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."