Have you ever tried city greeters?

Last time I went to Chicago, it was for a business trip. I had an intensive schedule. I thought I wouldn’t have time for sightseeing, so I didn’t plan anything. Turned out I had one free day in between. I was thinking of going somewhere but had no idea where. I searched online and found the website of Chicago Greeter. I submitted a request and was assigned to a greeter. I was asked to go to the tourist center or somewhere (I don’t remember the exact name now) to meet my greeter the next morning.

 

That was the first time I’d used city greeter system. I wasn’t so sure what I should expect. I went in about 30 mins early that morning. There was a cafe so I ordered something for breakfast while waiting for her. I had her name but I didn’t actually know how she looked like. I sat on a table facing the door. There were people going in and out all the time. After a while, a tall old lady came in. She seemed to know people who were working in the center quite well. Then I heard she told them she’d meet some Chinese, in a not so pleasant tone.

I wasn’t so sure if I should tell her I was the one she didn’t want to meet after hearing what she said. I did anyway. It was a bit awkward. I pretended I didn’t hear anything. Maybe she was hoping I didn’t hear it either. It was a big room and not so quiet.

 

She knew the city well, and it was an interesting tour. I didn’t say much or ask much during the tour. First of all, I didn’t do my homework, so I didn’t know much about the city to ask any questions. Secondly, I didn’t know what other Chinese had done to her, but I had a feeling she didn’t like Chinese, so I chose not to bother her too much. I gave her a Chinese knot as a gift after the tour. Hope she liked it and hope it could change her mind about Chinese a bit.

 

I haven’t tried any city greeters after that.

Have you ever tried city greeters? How do you like it?

City Greeter Last time I went to Chicago, it was for a business trip. I had an intensive schedule. I thought I wouldn’t have time for sightseeing, so I didn’t plan anything. Turned out I had one free day in between. I was thinking of going somewhere but had no idea where. I searched online and found the website of Chicago Greeter. I submitted a request and was assigned to a greeter. I was asked to go to the tourist center or somewhere (I don’t remember the exact name now) to meet my greeter the next morning. That was the first time I’d used city greeter system. I wasn’t so sure what I should expect. I went in about 30 mins early that morning. There was a cafe so I ordered something for breakfast while waiting for her. I had her name but I didn’t actually know how she looked like. I sat on a table facing the door. There were people going in and out all the time. After a while, a tall old lady came in. She seemed to know people who were working in the center quite well. Then I heard she told them she’d meet some Chinese, in a not so pleasant tone. I wasn’t so sure if I should tell her I was the one she didn’t want to meet after hearing what she said. I did anyway. It was a bit awkward. I pretended I didn’t hear anything. Maybe she was hoping I didn’t hear it either. It was a big room and not so quiet. She knew the city well, and it was an interesting tour. I didn’t say much or ask much. First of all, I didn’t do my homework, so I didn’t know much about the city. Secondly, I didn’t know what other Chinese had done to her, but I had a feeling she didn’t like Chinese, so I chose not to bother her too much. I gave her a Chinese knot as a gift after the tour. Hope she liked it and hope it could change her mind about Chinese a bit. I haven’t tried any city greeters after that.

The Name of a Specialist (Insulin pump)

Not sure if this should go to "Answers" section or "Discussions" section. I'll go ahead and post it here for now.

I'm writing a report on diabetes. I was told there were some certain types of specialists in developed countries (we don't have such positions or professionals in China yet) who help patients with their insulin pump, say when it stops working, or when the reading starts to look strange and you'd need to adjust it. 

Does anybody happen to know the name of such position(s)? What is the English term for it? What do they do exactly? Who is their employer, hospitals or medical device companies?

Thanks!

My Family's Slave

Has anyone read the article "My Family's Slave"? A very touching and heartbreaking story. It broke me into tears. 

Here is the link: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/06/lolas-story/524490/. It's a bit long, but it's worth reading!

And, the author passed away before this article was published. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/06/a-reporters-story/524538/

Double double toilet and trouble I was listening to NPR today, and heard someone say "double double toilet and trouble". Not quite sure I understood it. Then I looked it up. It seems that it should be "double double toil and trouble" and it is from Shakespeare. However, both "double double toilet trouble" and "double double toil and trouble" can be found online. So what do these two expressions mean anyway? When do you use them? Thanks!

Shall I Continue with It?

A new client approached me and said he’d need my help with a medical literature review project. I asked him to provide a bit more details of it. He didn’t reply and disappeared for about a month.<o:p></o:p>

Last week, he showed up again. He apologized for the delay and asked me if I was still available for his project. He would like to start it.<o:p></o:p>

I was busy with another project, but he said the project was not a rush, so I took it. <o:p></o:p>

Turned out, it was not a scientific project at all. It was more or less a sales pitch deck. He made up a lot of stuff in it and wanted me to find data source to support them. If not 100%, at least 80% of his claims were against science, statistics, or official data. <o:p></o:p>

Now I don’t know whether I should keep on with the project. It really makes me sick. It feels like I’m helping him lie to people. <o:p></o:p>

A New Project A new client approached me and said he’d need my help with a medical literature review project. I asked him to provide a bit more details of it. He didn’t reply and disappeared for about a month. Last week, he showed up again. He apologized for the delay and asked me if I was still available for his project. He would like to start it. I was busy with another project, but he said the project was not a rush, so I took it. Turned out, it was not a scientific project at all. It was more or less a sales pitch deck. He made up a lot of stuff in it and wanted me to find data source to support them. If not 100%, at least 80% of his claims were against science, statistics, or official data. Now I don’t know whether I should keep on with the project. It really makes me sick. It feels like I’m helping him lie to people.

wellness What does wellness mean in this sentence? "Their wellness results are other-worldly." Social welfare? health outcomes? Thanks!

Do We Have to Raise Our Kids This Way? I was waiting for my piano teacher in her studio this morning. A boy, around 5 years old, was playing in a practice room right in front of me, with the door open. I got myself a cup of water and sat there listening to him playing. It sounded like some finger exercises, either Hanon or Czerny. He didn’t seem to enjoy it that much, but he played pretty good anyway. After finishing one exercise, he stood up and shut the door right in my face.

This reminded me of another kid, about the same age. I was taking a Chinese Calligraphy Class back then. One day, I got there early, so I started to write while waiting for my teacher. A kid came in from nowhere, and stood next to the desk and watched me writing. I thought I should talk to her, otherwise, it would be too awkward. So I asked her, “Hi, how are you?” She said, “My mom told me not to talk to anybody.” I didn’t know how I should continue the conversation. 

I know the world is not always friendly, but do we have to raise our kids this way?