A Blog in Time Saves Nine

So I haven't been blogging as often as I had promised. I blame it on the program. I think in their infancy (the program is only two years old) they sort of bit off more than they could chew. Or rather, bit it off, then gave it to the students to chew in a single summer semester. Maybe if I had 6 months I could fit in all of this stuff, but really it's been difficult. I still keep my Walton College blog up to date (as I am forced to more or less) and I would encourage everyone to check that blog out at sammwaltoncollegeofbusiness.blogspot.com . You will see my posts listed on the right hand side of the blog amongst other bloggers. I just got back from Beijing and the Great Wall. I only have three weeks left here, and it seems like the work is really piling up. I will hopefully meet with the CIO of China's most profitable and famous western hospital chain, "The United Family Hospital" in order to start my research project on the use of information systems in Chinese medical care. Again I really encourage everyone to check out my other blog, as it has the best pictures from my trip along with well thought out pieces. 

Shanghai-Oddity

As I had mentioned before, I have been getting rather sick here in Shanghai. Recently I decided to take our insurance policy up on its claims, and visited the Shanghai Family Hospital here. The hospital was very nice, and chocked full of western doctors including those from Germany, France, Canada and the U.S. My doctor, Dr. Wang, was from the U.S. and was very helpful and has made several return calls regarding my status. All tests were clear, and I don't have any weird parasite etc. It basically boiled down to either the MSG or greasy food I've figured. Going to Wal-Mart here in Shanghai has basically alleviated all of my health problems. Somewhere between Skippy Peanutbutter and Hormel "Smoked Canadian Ham" my gut decided to stop doing backflips on hot cramped Shanghai subways. I also decided to start taking Centrum everyday as I didn't want to pull a Blackbeard and wake up with scurvy or a goiter or something. This weekend, after many hours spent slogging through Chinese websites and "Western Prices," 10 other students and I are taking a train out to Huang Shan, or "Yellow Mountain." It is hailed to be the most beautiful peak in all of China, and arguably the world. When telling any local that I plan on heading out there they always wheel back and gasp as they peer to the heavens in ecstasy. So I guess it should be pretty decent. I was also told that next next weekend we are going to Beijing. There we will take in defunct communism, and camp on the Great Wall! Very exciting. There is apparently no WC though, so even a squatter will be a luxury. Better stock up on the five-day deodorant pads and multi-vitamins. Frodo and I are still getting along very well, and he has taken to waking up late and eating in his bed like me, now that his summer vacations have started. He also plays saxophone when the mood calls for it. Last weekend some of the students were interested in scratching the underbelly of Shanghai. So, after securing entry and a guide, we headed down to the subterranean "fake market" below an undisclosed location in Shanghai. Ok, ok, so there were neon signs everywhere, but it was still riddled with innumerous passageways and secret compartments full of fake name brand goods. I picked up some $3 Ray-bans and an automatic action $18 Tag-Heuer Swiss Watch. Bargaining here is a fire-sale. The starting point for any good haggle is 10% of whatever they originally throw at you. When you low-ball them they about scream in disgust. This is when you walk away. The drop in price in relation to your distance from the seller would form a perfect inverse correlation. Well it's time to open the capsule door again. Better take my protein pills and put my helmet on.