I just wanted to give a quick update on the situation here in Thailand, because my parents and Josh have been getting a lot of worried phone calls.
As, most of you know the two main airports in Bangkok have been shut down for a week due to protesters. The protesters (known as People's Alliance of Democracy) are upset with the government and want the Prime Minister to resign from his current post. They have stated that they will not leave the airports until he steps down. Thus, leaving thousands of people stranded in Thailand, with no easy way out. Josh was suppose to fly out last week to Bangkok, but instead spent 6 hours at the airport trying to deal with the situation. We were really frustrated because we were both excited to see each other after 2 moths apart. However, I promised him we would use our airline vouchers for a GREAT vacation in 2009!!
As for Molly and I, we are two brilliant girls that have great travel smarts and will be safe!! Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers, I know that my family is grateful for the support, as am I!! I will keep updating my blog about past events and current as Molly and I make our way back to Bangkok and further south. I appreciate all the great feed back I have received from people about this blog....it has been a rewarding couple of months and I have been honored to share so many moments with everyone. See ya soon:)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Crash Course in First Aid!
Molly and I went to a place called the Wildflower Home, about 1 hour outside Chiang Mai. This is a safe haven for women and children that had to leave their home for one reason or another. Many of the women were abused, while some were abandoned with no means to support themselves or their children. The Wildflower Home is situated on a nice piece of property with a small farm and receive many donations from outlying communities. The home is in the process of trying to make their farm into a small business. Our organization, MyProThailand, has a group of volunteers from a business school coming in January to help the Wildflower Home set up the program. This program will teach the women how to make enough produce to sell at markets, which will help make money for their families.
We arrived at the Wildflower Home just in time, because all the children were being put down for their afternoon naps, so the mothers could give us their undivided attention:) The women were very friendly and eagerly awaiting our arrival. There was a little room in one of the houses that was all set up with tables, chairs, and even a white board. Molly and I had split up the issues, so I began with hygiene...HANDWASHING....the most important lesson of the day!! The ladies were great and asked tons of questions. Molly and I did a skit with colored paper showing them how easy it is to pass germs from person to person and even made them wash their hands! We also talked about brushing teeth and how important it is for them to make their children begin brushing at an early age. Molly then talked about the developmental stages and what milestones the women should be looking for in their children at each age. Once again they were raising hands and giving us scenarios about their own children and the growth process they observe. It was great to listen to them and help them problem solve issues. We also talked about first aid and how to help someone if they were choking. A couple of women in the class were pregnant and asked some personal questions about themselves and their unborn child. They were younger women and each seemed a little nervous about what to expect. 
Our job for the day was to discuss health issues with the women. We had received a list of topics the woman would like to go over, so Molly and I decided which ones would be the most important to discuss. We only had three hours and didn't want to overwhelm them with too much information, so we picked topics we thought would be of interest to them.
We arrived at the Wildflower Home just in time, because all the children were being put down for their afternoon naps, so the mothers could give us their undivided attention:) The women were very friendly and eagerly awaiting our arrival. There was a little room in one of the houses that was all set up with tables, chairs, and even a white board. Molly and I had split up the issues, so I began with hygiene...HANDWASHING....the most important lesson of the day!! The ladies were great and asked tons of questions. Molly and I did a skit with colored paper showing them how easy it is to pass germs from person to person and even made them wash their hands! We also talked about brushing teeth and how important it is for them to make their children begin brushing at an early age. Molly then talked about the developmental stages and what milestones the women should be looking for in their children at each age. Once again they were raising hands and giving us scenarios about their own children and the growth process they observe. It was great to listen to them and help them problem solve issues. We also talked about first aid and how to help someone if they were choking. A couple of women in the class were pregnant and asked some personal questions about themselves and their unborn child. They were younger women and each seemed a little nervous about what to expect.
After the 3 hours (the children were crying now, because they were awake), we received a tour of the farm and it was fantastic to see the women so excited about making it "on their own." We also played with the children and answered more health questions before we went back to Chiang Mai. We left feeling like we helped out, even if it was only in a small way.
Organic Cooking...Yes Organic!!
