Day Fifteen

Today was unlike any other. For the first time in my life I actually felt like a celebrity. We left the hotel around nine o'clock and were driven to the Pixian County CDC office. When we walked into our conference room there was a massive banner welcoming the University of Southern California group. During the CDC's presentation there was a camera crew taking pictures for what I assumed was the Pixian county local newspaper. At the end of the presentation we were allowed to ask questions and discuss any pressing concerns.

After the seminar we were driven to lunch at a Sichaunese restaurant. We ate Sichaun delicacies such as pig ears, frog, rabbit, and small fish (the entire things!). When we finished eating we walked along the lake on which the restaurant was situated.

Before saying goodbye to our friends from the Chengdu and Pixian CDC we visited the Pixian county hospital and a nearby town clinic. The hospital consisted of 300 staff members (approximately 120 active physicians, and they catered to about 400 outpatients a day). In addition to the hospital and clinic we also visited an immunization office that specialized in delivering vaccines to children.

Around three in the afternoon we came back to the hotel. My friend Fionna and I called our Chinese counterparts at Sichaun University (aka Washi U), to do some laundry at their school campus. When we got back we met with our teacher to discuss our term paper topics on tobacco in China, (my focus will be on tobacco advertising and marketing in China). After our meeting I booked a flight from Hainan to Shanghai for July 3rd. We grabbed dinner at a Beijing Duck restaurant and tomorrow we get to sleep in! Evie, have a safe trip to Hawaii and remember you'll be the closest family member to me! Love you guys, night.