Since arriving in Xiamen we have had every virus within a 100 mile radius; sometimes more than one at a time, which doesn’t seem fair, but hey: it’s not a democracy. Currently, Jonah and Frankie are well enough to be banished to a nearby basketball court, but Ivan is in one bed and Chris is in the other, and I am on my second set of clothes today (don’t ask) as I prepare to teach my first class. That said, we’ve met some terrific people and can’t wait to explore Xiamen (temple, beach, expat bar) when we are on two, or two-ish, feet again.
Health update, a week later: we are improving, though we (Angela, Chris, Ivan) still have “China Lung.” The younger kids seem more robust.
[posted by Angela]
bamboocivet 
What’s the status with the water? Can you drink the water? I remember watching a travel show set in China where the host drank the water, got violently ill, and was then happy as a lark for the remainder of his visit. “If you have the time,” he advised, “get really sick right away, and then relax and enjoy your stay!”
NO ONE drinks the water. We even keep our mouths closed when we shower. But we still managed very nicely when it came to getting sick, alas!
Sorry to here about the illnesses – Hopefully, this has passed since the post.