Molly and I went to an Organic Thai Cooking Class this weekend. Yes...I know that everyone is 
laughing because I LOVE organic food, so when I heard about this place I couldn't resist! We began the day going to an outdoor market where our teacher showed us all different varieties of rice and the types we would be using in our dishes. We then proceeded to walk around and look at all the beautiful fresh fruits and veggies (once again I could only wish we had this in the States:). When we were done, we hopped back in the truck and headed to the farm. The farm is owned and operated by a local Thai family about 30 minutes 
outside of the city. As we arrived two little girls came running around the corner yelling "hello." Our teacher, Nam, started laughing and told us that those were his daughters. Nam started this farm a couple of years ago and it has grown into a great business. His wife, mother, mother-in-law, father, etc, all help with the farm and cooking classes. So, of course it made me even happier that we spent a little extra money on the class because we were helping with sustainability and a local family:)
laughing because I LOVE organic food, so when I heard about this place I couldn't resist! We began the day going to an outdoor market where our teacher showed us all different varieties of rice and the types we would be using in our dishes. We then proceeded to walk around and look at all the beautiful fresh fruits and veggies (once again I could only wish we had this in the States:). When we were done, we hopped back in the truck and headed to the farm. The farm is owned and operated by a local Thai family about 30 minutes 
outside of the city. As we arrived two little girls came running around the corner yelling "hello." Our teacher, Nam, started laughing and told us that those were his daughters. Nam started this farm a couple of years ago and it has grown into a great business. His wife, mother, mother-in-law, father, etc, all help with the farm and cooking classes. So, of course it made me even happier that we spent a little extra money on the class because we were helping with sustainability and a local family:)We started off with a quick tour of the farm and Nam showed us what they do to grow "organic" and what produce we would be using in our dishes. We then went to a gazebo, which was over a pond, sat down at the table and began to prepare 
our food. We each choose 5 dishes to cook, so Molly and I picked different ones so we could share and hopeully help each other cook them back in the States. My choices were; red curry paste, red curry with chicken, thai vegetable soup, pad thai, papaya salad, and mango with sticky rice. We first pounded our ingredients for the curry using a mortar and pestle (which is a staple kitchen tool in Asia). I only used two chilies for my paste because I do not like food too spicy; however, some people used 4 or 5! After our paste became a nice constancy we moved into the kitchen and started making the rest of the dish. I realized that when I cook with coconut milk back in the States, I do not use nearly enough. Thai people LOVE coconut milk, as do many Asian countries and Molly and I have became addicted to it also.
our food. We each choose 5 dishes to cook, so Molly and I picked different ones so we could share and hopeully help each other cook them back in the States. My choices were; red curry paste, red curry with chicken, thai vegetable soup, pad thai, papaya salad, and mango with sticky rice. We first pounded our ingredients for the curry using a mortar and pestle (which is a staple kitchen tool in Asia). I only used two chilies for my paste because I do not like food too spicy; however, some people used 4 or 5! After our paste became a nice constancy we moved into the kitchen and started making the rest of the dish. I realized that when I cook with coconut milk back in the States, I do not use nearly enough. Thai people LOVE coconut milk, as do many Asian countries and Molly and I have became addicted to it also. After we made three of our dishes (red curry with chicken, thai vegetable soup, papaya salad) we sat down and ate! I loved 
everything that Molly and I cooked; however, my favorite dish was the papaya salad. It is so delicious and has such a good crunch! Everyone in our group passed their dishes around so we all could have a little taste of everything. We then walked around and let the food rest because we knew we had two more dishes to make!!
everything that Molly and I cooked; however, my favorite dish was the papaya salad. It is so delicious and has such a good crunch! Everyone in our group passed their dishes around so we all could have a little taste of everything. We then walked around and let the food rest because we knew we had two more dishes to make!!Our last meals we made were pad thai and mango with sticky rice. Hands down Thai dessert is wonderful! They use so much coconut milk and it adds a little flavor of heaven:) Even though we were full, we devoured the dessert, plus tasted everyone else's. We had such a great group of people to cook with, which always makes any 
experience better, plus Nam made us laugh the whole time...I can't wait to cook some of these things for my family!
experience better, plus Nam made us laugh the whole time...I can't wait to cook some of these things for my family! Monday, November 17, 2008
Loi Krathong
We arrived in Chiang Mai, just in time for a huge festival...the Loi Krathong! It is a celebration that is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar (in the western calendar this usually falls sometime in November). Thousands of people come to Chiang Mai every year to buy or make floating lanterns-made of banana leaves and flowers- to float down the river to honor and thank the Goddess of Water (Phra Mae Khongkha). The symbolism of releasing the lantern is to rid yourself of resentment and anger and begin fresh with a clean soul. All week from November 11th to the 14th, the city was an amazing scene of different colors, smells, and amazing sights. For three days there were parades, Thai dancing, and millions of lanterns being sent off to make their journey down the river. However, Molly and I got to experience something more amazing and truly beyond words, that I will try to bring to life in this blog.
Our Thai language instructor informed us of a ceremony that is held every year at a Meditation Centre 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai in honor of the Buddha. Instead of sending lanterns down the river, they send Thai balloon lanterns up in the evening sky called Khom Loys. Not just one or two hundred, but THOUSANDS all at the same time!!!
When we arrived to our destination, we had to walk down a road about 300 yards to the grounds of the ceremony. On our way, people were dancing and singing, food vendors were selling fantastic traditional Thai cuisine and hundreds of people were selling Khom Loys. As we arrived to the Meditation Center, the vibe was electrifying. Thousands of people were sitting in a huge field facing a giant Buddha. There was one single path, about 150 yards, that led directly to the Buddha. Many monks were seated around him, facing the crowd of people. At that moment Molly and I decided to buy a balloon and participate in the festival as much as we could. As we bought our Khom Loy, some young Thai students decided they wanted to take us "under their wing." They helped us find a great spot in the field of people to set up our balloon, plus they kept us up to speed on everything that was happening.
