Written by Shona Craig

May 25, 2009.   After a long night of saying goodbye to our friends in Chengdu, we woke up at 4 a.m. to leave Chengdu for Changzhi.   Our plane ride to the Taiyuan Airport was very short, but we had quite a long bus ride on a very small bus to the Caiyuan Hotel. Right after we arrived, we ate lunch.  Changzhi is known for its hand-made noodles and its delicious vinegar.  Most of us tried this tasty meat before we knew that it was donkey!!  Everything was great, but I’ve decided it is better to not ask what I am eating.

After lunch we went to the Heping Hospital.  Right as we stepped off the bus, we felt like celebrities.  We had our very own paparazzi!  They followed us around snapping pictures and filming us, and all the people we passed stared and also took pictures.  I have never felt so eminent before!  So while we were being followed by our paparazzi, we learned about the history of hospital and what they’ve done for the community recently.  One of the main things they talked about was the SARS epidemic, which they were greatly involved with.  We were also allowed into the blood lab where they centrifuge and test blood samples.  Before we left, we signed a book for the hospital and Elissa made up a great quote to write: “Separated by seas, together by hearts: Ithaca and China forever.”

Next we visited the Orient Company that makes fitness equipment and got to see the machines being made.  We then had a discussion about placing fitness equipment on playgrounds and doing a study in the U.S.

That night we had a banquet and more welcomes from the people from Changzhi Medical College.  After dinner we took many pictures with the staff, relaxed, and played water pong in the Dean’s suite.