What constitutes food poisoning in China

[skylee]

[What gets me even more is people that are think the water in the tank (not the bowl) is dirty. It's fresh water from the pipe!]

Not always. In many areas in Hong Kong we use seawater for flushing.

[Lu]

[What gets me even more is people that are think the water in the tank (not the bowl) is dirty. It's fresh water from the pipe!]

It's probably fine in case of emergency, but given that nobody ever cleans the inside of the tank, it's likely not as clean as water from elsewhere.

[pprendeville]

I just think that something ones used to crap into isn't the best to be putting a mop into also give the idea is to clean the floor. Germs and what not that the eye cannot see etc etc

[Scandinavian]

it's particularly iffy in combination with the five-second rule

[pprendeville]

5 second rule?

[skylee]

Indeed.

[Scandinavian]

5 Second Rule.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-second_rule

[slyrabbit]

Haha I feel for you, but i guess it's all part of the experience. If you got sick twice from the same food it could also be some form of food allergy - if your digestive system rebels against a particular ingredient (or combination of ingredients) you can be out of action for a while.

Don't give up on spending time in the village though (i.e. go to a hotel) you don't want to risk loosing good experiences - or worse yet offending your mother in law haha. Just hydrate up and keep a close eye on the cooking - a bit of dysentry won't hurt long term, as long as you're careful as you can be and look after yourself during.

I've travelled on every continental plate bar antarctica, and the worst food poisoning I ever had was in a boutique Asian restaurant back home, so you never know.

The only advice I would give is to see your doctor and bring your own remedies (with instructions on when and how to use them!) there are great little step by step traveller ailment books out there. To be honest though, my best friend for tummy bugs is ALWAYS electrolyte sachets, you recover so much faster if you're hydrated.

[pprendeville]

So I'm back again in China for 10 months study and things haven't changed much at the Inlaws place (not whinging, just making an observation). I'm in Beijing in college while the familia are staying with Inlaws (economically can't afford to all stay in Beijing and the only ways can get study done).

A few stories to sum up the lack of change. On arrival in late August at our first meal the dishes were being prepared on a low table. There was a dog in the room where we were about to eat and he was eying up the food. I knew what was going to happen next and it was my own fault for not kicking the dog out but he stuck his snout into one of the dishes and started eating away before being shooed away. Not to my surprise the dish wasn't thrown out. I avoided it. Was in my wife's hometown again last week for the holiday and spotted 4 massive rats in the kitchen in the early morning. Have requested bear traps they were so big but will. Get some myself before going back next time. Doesn't seem to be a major concern for them. Also, nobody seems to find it strange that vegetables are prepared on the kitchen floor before being washed and cooked. I guess convenience is king in China. Again, all of these are observations. I realise I can't change old habits. I simple offer suggestions now as to how to improve the home.

This year I am not eating any street food, keeping restaurant food to an absolute minimum and mainly cooking my own stuff (steaming fresh veg, boiled eggs, Bimbo branded whole meal bread, milk, Dutch cheese, yoghurt, fruit, porridge). So far so good.

[gato]

Does your wife's family live in a rural village?

[pprendeville]

Not what I'd call rural by Chinese standards. I would say in between being rural and being urban (not quite suburban).

[gato]

So sub-suburban? You are being so mysterious.

[pprendeville]

Would probably be lousy of me to go and name the county they live in (don't think I've mentioned it yet - correct me if I'm wrong). Or would that be acceptable? Kind of feel like I'm going behind their backs posting on here but it's a good place to get a advice on cultural norms etc.

[gato]

Is naming the county too specific? County sounds pretty rural, btw. Probably used to be all farmland 20 years, or even 10 years ago. Was it rural when your wife was a kid?

[Lu]

Would probably be lousy of me to go and name the county they live in (don't think I've mentioned it yet - correct me if I'm wrong). Or would that be acceptable? Kind of feel like I'm going behind their backs posting on here but it's a good place to get a advice on cultural norms etc.

Don't post it if it makes you uncomfortable. If it's small, chances are nobody's going to know it anyway, and even if someone does, it's unlikely to shed any new light on the matter. FWIW I don't think you're out of line posting here: nobody here knows your in-laws anyway so it's not like we'll gossip about them, and your issues and the possible solutions can help others with similar problems.