Our Thai language instructor informed us of a ceremony that is held every year at a Meditation Centre 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai in honor of the Buddha. Instead of sending lanterns down the river, they send Thai balloon lanterns up in the evening sky called Khom Loys. Not just one or two hundred, but THOUSANDS all at the same time!!!
When we arrived to our destination, we had to walk down a road about 300 yards to the grounds of the ceremony. On our way, people were dancing and singing, food vendors were selling fantastic traditional Thai cuisine and hundreds of people were selling Khom Loys. As we arrived to the Meditation Center, the vibe was electrifying. Thousands of people were sitting in a huge field facing a giant Buddha. There was one single path, about 150 yards, that led directly to the Buddha. Many monks were seated around him, facing the crowd of people. At that moment Molly and I decided to buy a balloon and participate in the festival as much as we could. As we bought our Khom Loy, some young Thai students decided they wanted to take us "under their wing." They helped us find a great spot in the field of people to set up our balloon, plus they kept us up to speed on everything that was happening.
First, a parade went from the entrance half-way down to the Buddha and then back again. Second, the head monk said a long pray (45 minutes) and many of the Thai people sat with their hands together and their heads bowed in reverence. Thirdly, the helpers came around and lit the tall candles that each person had in front of them and we said a prayer in front of the flame, before we lit our Khom Loys. Fourthly, we lit our Khom Loys and let them fill with hot air... the announcer counted down and we made a wish before sending it up into the evening sky! What an amazing sight 5000 thousand balloon lanterns being released into the night sky all at once. At that moment (just like in Angkor Wat) I wanted everyone I loved with me, especially my husband....he would have loved it and with his artistic eye he would have gotten amazing photos!
Everyone was laughing and singing, fireworks were exploding in the sky, but the true joy was looking up and seeing so many lanterns float away into the night air. Molly and I were giggling like school girls because we were so excited about what we were seeing and experiencing....what a rush!
Some of the Khom Loys, would fall down or land into tress, but surprisingly no one was injured and nothing caught on fire. I told Molly that the US Fire Department would NEVER let this happen..what a fire hazard:) A moment that will forever be cherished and hopefully, someday I will be able to come back and share it will my husband!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
We LOVE Chiang Mai!! It is a really different from Saigon ( a lot quieter) and reminds me of Ann Arbor. We are located in the "artsy" post-college district and the people are wonderful and friendly, plus the weather is alot cooler (no more heat rash for me:) Our family is very kind and really enjoy feeding us. Every morning Molly and I have an assortment of food (at least 4-5 dishes) that we can eat from...and they are very delicious...which means we just keep eating because its there (such an American thing to do)! And then for dinner, it is the same thing....oh, and if we come home anytime during the day they will bring us more food...my stomach is already becoming larger:)
My first week at FOPDEV was really great. Felcity (otherwise know as F) has been very helpful in explaining the project we will be working on and what the organization does. She will be in 
Thailand for a year with her husband working on her PhD, so she can speak and write Thai very well, which helps me out during meetings. Our schedule for the next month will basically be going to homes and observing end-of-life care, as well as having meetings with communities to talk with them about death and dying. I will be doing write-ups at each home visit about what the family members are doing right and what they could do better to help their loved one. F, will be taking notes, observing, and interviewing the family and patient. Like I stated before, I really believe that this is going to be a great learning experience for me as I begin to pursue my masters degree in a field that is not exactly "bedside nursing."
Thailand for a year with her husband working on her PhD, so she can speak and write Thai very well, which helps me out during meetings. Our schedule for the next month will basically be going to homes and observing end-of-life care, as well as having meetings with communities to talk with them about death and dying. I will be doing write-ups at each home visit about what the family members are doing right and what they could do better to help their loved one. F, will be taking notes, observing, and interviewing the family and patient. Like I stated before, I really believe that this is going to be a great learning experience for me as I begin to pursue my masters degree in a field that is not exactly "bedside nursing."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Chiang Mai
Molly and I arrived in Bangkok Thursday afternoon and decided we wanted to get to Chiang Mai as soon as possible. We hopped on a bus and went to the train station where we bought ticket forthe overnight train...the only kicker was the sleeper train was sold out, so we had to sit for 13 hours! We were extremely giggly from lack of sleep and thought everything was funny, even the squat toilet, which was very hard to use while the train was moving....it ended up being quite an experience;)
We arrived in Chiang Mai on Friday morning (Halloween) and went to a guest house where we relaxed and laid out in the sun. We decided to take an Ambien for the first time that night, so we could have a good night sleep and WOW did that medication work! I fell asleep and didn't move for 8 hours...I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. We met up with our program coordinators, Mim and Andy for lunch on Saturday and they showed us around Chiang Mai and gave us our itinerary for the next month...which is very busy! We have yoga classes, language classes, meetings, cooking classes, hikes etc. Everynight we have something planned after work; however, we love it because we get to experience has much as possible in such a short time frame!
