Maleku: Highway Community Hospital
This place is really soemthing. There's 1 qualified doctor and one paramedic who ends up doing most of the work and a couple of sisters (nurses), then cleaning staff, x-ray operator and other helpers dispensing pharmaceuticals and registering patients. But this place is seriously in utter chaos whenever a case comes in. Everyone crowds into the emergency room (ER) whenever anything happens. During that afternoon/evening we saw a driver of a small car who got hit by a truck, a school girl hit by a taxi and another group of 3 girls hit by a motorcycle. The type of treatment they get here is brutal too, there's no such thing as space for the patient. There's either a crowd of people hovering around them or no one there. Halfway through suturing the first patient they ran out of small sutures and had to use large sutures on several facial lacerations. Then when the little girl came in, they also had to use the large sutures. This hospital is well funded by the Italians who came and set it up, but poor (or dare I say corrupt) administration. The management rep was super kind to us on arrival and then this morning sat down very officially, then pulled out a sheet of paper with 3 pionts written in Nepali. Then proceeded with his speech. (translated to us by the doctor)
1. how would you like to support us?
2. for how long?
3. what do you want from us?
[applause here]
This was the shortest most selfish speech I've ever been given. He followed up our stunned looks with "this hospital provides services to the community free of charge and to accident victims." Thanks we read that on the sign, but too bad, you don't have the essential supplies. They must have the money, but poor management makes this a nightmare for the hospital workers. These people are all really nice and good people, but the administration is seriously abusing them. They are underpaid, overworked and unappreciated. Our stay there was extremely good. The Nepali people are so hospitable. It was so sad to leave them. Anywyas, hope to email the organization that started up this hospital and hope they'll knock some sense into this money hungry adminstration. All the staff at the hospital came to the end of the road to see us off. They helped us flag down another crazy bus and bargain a good price - all the while they were trying to convince us to stay for just one more day. Our contributions were nill, but perhaps people just need people to hear them out. You can pray for people working for the well-being of our fellow human in crude conditions. How are you to witness to these people?
listenign to horrible attempt at red hot chilly peppers (Mike you would NOT be impressed) in a mosquito infested cafe.
must go now. please pray for continual sensitivity to God during this time of often not knowing what to do/say.
29.6.07
27.06.07
Hope you're enjoying day 2 of being 22 Muily.
So we get on bus at the bus park in Kathmandu and journey to Gorkha. A couple kilometers into the trip, the bus fills to maximum seat capacity, but that doesn't hinder the bus from filling with more people - it's in the business of brewing the most foul smelling odour of human waste from both ends of the body. The steel seat frame look like something they pulled from a plane crash and loosely bolted to the ground. A vertical support pole was loosely held in place to the roof with 1 bolt which jingled to each and every bump for the first 15 minutes of the ride - afterwhich it succumbed to gravity and left the pole to choose its victim. It was a good thing, someone was using it as a secondary support and prevented it from knocking someone out. The bus boy came a while later to replace the bolt with his fingers. The brakes also squealed without mercy to the ears as the bus jolted to a stop. Shouldn't complain cause this bus actually stopped - very improtant when you're going on winding mountainous roads at break-neck (literally) speeds. So is my experience with the local bus.
After the food break, I decided to ride on top of the bus. There were only 2 of us. It turned out to be the much better choice as the bus was soon packed with too many people. personal space is a rare commodity on the local buses. I've witnessed people puke and spit, and heard stories of people getting pissed on. Then evn the roof got crowded with a gentleman carrying a load of last plastic barrels. Additional company on the roof consisted of the stray electrical cables that hung a bit low, so it was a bit of a game to not get clothlined (it wasn't like dodging bullets, but it was fun enough)
Then we finally got to Gorkha and the fun began. After hiking 1500 steps, we came to the Shah temple of the king (who now longer has power) and whom Hindus beleive to be the reincarnation of the Vishnu god. the view was beautiful, but somewhat stunned at what sacrifices would have looked like, there was a chopping block somewhat fresh from a recent animal sacrifice there... Hindu culture very hard to appreciate, it's rather messy. And they really hold cows in high regard. Their dung and milk is considered holy.
Sandip, Sujan, Suda and Nigani left us after that to return home. Females must be home by 1830 or else there is big trouble. For males there is no restriction - another e.g. of how this is a male dominated society here. majority of ppl on streets men.
