When professor Lynn Fuchs learned she would be part of a delegation to the Special Olympics in Beijing, she admits she wondered how it all would work.
"Honestly, I was honored, but I was more concerned with the specifics of traveling and what it would take to be able to leave for a week," Fuchs said.
But a week after returning, she said the trip, which took place earlier this month, ran smoothly and was an eye-opening experience, although it got off to a hectic start.
"I didn't have an itinerary until the night before," Fuchs said. "I couldn't really anticipate what was going to happen."
Also in the special delegation representing President George W. Bush, who also appointed the members, were Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, baseball Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks, Executive Director of the Special Olympics Tim Shriver, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Disney and ABC News President Anne Sweeny, Chairman of the Virginia Republican Committee John Hager, and former Special Olympian Jennifer Polk.
"I spent a lot of time with the people in the delegation," Fuchs said. "I got to know Michelle Kwan."
Many popular icons used their power to promote worthy causes, she said.
"One of the neat things about going to the Special Olympics is seeing all of the celebrities that are there to support the cause," she said.
Traveling as something of an envoy, Fuchs witnessed a ceremonial gift exchange between the U.S. ambassador to China and Hu Jingtao, China's prime minister.
"It was like being a representative or ambassador," Fuchs said. "We got to see them exchanging gifts and documents."
Though Fuchs' specialty is in learning disabilities, not intellectual disabilities, she said it was an interesting and educational experience.
"There is a really strong community of supporters," Fuchs said. "I enjoyed being a part of it."