I will be working for an NGO called FOPDEV. It is an organization that has many different projects with the elderly people in Chiang Mai. One of my soon-to-be coworkers is an anthropology PhD student at Harvard doing her research on palliative care in the elderly population. I am really excited for this opportunity to work with her and do different kinds of nursing care and research. I believe that it will only help me with my future studies and interests. Plus, Laura (my sister-in-law) gave me a great suggestion and hopefully by helping Fecility with some of her research I can get my name in her publication:)
On Sunday, Molly and I went to Wat Doi Suthep (a huge temple on top of a mountain), also known as the "Jewel" of Chiang Mai. It was a really great experience. We went a bought three items that people give to the Buddha when praying; a lotus flower, incense, and candles. We proceeded to walk around the innermost part of the temple three times with our hands together in front of our face praying. We then lite the incense and candle (saying a pray while lighting the candle), then we placed the lotus flower in a basket in front of the temple. Afterwards, we went to where the monk was sitting and got a bracelet placed on our wrist for good luck. However, a monk is not allowed to touch women, so we went to his "helper" who placed it on us. We then walked around the rest of the temple, noticing all the amazing vibrate colors everywhere. Not just the temple and statues, but the flowers and drapery.
When we arrived back in the city we went to meet our "family." They were very welcoming and friendly, plus our room is HUGE with a great big bed that has western style pillows. The family that lives in this house is an uncle, a great uncle, three sisters, and two nephews (15 and 8 years old). The ladies are in charge of a noodle shop which is located on the first floor. We live on the second floor and the family lives on the third floor. Our first dinner was enormous, so Molly and I can only imagine what our meals are going to look like in the coming month....the weight might start piling on:) 
We arrived in Chiang Mai on Friday morning (Halloween) and went to a guest house where we relaxed and laid out in the sun. We decided to take an Ambien for the first time that night, so we could have a good night sleep and WOW did that medication work! I fell asleep and didn't move for 8 hours...I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in. We met up with our program coordinators, Mim and Andy for lunch on Saturday and they showed us around Chiang Mai and gave us our itinerary for the next month...which is very busy! We have yoga classes, language classes, meetings, cooking classes, hikes etc. Everynight we have something planned after work; however, we love it because we get to experience has much as possible in such a short time frame!
I will be working for an NGO called FOPDEV. It is an organization that has many different projects with the elderly people in Chiang Mai. One of my soon-to-be coworkers is an anthropology PhD student at Harvard doing her research on palliative care in the elderly population. I am really excited for this opportunity to work with her and do different kinds of nursing care and research. I believe that it will only help me with my future studies and interests. Plus, Laura (my sister-in-law) gave me a great suggestion and hopefully by helping Fecility with some of her research I can get my name in her publication:)
On Sunday, Molly and I went to Wat Doi Suthep (a huge temple on top of a mountain), also known as the "Jewel" of Chiang Mai. It was a really great experience. We went a bought three items that people give to the Buddha when praying; a lotus flower, incense, and candles. We proceeded to walk around the innermost part of the temple three times with our hands together in front of our face praying. We then lite the incense and candle (saying a pray while lighting the candle), then we placed the lotus flower in a basket in front of the temple. Afterwards, we went to where the monk was sitting and got a bracelet placed on our wrist for good luck. However, a monk is not allowed to touch women, so we went to his "helper" who placed it on us. We then walked around the rest of the temple, noticing all the amazing vibrate colors everywhere. Not just the temple and statues, but the flowers and drapery.
When we arrived back in the city we went to meet our "family." They were very welcoming and friendly, plus our room is HUGE with a great big bed that has western style pillows. The family that lives in this house is an uncle, a great uncle, three sisters, and two nephews (15 and 8 years old). The ladies are in charge of a noodle shop which is located on the first floor. We live on the second floor and the family lives on the third floor. Our first dinner was enormous, so Molly and I can only imagine what our meals are going to look like in the coming month....the weight might start piling on:)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Cambodia
Our last weekend in Vietnam, Molly and I decided to take a trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The bus trip was about 12 hours and very uneventful (on the way there...a whole other story about the way back:) As
soon as we crossed the border, the atmosphere changed. The structure of the houses were poorly made, more children with inadequate clothing running around and the Cambodian people were very skinny and malnourished looking. However, with the recent horrific history of the country it was not surprising. The average income a year is $320 per family. The estimated number if killings during the Khmer Rouge Era is over 300 thousand and out of 65,000 monks only 3,000 survived....a staggering number! Even with all of this painful history the Cambodians spirit survived and though they are one of the poorest countries in the world, they are trying to rebuild their nation with smiles on their faces!
