finally! some photos

i just spent a lot of brain energy writing about each photo, only to find the descriptions didn't make it onto the post! blogger novice that i am, now i can't find the original text either. so. i'll try again! here are some photos from the 6th floor office at central south university, where i have graciously been set up in the community health nursing office. from my perch, i opted to capture my immediate surroundings, including a new surgical specialty hospital and my new favorite tropical magnolia trees, with blossoms the size of frisbees. there is also the audible buzz of construction in changsha, with cranes dotting the skyline. enormous apartment buildings seem to be erupting out of the earth on every block, the pace is dizzying. changsha has a population of ~2 million, and as the provincial capitol of hunan province (population ~50 million (?)), is a destination for people within the province, both for medical and other services. i heard yesterday that some of the people injured in the earthquakes, in sichuan province (west of hunan), have arrived in changsha for medical attention. some of the students i am working with may have the opportunity to care for these folks, and national news coverage in china has dedicated 24-7 coverage to the rescue efforts and construction of temporary housing, as well as national mourning. i actually arrived in the beijing airport exactly one week after the earthquake, and was caught off guard by an anthem played over loudspeakers at the airport, during which everyone stopped in their tracks, stood, and remained silent for the duration of the anthem. i followed suit, not aware at the time of the significance of the event. i also heard from outside blaring car horns, which i learned later was also a demonstration of mourning and solidarity with people affected by the earthquake.

now that i sort of know how to use my new digital camera, and how to transfer photos onto my computer, and then my blog, there may be more images forthcoming this weekend, as i am hoping to take a foray into the surrounding parks in town!