!), resembled every Chinese legend ever written.

And then, it was back to Hong Kong, and overnight cultures until 4.30 am in PolyU for poor Maureen and Jorn (who got dragged in by his irresistible wife).

Group photos before we leave…..of course!