Words for the Day

1. Flexibility: I guess I should say this is the world for the whole trip. I can't even count how many times our plans for the day have changed, changed back and then changed to something completely different. We have all learned very quickly to just go with the flow.

2. Patience: I guess this goes hand in hand with being flexible.

3. Sore Bottoms: This happened because of all the waiting around, meetings and lectures we attended today.

4. Caffeine: A key ingredient to start, continue and sometimes even end your day with. Tonight we went to Joma's for dinner and I think I had the best cafe drinks ever. First a London Fog, which was an Earl Grey tea latte followed by an iced coffee latte--both completely delicious!

5. Caterpillars: Lots of people have told me to try something new, so I decided why not eat a bug. Today in the hospital cafeteria they had caterpillars. I really ate one (actually several) and thought they were pretty good. They tasted like peanuts that popped in your mouth. But the more I ate them, the more they appeared to be crawling around in my stomach, which caused me to stop eating them. But who knows what interesting food I may eat tomorrow.

6. Nap-time: Anyone that knows me knows how I love my naps. This has been a crucial element for survival in Vietnam due to our busy days. I guess it's a combination of the heat and hard work, but the mid day naps have been wonderful.

Alrighty, time for some sleep and preparing ourselves for new adventures tomorrow.

Jessica

Missions That Have Been Accomplished: Another 10 Things List by Amanda

I had some fear that once I found myself on the other side of the world, I would end up not finding my niche, that thing that I was here to do. Well, there were several things that I was here to do, actually. My fear has been put aside. I have:

1. Eaten a gross amount of the most delicious ice cream ever to cross my lips and still managed to loose weight.

2. Found a real purpose for dental floss (Vietnamese food and my teeth are at war!)

3. Been able to wear flip flops to work.

4a. Been called beautiful multiple times in a day by people who don't know and love me already (apparently every Vietnamese woman wants to be a plump, fair skined woman who "looks like a freshman in college."

4b. Been told I am like a movie star.

5. Successfully taught medical information to people in a way that was constructive and not demeaning, using my job skill in service.

6. Been able to teach parents how to bring health and more functional living to their child on a regular basis.

7. Make a friend.

8. Make another friend.

9. Not be run over (this is a goal for myself most weeks, no matter the continent).

10. Make a date for real, asian karaoke.

Almost everything...

Amanda

The Work Week Begins

Baileys, Kahlua, Mint Liquour...no we haven't been drinking just indulging in Fannys ice cream (again). Who needs a real dinner when you can have ice cream instead--it's a dream come true.

But before the ice cream, we were working hard at the Children's Hospital in Hanoi today. Or I guess I should say that Amanda and Jennifer were working hard today. Amanda did a wonderful job speaking with parents of children with asthma and bronciolitis. Everyone seemed very happy that we were there and they were all very inquisitive. Jennifer observed children's behavioral health assessments. Today was mostly observation, but tomorrow we plan to give some lectures and continue helping on the units. Jessica got to take a tour of the operating room and sterile processing, where they clean their instruments and get sterile supplies ready for surgery. Ashley and Jessica were mostly there for moral support and photography to capture all the memories:)

Today we branched out from Vietnamese cuisine and ate at Al Frescos for lunch. We feasted on some good old fashion American food--pizza, french fries and tex mex food. We ate a very large lunch and were all ready for a nap afterwards. If we lived here we would be taking a siesta after lunch for about an hour. That sounds fabulous--I'm so jealous.

And most importantly, I need to mention that the staff from GVI have been wonderful. Huong, Tai, Tan and everyone else that we will meet soon, we want to thank them for all their help and guidance. You've made this trip an educational, fun, and memorable experience.

That's all for now

Jessica

We want to thank everyone for their posts, though we decided that many needed to be removed. As you may have noticed, some of our blogs and lists have been updated. We appreciate that so many are "thinking " of us and sending us "best wishes" as we volunteer here in Hanoi.

Today we worked with SS3 orphanage, and though there were fewer kids, the experience was more in depth than yesterday. There are many tangible needs that may easily be met now that these needs have been identified. Our fellow volunteers from Virginia who are coming to Hanoi later in the summer will have to be so kind as to bring another medical bag with basic supplies and instructions. The children are excited about the beach trip!

We went to a Vietnamese cultural museum today. It was very interesting, and from a medical standpoint, I must add that the exhibit on AIDS and HIV is one of the best educational exhibits on the subject that I have ever seen. As in America, the introduction of the AIDS epidemic combined with the ignorance of what AIDS meant and how it was transmitted lead to the same type of social issues that America experienced in the 1980's, though Vietnam's epidemic started only 20 years ago.

There was a Children's event going on in the gardens of the museum, and while both Ashley and Jessica were more stealth on stilt walking, I do think that I was more graceful on the balance beam :)

Fannys is the best and most beautiful ice cream in the world! Sorry that you are on another continent!

Amanda

Vietnamese Traffic Laws as Observed By Amanda

1. Speed limit is determined by how fast the person that is in front of you is going if and when you cannot get around them.