We finally go and get some food afterward. we find a decent restuarant and have our fill of momo's (siew luung baow), omelet and daihee(yogurt). We return to a guest house afterward to take cold baths and talk a bit more before returning to the same restuarant for some dinner. It's during dinner that a drunk man comes to us and starts shouting things like 'you're human! i love humans!' I think he was trying to make us feel welcome as foreigners there. it was entertainment for the other people in the restuarant. i was tring hard not to breakout into a fit of laugter. long story short, we got out of there just in time to get home before the monsoon rains came down.
So we get on bus at the bus park in Kathmandu and journey to Gorkha. A couple kilometers into the trip, the bus fills to maximum seat capacity, but that doesn't hinder the bus from filling with more people - it's in the business of brewing the most foul smelling odour of human waste from both ends of the body. The steel seat frame look like something they pulled from a plane crash and loosely bolted to the ground. A vertical support pole was loosely held in place to the roof with 1 bolt which jingled to each and every bump for the first 15 minutes of the ride - afterwhich it succumbed to gravity and left the pole to choose its victim. It was a good thing, someone was using it as a secondary support and prevented it from knocking someone out. The bus boy came a while later to replace the bolt with his fingers. The brakes also squealed without mercy to the ears as the bus jolted to a stop. Shouldn't complain cause this bus actually stopped - very improtant when you're going on winding mountainous roads at break-neck (literally) speeds. So is my experience with the local bus.
After the food break, I decided to ride on top of the bus. There were only 2 of us. It turned out to be the much better choice as the bus was soon packed with too many people. personal space is a rare commodity on the local buses. I've witnessed people puke and spit, and heard stories of people getting pissed on. Then evn the roof got crowded with a gentleman carrying a load of last plastic barrels. Additional company on the roof consisted of the stray electrical cables that hung a bit low, so it was a bit of a game to not get clothlined (it wasn't like dodging bullets, but it was fun enough)
Then we finally got to Gorkha and the fun began. After hiking 1500 steps, we came to the Shah temple of the king (who now longer has power) and whom Hindus beleive to be the reincarnation of the Vishnu god. the view was beautiful, but somewhat stunned at what sacrifices would have looked like, there was a chopping block somewhat fresh from a recent animal sacrifice there... Hindu culture very hard to appreciate, it's rather messy. And they really hold cows in high regard. Their dung and milk is considered holy.
Sandip, Sujan, Suda and Nigani left us after that to return home. Females must be home by 1830 or else there is big trouble. For males there is no restriction - another e.g. of how this is a male dominated society here. majority of ppl on streets men.
We finally go and get some food afterward. we find a decent restuarant and have our fill of momo's (siew luung baow), omelet and daihee(yogurt). We return to a guest house afterward to take cold baths and talk a bit more before returning to the same restuarant for some dinner. It's during dinner that a drunk man comes to us and starts shouting things like 'you're human! i love humans!' I think he was trying to make us feel welcome as foreigners there. it was entertainment for the other people in the restuarant. i was tring hard not to breakout into a fit of laugter. long story short, we got out of there just in time to get home before the monsoon rains came down.
26.6.07
26.06.07
met up with the 2nd in command at the traffic police office again today and gave him a presentation on study that i did when i first arrived. he also shared that ktm has emmission testing, but ppl use different fuel when they come in so it always passes. but hen they get back ont ehr oad they use bad stuff that is from the pumps and spot checks fail at rate of over 80%.. ke garne...
Dilemmas:So I ran into my friend at the money exchange yesterday and kind of promised him I'd meet with him Saturday morning at 0900. He's been witnessed to by some JWs. I'm not sure what to think, but that this kid who has been schooled in a Christian school has been turned aside by this teaching. what to do? skip church to talk with him?
As well, I taught sunday school last week. it was interesting, really rudimentary - read out of this book that essentially does a word search on a topic and reads a random selection of verses from there. there's no method to the teaching here. i scraped it and did a parable. not sure what to do this week, b/c not sure if will get there in time..
Going to Gorkha tomorrow - home of the Gorkha warriors and the famous Gorkha knife.
Ernest and i will be ditching the bus at Maleku to stay for 2 days at the Highway Community Hospital - a hospital set up by some italians after a photographer died there. it services a 70km radius. it's a nice, but quite place, but i imagine they see a lot of really bad traumas when it rains.