We arrived in Siem Riep at night time and found a guesthouse for about $6 a day. The next morning we woke up at 4:30 am and biked to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. We had to bike in the dark on
Cambodian roads because we forgot our headlamps; needless to say, we had a couple of laughs and thought our dads would not be happy if they knew we were biking around Cambodia in the dark!! We made it to the temple around 5:45 am and it was amazing. We could only see the outline of the ruins because the sun had not yet risen and the stars were still in the sky. As we crossed the moat and went into the entrance a crazy feeling passed over me. To walk into the courtyard of Angkor Wat and have the massive ancient ruins just meters away was inspiring and overwhelming. Just like in Machu Picchu, nothing really prepares you for something so glorious. At 
the moment when the sun was rising over the five magnificent towers, I just wanted everyone I loved to be standing by my side to experience the joy with me!
After the sun had fully risen we explored Angkor Wat and all its glory.
The temples five corn-cob shaped towers held us captive for awhile, until we decided that we had to move on if we wanted to see everything.
Most people were on motorized tuks-tuks, while Molly and I were pedaling around. I am not going to lie, there were moments when all I wanted was a tuk-tuk and some shade, but at the end of the day we were really glad we biked on our old Cambodian bicycles. Near the end of the day we went back to Angkor Wat and sat on the ancient wall and listened to our I-pods and just
tried to take it all in. It is a moment that I will forever remember and tresure
soon as we crossed the border, the atmosphere changed. The structure of the houses were poorly made, more children with inadequate clothing running around and the Cambodian people were very skinny and malnourished looking. However, with the recent horrific history of the country it was not surprising. The average income a year is $320 per family. The estimated number if killings during the Khmer Rouge Era is over 300 thousand and out of 65,000 monks only 3,000 survived....a staggering number! Even with all of this painful history the Cambodians spirit survived and though they are one of the poorest countries in the world, they are trying to rebuild their nation with smiles on their faces!We arrived in Siem Riep at night time and found a guesthouse for about $6 a day. The next morning we woke up at 4:30 am and biked to Angkor Wat to watch the sunrise. We had to bike in the dark on
Cambodian roads because we forgot our headlamps; needless to say, we had a couple of laughs and thought our dads would not be happy if they knew we were biking around Cambodia in the dark!! We made it to the temple around 5:45 am and it was amazing. We could only see the outline of the ruins because the sun had not yet risen and the stars were still in the sky. As we crossed the moat and went into the entrance a crazy feeling passed over me. To walk into the courtyard of Angkor Wat and have the massive ancient ruins just meters away was inspiring and overwhelming. Just like in Machu Picchu, nothing really prepares you for something so glorious. At 
the moment when the sun was rising over the five magnificent towers, I just wanted everyone I loved to be standing by my side to experience the joy with me!After the sun had fully risen we explored Angkor Wat and all its glory.
The temples five corn-cob shaped towers held us captive for awhile, until we decided that we had to move on if we wanted to see everything.Most people were on motorized tuks-tuks, while Molly and I were pedaling around. I am not going to lie, there were moments when all I wanted was a tuk-tuk and some shade, but at the end of the day we were really glad we biked on our old Cambodian bicycles. Near the end of the day we went back to Angkor Wat and sat on the ancient wall and listened to our I-pods and just
tried to take it all in. It is a moment that I will forever remember and tresure
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Da Lat
Molly and I went to Central Vietnam and really enjoyed our time there. It was about an 8 hour bus trip north into the mountains. On our way, a bus side-swiped our bus and we swerved off the road. Everyone was talking loudly and looking out the window; of course, Molly and I had no idea what was going on. So, we got off the bus and looked at the damage. Nothing major just a broken mirror and some scuff marks; however, we were stuck on the side of a mountainous rode for about an hour with random cows running around everywhere!!
The city of Da Lat was beautiful and the weather reminded me of Michigan Falls (which I am
really missing)! It is located high in the mountains and is surrounded by many beautiful flowers and waterfalls. The first guesthouse we went to had a room for $10 and internet, so we decided to stay. It was a great choice, because the woman owner was very helpful and the breakfast was amazing!! I got to try every kind-of fruit that Vietnam had to offer, and as most of you know, I LOVE fruit! 
On our first day we decided to ride motorcycles with men called "Easy-Riders." They are a group of men that drive tourist around a teach them about the area and Vietnam. To become an "Easy-Rider" they have to take classes in English or French and also have to pass a test in tourism. We only went on a one-day adventure with them, but they offered anywhere from a two-day to a 16-day adventure all around Vietnam!! They took us to waterfalls, silk factories, pogodas and even let us hike up a mountain. My "Easy-
Rider" taught me a lot about Vietnam history, the health care system, and the politics in the country today. Even though there have been a lot of rough patches in Vietnam's history, he was extremely proud of his country and all the changes it has made in such a short period of time. I thought about how much my mother would have enjoyed having her own personally tour-guide for the day. She would have asked every question in the book!!
That night we decided to delay our bus trip back to Saigon and book a canyoning trip. We were so glad that we did! We first learned how to rappel down a small hill and then went down an 85 meter cliff!! I was very surprised how easy it was and how both Molly and I just went down without even blinking an eye. We then went down more cliffs and even
jumped off some into the water below. Plus, we got to rappel down two waterfalls, which was very interesting and fun. It was a totally different experience rappelling down something that has a ton of water coming at you. The tour was suppose to take 6-8 hours and it took us four. Our guides told us both numerous times how impressed they were that two girls all by themselves were doing this and how fast we went. Who knows, maybe they tell everyone that....but it made us feel really good!! Afterwards, our hotel owner 
let us take a shower in her bathroom and then we were back on a bus for our 8 hour journey to Saigon.
