H1N1 V.S. Green tea

I think nobody take H1N1 flu as serious as the Chinese government. Before I left for China, I called my parents. They always asked me about swine flu in the US.

When the plane landed at the Shanghai Airport, we were told to wait 30 minutes to get body temperature inspected.




I joked with people sat next to me that this scene reminds me about the natural disaster movie in which Dustin Huffman played the doctor.

On May 11th, the local news says a Chinese student from a college in Michigan was diagnosed with swine flu after he got home in China 4 days later. At night, the M hotel asked me to move to another one since they have a better sanity control. I was obviously “kicked out” by the M hotel. I even noticed the hotel manager stayed quite a distance when he spoke to me. I do not complain about people’s concerns. Chinese certainly have reasons to worry after few epidemic disease-SARS and Bird flu- outbreak in China few years ago.

When SARS outbreak in China few years ago, guess what people were looking for as a drink for prevention? Green Tea, Period! No kidding! People believe green tea helps improve immune system and keep you strong!!! Interesting enough during that time period, my friend said green tea was out of stock in his store!

I have met many professors in China who drink tea on a daily basis. They share a lot in common:

• Look much younger: very smooth skin, less wrinkles.
• Energetic: most of the professors are in their 70s, but the way they walk is more like they are just 50s.
• barely get sick: this is another proof that tea helps improve health
• Always have good mood: positive attitude about life.
• Think fast