Today was crazy too. photo guy took so long that i just got fed up and left to go to hospital. then the tempo didn't stop cause it was too full. i got so sick of the retarded (literally retarded traffic) that i ran to the hosptial and beat the next tempo up. so felt pretty good. anyway, did round with our favourite Dr. Shakya and learned more about the ridiculousness at kanti.
In the burn ward, we dug up an autoclave machine that was donated a hile ago but never used, because ppl didn't know how to plug it in. there was a different plug, so we went a bought a plug for 40Rs and plugged it in. now we'll have distilled water and an autoclave for the burn unit in addtiion to the topical lidocaine spray that Ernest insisted that we get. I can see that the physicians feel much better about changing dressings and the kids are also much better - not literally screaming their heads off. there was this one kid today who kept on pointing at various viles of stuff in the dressing room and saying not to use that, that, that that, at the top of his lungs. after the lidocaine kicked in, he was quite calm and your could tell that the healthcare workers were enjoying their work so much more.
we also bargained for a fridge and got one for 9500Rs. took a cab and got it back to the hosptial where they can now store medication at proper temperatures. They had diazepam hanging out on a normal shelf - the package clearly says cool dry place - not to store at temperatures above 25C. Needless, to say they were really happy.
anyay, off to meet the SGP grp for the last time, gotta go. Peace be with you all. please continue to pray that- i keep focused on JC - Author perfector of faith and Hope.- that be evident in relating w/ host family issues- also to be continual encoruagement to ppl around me. Ernesto (as much as he's an encouragement to me) and Dr. Shakya, our tavaresh. hehehe. funny guy..
WATER! in abundance! now that it's in abundance, causes of cholera will also come in. but no more limited showers or not washing cloths for long time! it's weird how things flip so fast. but monsoon also means a lot of rain at times when you dont want it. more on this later...
adios! miss you all! thanks for the emails and replies!!!
Dilemmas:So I ran into my friend at the money exchange yesterday and kind of promised him I'd meet with him Saturday morning at 0900. He's been witnessed to by some JWs. I'm not sure what to think, but that this kid who has been schooled in a Christian school has been turned aside by this teaching. what to do? skip church to talk with him?
As well, I taught sunday school last week. it was interesting, really rudimentary - read out of this book that essentially does a word search on a topic and reads a random selection of verses from there. there's no method to the teaching here. i scraped it and did a parable. not sure what to do this week, b/c not sure if will get there in time..
Going to Gorkha tomorrow - home of the Gorkha warriors and the famous Gorkha knife.
Ernest and i will be ditching the bus at Maleku to stay for 2 days at the Highway Community Hospital - a hospital set up by some italians after a photographer died there. it services a 70km radius. it's a nice, but quite place, but i imagine they see a lot of really bad traumas when it rains.
Today was crazy too. photo guy took so long that i just got fed up and left to go to hospital. then the tempo didn't stop cause it was too full. i got so sick of the retarded (literally retarded traffic) that i ran to the hosptial and beat the next tempo up. so felt pretty good. anyway, did round with our favourite Dr. Shakya and learned more about the ridiculousness at kanti.
In the burn ward, we dug up an autoclave machine that was donated a hile ago but never used, because ppl didn't know how to plug it in. there was a different plug, so we went a bought a plug for 40Rs and plugged it in. now we'll have distilled water and an autoclave for the burn unit in addtiion to the topical lidocaine spray that Ernest insisted that we get. I can see that the physicians feel much better about changing dressings and the kids are also much better - not literally screaming their heads off. there was this one kid today who kept on pointing at various viles of stuff in the dressing room and saying not to use that, that, that that, at the top of his lungs. after the lidocaine kicked in, he was quite calm and your could tell that the healthcare workers were enjoying their work so much more.
we also bargained for a fridge and got one for 9500Rs. took a cab and got it back to the hosptial where they can now store medication at proper temperatures. They had diazepam hanging out on a normal shelf - the package clearly says cool dry place - not to store at temperatures above 25C. Needless, to say they were really happy.
anyay, off to meet the SGP grp for the last time, gotta go. Peace be with you all. please continue to pray that- i keep focused on JC - Author perfector of faith and Hope.- that be evident in relating w/ host family issues- also to be continual encoruagement to ppl around me. Ernesto (as much as he's an encouragement to me) and Dr. Shakya, our tavaresh. hehehe. funny guy..
