Monday
1/28/2013
Today was
by no means a busy day but it was definitely an eventful day. We started out
with the luxury of getting up a little later then usual (meeting at 9:30!). Our
breakfast was the usual mix of fried rice, toast, and fried duck eggs. The
first stop was the art district. With our early start most if the streets were
deserted and we got to look around all by ourselves. The streets were filled
with modern art as well as traditional Chinese art. You could see things from
graffiti of a giant squid on the walls as well as men in black to statues if
giant caged dinosaurs and sharks devouring chairs. It was fun to walk around
and I wish we had more time to explore the vastness of it.
Our next
stop was our last and most exciting official stop of the day. All dressed up we
made our way to the embassy. The process turned out to be a little bit
difficult. We got to the front gate and first turned over our passports to get
our visitor passes. Next we went through security which is a lot like airport security
only here when you turn over your electronics you don't get them until you
leave. So sadly we progressed on short our cameras but plus some escorts. The
embassy itself was set up very uniquely. It was kind of a hybrid of a jail and
a maze. They told us this was partly due to the fact that the building needed
to be able to withstand a bomb. The interior design was beautiful, there was no
shortage of art on the walls. One of my personal favorites, and I think many
others, was the bathrooms! They were perfectly western completed with western
toilets, toilet paper, and dyson hand blades. Since we were a little early we
were able to stop at the commissary and pick up some favorite foods that we
haven't seen in a month. I personally got some flaming hot Cheetos. Our escort
next brought us up to see the medical clinic. This clinic was basically the
same kind of clinic that we are used to seeing back home. It was interesting to
compare and talk to a nurse that works there. But we had to run to make it to our
appointment on time.
We made
it to our conference room and all excitedly waited around the table. After a
few minutes of patiently waiting Ambassador Gary Locke made his entrance. He
politely asked about our trip thus far and our studies abroad. Then with a
change if pace he talked to us about how western presence and practice of
medicine is greatly needed in a place like China. He attested to the poor set
up of the healthcare system and how it needs some work. He gave an example that
if you walk into a hospital and you are having a heart attack you will not
receive health care until you have paid for the service. Yes, if you are a
citizen you will have health insurance but the coverage is minimal and the
patients almost always have to pay cash up front for services. It was a unique
experience that we are all very grateful for. We got the pleasure to talk to
him about PLU. He praised our school and applauded us for going to a liberal
arts school. He too felt that it is so important to receive a broad education
to help you become a world citizen. We obviously agreed with him. To conclude
our visit we pulled our PLU banner out and took a picture with him (which we
will hopefully be receiving in a couple of weeks once it makes its way through
security to us). I feel very lucky for the opportunity for an experience like
this. It was a great way to start the wrap up of our trip.
-Kiara
Revilla
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