The city of Da Lat was beautiful and the weather reminded me of Michigan Falls (which I am
really missing)! It is located high in the mountains and is surrounded by many beautiful flowers and waterfalls. The first guesthouse we went to had a room for $10 and internet, so we decided to stay. It was a great choice, because the woman owner was very helpful and the breakfast was amazing!! I got to try every kind-of fruit that Vietnam had to offer, and as most of you know, I LOVE fruit! 
On our first day we decided to ride motorcycles with men called "Easy-Riders." They are a group of men that drive tourist around a teach them about the area and Vietnam. To become an "Easy-Rider" they have to take classes in English or French and also have to pass a test in tourism. We only went on a one-day adventure with them, but they offered anywhere from a two-day to a 16-day adventure all around Vietnam!! They took us to waterfalls, silk factories, pogodas and even let us hike up a mountain. My "Easy-
Rider" taught me a lot about Vietnam history, the health care system, and the politics in the country today. Even though there have been a lot of rough patches in Vietnam's history, he was extremely proud of his country and all the changes it has made in such a short period of time. I thought about how much my mother would have enjoyed having her own personally tour-guide for the day. She would have asked every question in the book!!That night we decided to delay our bus trip back to Saigon and book a canyoning trip. We were so glad that we did! We first learned how to rappel down a small hill and then went down an 85 meter cliff!! I was very surprised how easy it was and how both Molly and I just went down without even blinking an eye. We then went down more cliffs and even
jumped off some into the water below. Plus, we got to rappel down two waterfalls, which was very interesting and fun. It was a totally different experience rappelling down something that has a ton of water coming at you. The tour was suppose to take 6-8 hours and it took us four. Our guides told us both numerous times how impressed they were that two girls all by themselves were doing this and how fast we went. Who knows, maybe they tell everyone that....but it made us feel really good!! Afterwards, our hotel owner 
let us take a shower in her bathroom and then we were back on a bus for our 8 hour journey to Saigon.Friday, October 17, 2008
Saigon
The city of Saigon (aka HCMC) is a crazy city!! I have never seen so many motorbikes, cars, buses, and people in one area before... not even in New York City!! There is never a quiet moment- horns honking, people yelling, horns honking, dogs barking, horns honking, music blaring, and yes more horns honking. Street-side vendors are every couple steps. They are there in the early morning when we wake up and still there in the late evening when we go to bed. My favorite food has been from these vendors. Each vendor sells something a little different, so it makes it interesting!
At moments, Molly and I have almost gotten hit by cars or motorbikes. There are no lanes in the city so motorbikes go every which way without stopping or slowing down. A "one-way" street is never really a "one-way" street. The only reason drivers get pulled over by the cops is for not wearing helmets. However, only adults have to wear helmets, kids are exempt from this rule. We have even seen a man driving a motorbike, with a women breastfeeding her baby on the back!! We heard that an estimated 30 people die each day, because of the crazy traffic.
At moments, Molly and I have almost gotten hit by cars or motorbikes. There are no lanes in the city so motorbikes go every which way without stopping or slowing down. A "one-way" street is never really a "one-way" street. The only reason drivers get pulled over by the cops is for not wearing helmets. However, only adults have to wear helmets, kids are exempt from this rule. We have even seen a man driving a motorbike, with a women breastfeeding her baby on the back!! We heard that an estimated 30 people die each day, because of the crazy traffic.
Crazy Male Foreigners
I am amazed and saddened at how many single old white men are in the city of Saigon. I don't want to generalize and say that they are all bad, but we have seen our fair share of them acting in manner that makes me frown in disgust. Most of them will hang out by themselves in front of a bar or restaurant drinking beer, waiting till a woman or a child approach. We have seen many occasions where a man will be sitting with a cocktail and three or four children surround him, while playing weird and inappropriate games. UNICEF estimates that there are close to 1 million child prostitutes in Southeast Asia alone... and that is just an estimate. Every night we see the same situation and I really try to restrain myself from approaching them and asking questions, or just taking the children and giving them money for the night; however, that really doesn't solve the problem because they will be back in the streets the next night. It is difficult to wrap my head around the concept of people taken advantage of a poor child in such a demeaning way. There is no excuse for this horrible situation...what do we do????
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mekong Delta
This weekend Molly and I went on a trip down south to the Mekong Delta. It was really nice to get away from the noises of Saigon and see some sites.
