Ooh, in my never ending quest to improve my Chinese I came across an online dictionary and tools for leaning at www.nciku.com  This is to supplement my endless books, private tutor, sympathetic Chinese friends who have patience to speak with me, and the poor taxi drivers of Shanghai who have been great teachers to me in small talk.  Of course I hope they are not using bad language, hehe. 

I just got back from Shanghai and they are really taking the Swine Flu seriously, which is a good thing.  But the fear of everybody is quite shocking compared to America.  Here it is not even a news story anymore.  From the time I landed in Shangahai this month you are made aware that there is a potential pandemic on the loose.  About 6 government health officials board the plane in full protective white suits with gloves and masks.  They use an infrared gun to shoot every passenger in the forehead and do a temperature check.  If that indicates a high temperature, they follow up with a mouth thermometer.  If you are found to have a fever you and your nearest 3 rows of friends are detained and put on a 7 day quarantine.  I believe they tell you to stay at home for 7 days and to check in to the hospital for follow ups each day. 

Now, to add further amusement I also found that most people I came into contact became quite skittish and stressed when in casual conversation they realized I had just come from what they consider Swine Flu Central, the great USA, hehe.  But after SARS I can understand the justified concern people have.  It is just such a contrast between the two countries.  I flew out of Canada and there was not any sort of temperature check.

So let's hope this one passes soon and we can get back to more normal travel and interactions.  It is strange to see people want to get away when they find out you just came from America.