diary for the 14th february, 2002. I went to the Chinese doctor this monring for acupuncture treatment. I was looking around his office, it's kind of like stepping back in time to a pervious decade, almost like an island out of time.
He's an interesting character, coming from shandong province, he speaks Chinese with a proper almost clipped quality rather different to the local more laid back speech patterns. He's old, though, I don't know how old, but he's inspiring. I don't know if he has family at all or if he is single. But it surprises me that he works on new year's vacation. perhaps he genuinely cares for his patients, it is inspiring to see someone serve his patients like that.
I think he's quite a fit man, too, but I need to observe his outward appearance too in order for me to describe him fully. He's about 1m70, he must be around 70 or so, but he looks much younger. it's difficult to tell his exact age because of his movements which are slow and deliberate. there is somethign stopping me from ddescribing how he looks, but i don't know what it is. is it fear of failure? so what? let's try to describe him fully.
I don't think I want to do him a dissservice by describing him in an unflattering manner and part of it is that I can't quite capture in words the impression he makes on me. so lets' describe the impression he makes on me instead: he creates the impression of being contented, professional, lively, knowledgeable, but he does so in a silent manner that belies him. I iknow that he can speak English, so I don't know why or how?
One thing that I found odd is how when I praised him for his English, he didn't react in any fashion that was typical of Taiwanese. Here inTaiwan people will say things to appear modest, perhaps he just doesn't care so much about how he appearrs to the outside world. he wears a brown coat, and he is slightly stooped as he shuffles arond the offices tending to his patients. It's difficult to describe his smile that appears on his face, but it seems to show compassion and a degree of tenderness weaned by years of experience inthe game.
These are my reflections for his day on the natuer of being a physician! it's difficult to capture the exact nuances of the studio, I don't know what I want to do today, I really don't know at all. it's a good feeling to know that there are so many things I could do, but I don't which is the best. I think I would like to go to the bookstore again. But who knows?
Then I could go to the exercise club, that would be okay. But first I need to find some lunch. Have a day by myself, that would be nice, to have that time for me. I keep thinking about the medicine that the doctor gave me, I just hope that there are only herbs in it. I don't know how to confirm or negate these fears.