The Mekong River flows thru many countries; Burma, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and ends in Vietnam. Our first stop was Can Tho where we saw how the people of the river make candies and rice paper, which was very interesting. Rice paper is extremely hard to make, and takes a long time to perfect. We then went on a boat ride down canals and stopped for lunch
and a bike ride. I told Molly the last time I was on a bike in a foreign country, I ended up in a hospital for a couple of days. Luckily that didn't happen this time and we rode up and 
down many side streets, while kids yelled "hello" and slapped us "high fives." Afterwards, we found some hammocks and rested before our boat trip to Vinh Long. There we met an Aussie couple, who were very nice and fun and we ended up spending the rest of the weekend with them.
The next day we went to the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta region. The boats are all anchored in a bay and
people just float up alongside them and buy goods. While floating around I bought a pineapple from one of the vendors and he cut it up for me. It really was the best pineapple ever, so fresh and juicy. Most of the people live in their boats on the river. Some boats look like they could only house one person, but families somehow pack in!
The Mekong River flows thru many countries; Burma, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Loas and ends in Vietnam. Our first stop was Can Tho where we saw how the people of the river make candies and rice paper, which was very interesting. Rice paper is extremely hard to make, and takes a long time to perfect. We then went on a boat ride down canals and stopped for lunch
and a bike ride. I told Molly the last time I was on a bike in a foreign country, I ended up in a hospital for a couple of days. Luckily that didn't happen this time and we rode up and 
down many side streets, while kids yelled "hello" and slapped us "high fives." Afterwards, we found some hammocks and rested before our boat trip to Vinh Long. There we met an Aussie couple, who were very nice and fun and we ended up spending the rest of the weekend with them.The next day we went to the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta region. The boats are all anchored in a bay and
people just float up alongside them and buy goods. While floating around I bought a pineapple from one of the vendors and he cut it up for me. It really was the best pineapple ever, so fresh and juicy. Most of the people live in their boats on the river. Some boats look like they could only house one person, but families somehow pack in!Sunday, October 12, 2008
Jung
We arrived at the clinic on Thursday and Jung (a young man) was not doing very well. When we left on Wednesday he was sitting up and eating dinner and talking more then usually, but on our return his breathing pattern had changed during the night and he was not arousable. Sister Theresa thought that he wouldn't make it till the weekend, but seeing how much he changed overnight Molly and I knew that he wouldn't make it thru the day. Around 12:00, his breathing pattern changed again, so Molly and I sat with him and talked to him. The sisters came by and decided that they would baptize him, seeing that his condition was declining rapidly. I asked Sister Rosa if one of Jung's wishes was being baptized and she said yes. The previous night, he stated that if he was close to dying, he would like to be baptized so he could go to heaven and be with his uncle. The whole ceremony was very touching and moving. The sister brought music in and chanted prayers over him. About 30 minutes later he past away. Some of the older children left the classroom and came into Jung's room. At first I didn't understand why they let the children come into the room; however, when watching their faces and hearing there prayers, I understood. They live with this disease everyday and our faced with many challenges. Death is a part of life and the sisters do not want to shelter them from that fact. With the right love and teaching, the children learn the skills they need to cope with death and the disease that they have. It was a very powerful moment to watch a 5 year old standing at this man's bedside saying a prayer very loudly and strongly...it brought us to tears.
The Clinic!
Our first couple of days at the clinic were very interesting. The children are in school during the morning hours, have lunch and take a nap, then are back in school till 4:00 p.m. Meanwhile the men and women help clean the grounds, or prepare the meals, and just do their own thing.
The language barrier is difficult. We do our best with what we know and so do the nuns, but our questions never get fully
answered. We don't really have a schedule, so we do our best to help out where needed; however, we don't feel that our skills and knowledge are being utilized at the moment. One man, Jong, is close to dying and needs more attention then the others, so we mostly take care of him. We are hoping as the days go by and they get to know us better and begin to trust us, they will give us more tasks.
The language barrier is difficult. We do our best with what we know and so do the nuns, but our questions never get fully
answered. We don't really have a schedule, so we do our best to help out where needed; however, we don't feel that our skills and knowledge are being utilized at the moment. One man, Jong, is close to dying and needs more attention then the others, so we mostly take care of him. We are hoping as the days go by and they get to know us better and begin to trust us, they will give us more tasks.Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Vietnam
We arrived in Vietnam after a very uneventful plane ride (besides the fact that I was sitting next to three elderly Chinese men who were very friendly and loved to talk)! After leaving the airport our program coordinator was there to greet us. She was friendly and talkative, which made us feel very welcome after a long flight. We took a taxi to our guesthouse and Thanh (the coordinator) dropped us off and told us she would meet us at 9:00 a.m. for a little orientation process.
As Molly and I looked around the room, it was more then we expected. There were two twin beds, a nice size closet, a T.V. and minifridge. The shocker was an appliance above the shower that heats up the water, so alas we get HOT water!! We both thought that we were going to have cold showers for 2 months. The only down side was random ants on the floor, but that can easily be ignored.
The next morning Thanh and her friend met up with us after breakfast and we were off to see our place of work. We found out that we were going to be on a bus for 4 hours a day ( 2 hours there and 2 hours back) and we needed to change buses half way thru. Whe
n I asked why the clinic was so for away, I received an interesting answer. People that have AIDS are not suppose to be in the city during their end-stage of life, because the Vietnamese people believe that if someone with AIDS dies, they need to be burned in the country far away from the main population. As for the children, if the city knows they have the virus they are not allowed to be in the school system. The stigma that these children live with is overwhelming sad, due to the fact that many people are uneducated about the HIV virus.