WATER! in abundance! now that it's in abundance, causes of cholera will also come in. but no more limited showers or not washing cloths for long time! it's weird how things flip so fast. but monsoon also means a lot of rain at times when you dont want it. more on this later...
adios! miss you all! thanks for the emails and replies!!!
25.6.07
25.06.07
More madness today. Went to meet the SGP grp at the restuarant and went thru a lecture on knowing God's will. Then went back to the hospital where our ''Tavaresh" (Russian for comrad) was hard at work with a polypectomy, 2 hydrocoele and 2 appendectomies. I only made it to observe the appendectomies and almost passed out cause I didn't get a chance to really eat since last night.
Continuing to learn a lot at the hospital. we're off to study to make this short. Tomorrow I'll be giving a talk to the traffic police and meeting the SGP grp for dinner afterward.
oh yes, also found out yesterday from the sister (nurse) that I was in the paper a week ago during my talk to the student volunteers to do lung function testing. Anyway, they quoted me saying the most absurd stuff that makes no sense at all. This country of corruption has started to personally tick me off. Perhaps this fatalistic view of things is rubbing off on me. 'ke garne' (what to do) is a phrase we often now speak in response to the tragic situation. People seriously just don't know better. As our tavaresh would say, education is the key. It's quite sad the situation here. We were showed another fully functional washroom that was used as storage today. This is really sad as just outside (within 10 metres) people defecate on the bench in the waiting area.
Anyway, if anyone knows of any place wishing to donate functional medical equipment. Please email me. We're hoping to set up a non-corrupt group of medical workers here to receive this equipment and put it to much needed use.
Continuing to learn a lot at the hospital. we're off to study to make this short. Tomorrow I'll be giving a talk to the traffic police and meeting the SGP grp for dinner afterward.
oh yes, also found out yesterday from the sister (nurse) that I was in the paper a week ago during my talk to the student volunteers to do lung function testing. Anyway, they quoted me saying the most absurd stuff that makes no sense at all. This country of corruption has started to personally tick me off. Perhaps this fatalistic view of things is rubbing off on me. 'ke garne' (what to do) is a phrase we often now speak in response to the tragic situation. People seriously just don't know better. As our tavaresh would say, education is the key. It's quite sad the situation here. We were showed another fully functional washroom that was used as storage today. This is really sad as just outside (within 10 metres) people defecate on the bench in the waiting area.
Anyway, if anyone knows of any place wishing to donate functional medical equipment. Please email me. We're hoping to set up a non-corrupt group of medical workers here to receive this equipment and put it to much needed use.
22.6.07
Update
Hello.
Events durig the last little while. My answer to pray came as Jason arranged for me to travel with a group of young Singaporean professionals. The most encouraging thing was the fellowship. I realized that I really miss being able to be understood, sing praises in a language that I comprehend and pray together with siblings. (I hope I'm not being too self-centred with 'my' worship). Anyway, the random discussions that Moreover, it was a good break to be able to travel out to see the Annapurna mountains. Despite the cloud cover, we were still able to catch a glimpse of the fishtail peak (Annapurna I) early one morning and in the afternoon of another. It was a great change to be able to meet village people. I was seriously starting to get really intolerant of the ridiculous amount of unjustified horn usage within the city.
It was nice not to see any type of motorized vehicle, but also painful to see a 52year old man carrying 50kg of aluminum roofing for on a 2 day hike. He starts at 0700 each morning and goes til about 1300. This is usually when the rains start to come down.
Got my first leech bite as well. They actually don't hurt at all. The only reason why I noticed was because my toe was wallowing around in a pool of blood. Other little accidents included slipping on the rocks. But it was a small price to pay to get away and see a more representative perspective of Nepal. ~80% of the Nepali people live in villages away from the city centres.
Just got back from another dinner with an uncle here who has essentially extended a helping hand in every way since my arrival.
The week prior I did another presentation at ENPHO to a group of undergrad students with the Clean Air Network Nepal division of Clean Energy Nepal. They have been trained to do pulmonary function testing on class 8 students. The idea of this study is to gauge the effect of air pollution in student who live in areas where the air pollution levels are tracked. Testing has been goign on during this last week. I'll probably meet with them sometime this week to debrief. As well, maybe sharing results with traffic police this week. But we'll see...
