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September 8, 2009
What the doctor ordered?
For a crash course in cultural discovery, visit a traditional drugstore in China. “Interesting” doesn’t even begin to describe what I came across in this immaculate three-floor building. All of the cabinets were glass, so I could easily view the wares: Roots, mushrooms, and (to put it delicately) “parts” of various animals, each one used to treat a specific ailment. These are things we’d never see here in the U.S.
Because anyone can walk right in and meet with the pharmacist, I decided to give it a try. My stomach was a bit crampy from all the spicy food I’d been eating, so through hand gestures, charades, and the pharmacist’s limited English I managed to ask for a prescription. He gave me some pieces of what looked like bark—and I have to admit I was too nervous to try it. I did, however, buy some ginseng for energy.
Like so many experiences in China, my drugstore visit was a delightful immersion into a culture that is so very different from our own—and even in this unfamiliar territory, I felt welcome and well cared for. Have you had any memorable experiences with culture shock? Email me at
Next in Harriet’s Corner, I’ll be featuring the rivers of France, but I’d love to hear about all of your travels.
Harriet Lewis