When we arrived at the clinic it was nap time, so we didn't see many of the patients, but the supervisor showed us around. It is a very clean and peaceful place, with a calming feeling. We were there about an hour and then headed back to the city. On the way back our coordinator taught us useful Vietnamese phrases and other important "inside" travel tips. We got back to the guesthouse and crashed at 5:00 p.m.....the jetlag caught up to us!
The next day we just bummed around the city and learned our way around. We went to a great market with beautiful fresh fruits and veggies... and amazing orchids!! It was really nice to get more acquainted with the city and the people. We are excited to start work on Monday and see what it brings!
(p.s. I don't get to use a computer much, so things might be a little late sorry...plus I have to type fast because people are waiting so sorry about the spelling!!) Much Love!!
As Molly and I looked around the room, it was more then we expected. There were two twin beds, a nice size closet, a T.V. and minifridge. The shocker was an appliance above the shower that heats up the water, so alas we get HOT water!! We both thought that we were going to have cold showers for 2 months. The only down side was random ants on the floor, but that can easily be ignored.
The next morning Thanh and her friend met up with us after breakfast and we were off to see our place of work. We found out that we were going to be on a bus for 4 hours a day ( 2 hours there and 2 hours back) and we needed to change buses half way thru. Whe
n I asked why the clinic was so for away, I received an interesting answer. People that have AIDS are not suppose to be in the city during their end-stage of life, because the Vietnamese people believe that if someone with AIDS dies, they need to be burned in the country far away from the main population. As for the children, if the city knows they have the virus they are not allowed to be in the school system. The stigma that these children live with is overwhelming sad, due to the fact that many people are uneducated about the HIV virus.When we arrived at the clinic it was nap time, so we didn't see many of the patients, but the supervisor showed us around. It is a very clean and peaceful place, with a calming feeling. We were there about an hour and then headed back to the city. On the way back our coordinator taught us useful Vietnamese phrases and other important "inside" travel tips. We got back to the guesthouse and crashed at 5:00 p.m.....the jetlag caught up to us!
The next day we just bummed around the city and learned our way around. We went to a great market with beautiful fresh fruits and veggies... and amazing orchids!! It was really nice to get more acquainted with the city and the people. We are excited to start work on Monday and see what it brings!
(p.s. I don't get to use a computer much, so things might be a little late sorry...plus I have to type fast because people are waiting so sorry about the spelling!!) Much Love!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Beginnings...
As many of you know I will be leaving for Asia in a couple of days to work with communities who have HIV/AIDS and other various illnesses. The patients that we will be working with do not have means to adequate health care and in some cases their parents or loved ones have died and left them alone with no way to take care of themselves. I am very excited for this challenge and opportunity to grow in my professional field as well as personally.
However, I would like to give a little background on why I made this decision to go on this trip. During the last couple of months I have been asked numerous times, "Why do you want to go there?" or "Do you really want to do this?" Each time I answered with a strong "yes!"
As a young child I was blessed to have parents that were able to take my brothers and I to many different places. Their love for travel and thirst for knowledge about many different cultures radiated from them and was ingrained in me. Everytime I was given an opportunity to travel and take on new adventures my parents were always very supportive in my journeys. When I was a college student in my last semester of nursing, I went on a health brigade to Nicaragua and it changed my perception of healthcare. It also ignited a passion in me for more knowledge and understanding about global health. However, I came back from that trip and went to work in the hospital setting to get more nursing experience. I started working in the adult oncology field and when I got bored I moved on to pediatric oncology. During each change, I never forgot the enthusiasm I felt for global health and talked about it often with my family and friends. About two years ago, I was stuck in a rut at work and trying to decide my next career step. I started to research graduate schools and the different programs offered to nurses, trying to find the best fit for me. During this process my eagerness for learning about international health care came flooding back. I started looking for programs that would help me gain more knowledge in this growing field. As I narrowed the universities down, I also revisited the thought about going on another missions trip. One night, as I was complaining about my job to my husband, he looked at me and said, "Mary, I think you just need to go and do this volunteer experience. If you don't, you will regret it and there is no reason to regret something that is easily attainable." I looked at him, smiled and started researching what organization I wanted to go with.
After that everything fell into place. I got accepted to the University of Michigan for their program in Nursing Business/Health Systems with Global Health Certificate and found two great organizations to work with while in Asia. As I begin this journey I am extremely thankful to my family for understanding me and helping me reach this goal. I would also like to say thank you to my husband who has always supported me and helped me find my path in this next phase of life. Plus, he is letting me go, while he stays in the States!!
I understand that this journey is going to be very emotional, with highs and lows. I hope that everyone will be able to enjoy my experiences through this blog and feel free to post comments. First stop Vietnam!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
