"We have been able to meet many people who are working to improve social work in China," Susan Larimer, the MSW Student Services Coordinator, wrote in an e-mail. Larimer, along with Jieru Bai, a native of China and a PhD student at the school, helped worked out the details of the trip. "Today we went to a hospital in Beijing and met with the medical social worker. They have 1,600 inpatient beds and two social workers. The problem for the social workers is that there s no infrastructure for them to work within. There are so many patients, with an incredible amount of needs and very few resources," Larimer noted. "They are optimistic, but concerned about how to move forward. We have also visited a cancer hospital, another college with a BSW program, and a cancer support group organization. At every place we go, we are honored guests." Larimer explained the class has provided an opportunity for "an amazing dialogue between the 21 Chinese students (from multiple social science disciplines) and our students." Each of the School of Social Work students is paired with three Chinese students. "I find the Chinese students to be very open and forthcoming with their ideas and opinions. We are having some terrific dialogue about all kinds of issues." Larimer said the group has have been amazed by the hospitality they have been shown since their arrival earlier this month. "I don't think I have ever been shown the gracious hospitality and warmth that I have received here," she wrote. "I have been humbled by the way the students have looked out for us and made our visit so amazing. They are all busy people, and yet they have found time to shepherd us around to all kinds of places." The group has found time to visit the Great Wall as well as Tianamen Square, where one of the Chinese students volunteered to show them around. Larimer noted it is a huge open concrete area with statues. "They have two incredibly large video screens showing pictures of China." The group followed the Chinese custom of using fancy umbrellas when it is hot. "We all bought colored ones for about $3 each." The class is a part of the ongoing discussion between the School and Peking University initiated by Associate Dean Virginia Majewski and Margaret Adamek, the Director of the School's PhD program.
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