2. Stay to the right of the double yellow line, unless you need more space to pass someone, in which case blink flashers at oncoming traffic before crossing double yellow lines.

3 a. White broken line dividing road into two lanes may be more functionally used by driver if straddled with vehicle, making swerving to whatever side required less jarring to passengers.

3 b. White broken line dividing road into two lanes is only a general suggestion. Three or four lanes works just as well as long as horn is applied appropriately.

4. Red light means stop, unless you don't think it is necessary. Then don't stop.

5. If you have stopped at the red light then the green light means... honk at the other vehicles that also stopped.

6. Honking horn expresses intent if you are the honker.

7. Having a horn honked at you if you are the honkee means absolutely nothing. Keep going your merry way as you would like.

8. Try not to hit pedestrians. Just honk at them.

9. As a pedestrian, DO NOT look both ways. It will only cause anxiety. Just close your eyes, absorb the melodious honking and walk.

10. On a one way street you only go one way unless you need to go the other way, in which case you honk and proceed.

This place would be a dream for any of you in Richmond with a scooter/bike!

Here and Getting Along Fine

Saturday evening here, near the end of our first day. The 18 hours in air were trying, but that is to be expected. From the airport in the cab was...scary. See later post "Vietnam's Traffic Laws."

Everyone on the team is tired but well. This morning we went to an orphanage and were able to screen and do well child exams on about 40 children. Most of them had not been screened since 2009, if not longer. We did not get a lot of social time with the children, but during the exam found most of them either a bit of the shy side, or very interested in our stethoscopes.

Our hosts here are amazing. I am afraid to try to spell names, as I have to picture the word in my head as it sounds or I will never be able to say it. We have met Duhn ("you may call me 'get it done!'"), Hough ("huh"), Chai, and Tou (like "Pow" except with a t/d combo sound). Thank goodness that most people know a little English. I was trying some very basic greetings. In the bank an elderly woman walked up out of the blue and took my hand and said "hello." She seemed very proud to be able to say the English word. I tried to return the greeting in kind. Unfortunately, a lot of the Vietnamese language is based on the inflection with which the words are said, so when I tried to say "hello" I actually said "want soup." I didn't try to much after that, afraid of what could possibly come out of my mouth that would be more ridiculous that asking an elderly stranger in the bank for soup.

The Stress is Gone and So Are We

I'm about to go to bed, only to wake in five hours to finish last minute packing and head to Ashley's where we will convene to pack, pray, and set off for DC. We fly out of DC around lunch time.

I feel so good today. All the little details that had been bothering me, things to do, buy, pack, gather, people to talk to... its all either done, or it's not done and there isn't anything else that I can do with it. And with this acknowledgement comes peace.

It has been quite a journey already, seeing things be moved and directed in the lives of the team members and happenstances around us creating this trip and making it happen for the service of others. I know for sure that there was a moment I had my doubts that it would happen for me personally, but I think someone out there in the universe gets a kick out of reminding me who is in charge, (hunt: it's not me).

I was able to see all of my family this weekend, and it was a blessing to talk about the trip with them. Their excitement was an encouragement. Then today, Mom was able to come visit for a few hours. We ran errands and talked, then she gave me letters, a letter for every day of my try almost, with annotations as to when to open them. I came home and packed the letters with travel tissues. It's such a blessing to see my family and friends, from church and work and from the past, all supporting the effort to serve those in need. Previously, I have had trouble understanding how full time humanitarian volunteers do it, and while I still can't claim to have that kind of understanding, I can see how family and friend's supporting the effort can make a very real difference.

From the whole team and myself, thank you for your support. Whether it is "well-wishes" or time or money that you have invested in us to go and serve those in need, we thank you. We promise to do all that we can to meet the needs of those we meet and love them beyond reason, just as we have been loved.

Love to all,

Amanda

A Picture of (most of) the Team

Here's a picture of our team (Ashley, Amanda, and Jessica) at a team meeting where we went for a hike in Richmond, VA to Hollywood Cemetery. I (Jessica) will be taking pictures while we are in Vietnam and I will have tons of pictures to share with everyone once we get back. So Jennifer will definitely be in future pictures.

The Countdown

We only have about nine more days until we leave! I can hardly believe it. Currently we are working to get all the medical supplies and equipment together that we can. Also we are working on presentations for medical staff. All the rest of it seems a little surreal.

The Spaghetti Fundraiser was a huge success! Thanks for all of those who were able to attend. I hope each and everyone who came walked away with a prize of some sort.

This blog will be our main communication doing our time in Vietnam. Once we leave, we will endeavor to have at least one of the team members blog each day and let you know how we are all fairing. Until then, and if you don't mind, check in every once in a while to see any updates to our "think of us" list. Next to getting to Vietnam, well-wishes are the most essential part of this trip! Please be think of us often as we are traveling and working in Hanoi and Choung My.

More to come... Bless you all.
Amanda