To get my glucose solution for the infusion, I was shown to a big room full of stuffed shelves that resembled a supermarket. I was given three bottles for infusion plus a healing ointment. The bill was 190 yuan ($28). At first it was a little surprising to me that I had to pay for the medicine right away. In Germany, your health insurance normally absorbs the costs first and then brings you to account later. But I can't complain because the price appeared reasonable and would probably be higher in Germany.

The infusion was the highlight of my visit: While the medicine was pumping into my veins, I sat with my friend in the empty waiting room. It was already 6 pm.

Sometimes the nurse entered to change my bottle or to give me another needle for a routine blood examination. I have been a bit afraid of needles since my early childhood, but this time it went well, there was just a little prick and that was it.

The turning point came when my friend switched on the television, on which an old Jackie Chan kungfu movie was shown. It attracted others and we were soon laughing and gesturing around the TV, including the nurse (who was obviously a huge Jackie Chan fan), the doctor and some guy who kept a menthol cigarette in the left corner of his mouth.

This somehow made the hospital visit memorable and showed me once again the openness and warm-heartedness of the Chinese people.

Though there are no signs of recovery yet, I will continue my infusion treatment, if not for the sake of my health, then at least for the sake of watching a good movie.