York In Nanjing 2026: Part 2

Nanjing Part 2

Maintaining the Balance in Daily Life

Now, it wouldn’t be a day in Nanjing without masterfully weaving your way through what sometimes feels like an endless stream of e-bikes, pedestrians and sometimes cars going not quite where they’re supposed to. And yet once you become accustomed to this chaotic dance between man and machine, you feel a sense of things flowing as it should be. Sometimes the flow is smooth, calm, steady. Other times, there’s turbulence, stagnation, a certain air of tension. Yet there is a flow nonetheless. Reminds me of the ever-changing state of the human body where no two moments are the same despite not feeling much different. Keep the Qi flowing and all will be well. Oh, and another odd thing about driving here: for cars, lines are optional until reaching traffic lights, half the drivers are using their phones while driving, and e-bikes can go just about anywhere they can fit into, yet it all just feels so normal for them. Makes for quite the shocker when you are strolling along the pedestrian pathway and suddenly an e-bike beeps behind you to get out of the way… truly a wild experience. Despite all this though, I have rarely seen any accidents so far even with the sheer number of vehicles on the roads. People here are so accustomed to the chaotic roads that everyone does their due diligence to ensure they keep themselves and others safe. Pro tip for visitors to China in general: confidence is key, hesitation will disrupt the flow so stay focused, seek gaps, and time your pacing. It will be fine!

The next challenge for surviving Nanjing in summer is of course, the daily heat and humidity. I touched on this briefly in my last post but the real extent of this balancing act only comes into play in your daily life. There is a constant battle between the heat outdoors and the chilly aircon indoors. No matter where you go (except a few of the older establishments), you’re greeted with the equivalent of walking into a cool room with aircon. It’s a constant sparring between hot/cold with the humidity watching from the sidelines, waiting for a chance to strike. And that’s not even mentioning the rain yet! Every couple of weeks brings a small spell of rain, lasting anywhere between a couple of days to a whole week. Now of course, some of these downpours are the remnants of t yphoons from the east as they head inland. Although quite far from the coast, Nanjing is still in a mild danger zone for typhoons. As some of you readers may know, Typhoon Bavi and Dolphin both made their way towards or past Nanjing towards the tail end of their path. But of course, the city was prepared. Anti-flood measures were all in place and warnings were sent to everyone well in advance. The result? Public infrastructure remained functional, people looked out for themselves and each other, and the storm passed just like any other storm would. And believe me, the day after the rains eased, life immediately returned to normal. Sometimes, it really is just that simple.

Probably the most challenging thing to manage while on an overseas study internship is work-life balance. Between the daily 8-6, study requirements and assignments, and ensuring I get enough rest, there really isn’t much time left to do other things. Honestly though, that’s ok. This forms part of (what I believe to be) one of the greatest challenges in modern life: how to find the time for yourself and the things you love when time is so scarce. At the hospital though, they simplify this balance (at least for us students) by allocating a whole 2 hours for lunch break! On top of that, the in-house cafeteria is not only affordable but changes in offerings every week or so. Talk about keeping things fresh! The extra time for lunch not only helps to break up the work day into manageable chunks, but also gives opportunities for a proper rest in between. While most doctors would stay on-site for their lunch or order food delivery (its actually affordable to!), those who live nearby can simply wander home for a good nap and return refreshed for the rest of the day. With so many food options within a short walk, you never have to eat the same thing twice in a row. As a thorough enjoyer of both food and rest, I always make the most of the 2 hour break to recharge.

Phew, what a busy journey it has been already, and there’s still plenty to go! Hope you readers are enjoying the read and getting a peek at life here in Nanjing. I’ll continue to write about the journey over the coming months and share some of the highlights of this internship. For now though, its back to the grind. See you on the next post!

York
Future TCM Doctor, Traveler, & Photographer.