About one month ago I bumped a mole on my side and I cut it slightly and so it was catching on my clothes. I sent a picture to my doctor in Australia to ask him what he thought of what I’d done and he told me that the mole was benign but I should keep an eye on it and if possible get it checked and so this morning I have come to the hospital to have it checked. They don’t seem to have skin doctors running private clinics here and so I’ve come to the dermatology department of the local hospital. My ticket is number 54 and as I write this we are at 26. I thought it might be worse because the hospital is mobbed. Sissi has brought me here and helped me to navigate through the registration process, which was relatively painless and cost just 22 rmb. This allows me to see a professional doctor and not just a general guy apparently. Even although there are only twenty or so folk in front, this might not be the true figure because government workers and pensioners get priority and so I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. Hopefully I’ll be out for lunch.

If I don’t feel I am comfortable with the outcome then I will fly back to Australia to see my own doctor and have it removed because I think it may be a problem in the future. I don’t really have the confidence in anyone in China to do this. Mind you I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet and so I’ll wait and see what they have to say. I’m lucky that I have Sissi to come with me and help to translate because at this time I don’t know if the doctor speaks English.