Hello all,

I have just returned from a ten day study tour to China (Shanghai, Xi'an,
Beijing).  Twenty-one of us from Notre Dame of Maryland University went to
do mostly touring but some work/study.  The primary focus of the trip was
business and education and although I am clueless about business, I did go
to the tour of the multinational corporation for the overview of business
practices in China.  The executive that spoke with us was Chinese and spoke
only Chinese and Japanese.  The PowerPoint presentation was only in
Japanese.  Our group spoke only English.  We had two university students who
could translate.  One of them spoke Chinese, Japanese and English so she
translated the verbal Chinese and written Japanese into English.

Anyway, the question was raised about maternity leave in China.  The
executive said they give 4-5 months maternity leave and then volunteered
that mothers are given one hour per day of paid time for breastfeeding.  I
was pleasantly surprised that the breastfeeding info was volunteered by the
male executive.

I saw very few babies (China is still under the one child policy for the
most part...there are exceptions) and fewer still pregnant woman.  I also
saw no-one breastfeeding and no-one giving any bottles.  I did not see any
formula in the grocery stores or in the pharmacy so don't know where that is
procured.

I also toured Shanghai East Hospital which was very large and very modern.
I would have surgery there but would not go to the ED.  I went to the
Med/Surg ward, the CCU and the ED but not to the mother-baby unit so don't
know how that looked.  We were running out of time and we still had an hour
ride back in a Shanghai taxi...terrifying!

Definitely an interesting experience!

Kathy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katherine Koch, PhD
Special Education Resource Teacher
Ridge Elementary School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.
                                        ~Zig Ziglar

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