Last week, I was also fortunate enough to shadow a pediatric surgeon at Kanti and also at the Gorkha Hospital - a much cleaner and less chaotic hospital. I'm still digesting a lot of what I've been exposed to in the hospital. But perhaps it's something I will have to get used to - the hospital is a place of sick people. Nevertheless, some of the treatment methods are quite brutal. It's hard to sit there and not cringe when the wrong equipment is being used, or when you are exposed to the ironic realities of organizations. It seriously is a tragedy. They have had some of the most high tech equipment donated by the Japanese in 1994, but it hasn't been used. It sits in a fancy display case because no one knows how to use it. As the Nepali's would say: "ke garne" (what to do). It's a fatalistic statement that states the frustration in situations that just shouldn't exist, but do.
I didn’t realize this, but my time here is running short. With a little over a month to go, I’ll be visiting some other missionaries in Nepal in the following week and may go to the villages once again with a church group. There may be other opportunities to begin a lung function study comparing people using eco-stoves vs. those with an indoor wood-stove, but we still gotta see about that.
Oh on the way back, we stopped in Maleku, where I went last week with Ernest, Sandip and friends (Sujan, Puja, Bimal, Indra and another really quiet girl). Anyway, we had met a doctor there. She’s the only live in doctor in this hospital that was set up in memory of an Italian photographer that died in a vehicle accident. It’s the only hospital in a 70km radius and has to service all the accidents of insane drivers going break-neck speeds around blind curves. Anyway, I felt like the prodigal son as I ran to the hospital during our 25 minute lunch stop-over. Before I even got the hospital door, the doctor and the assistant had come out to greet me. I overpaid for lichee nuts, but they were more encouraged by being able to see someone who will listen to their situation. Hopefully Ernest and I will be able to spend a couple days there. They have quarters for people to live in at the hospital too. But this clinic is pretty nice, it’s clean and decently stocked.
Anyway it for now. Gotta get going before host family worries. Will update more later.
Peace be with you all!
Events durig the last little while. My answer to pray came as Jason arranged for me to travel with a group of young Singaporean professionals. The most encouraging thing was the fellowship. I realized that I really miss being able to be understood, sing praises in a language that I comprehend and pray together with siblings. (I hope I'm not being too self-centred with 'my' worship). Anyway, the random discussions that Moreover, it was a good break to be able to travel out to see the Annapurna mountains. Despite the cloud cover, we were still able to catch a glimpse of the fishtail peak (Annapurna I) early one morning and in the afternoon of another. It was a great change to be able to meet village people. I was seriously starting to get really intolerant of the ridiculous amount of unjustified horn usage within the city.
It was nice not to see any type of motorized vehicle, but also painful to see a 52year old man carrying 50kg of aluminum roofing for on a 2 day hike. He starts at 0700 each morning and goes til about 1300. This is usually when the rains start to come down.
Got my first leech bite as well. They actually don't hurt at all. The only reason why I noticed was because my toe was wallowing around in a pool of blood. Other little accidents included slipping on the rocks. But it was a small price to pay to get away and see a more representative perspective of Nepal. ~80% of the Nepali people live in villages away from the city centres.
Just got back from another dinner with an uncle here who has essentially extended a helping hand in every way since my arrival.
The week prior I did another presentation at ENPHO to a group of undergrad students with the Clean Air Network Nepal division of Clean Energy Nepal. They have been trained to do pulmonary function testing on class 8 students. The idea of this study is to gauge the effect of air pollution in student who live in areas where the air pollution levels are tracked. Testing has been goign on during this last week. I'll probably meet with them sometime this week to debrief. As well, maybe sharing results with traffic police this week. But we'll see...
Last week, I was also fortunate enough to shadow a pediatric surgeon at Kanti and also at the Gorkha Hospital - a much cleaner and less chaotic hospital. I'm still digesting a lot of what I've been exposed to in the hospital. But perhaps it's something I will have to get used to - the hospital is a place of sick people. Nevertheless, some of the treatment methods are quite brutal. It's hard to sit there and not cringe when the wrong equipment is being used, or when you are exposed to the ironic realities of organizations. It seriously is a tragedy. They have had some of the most high tech equipment donated by the Japanese in 1994, but it hasn't been used. It sits in a fancy display case because no one knows how to use it. As the Nepali's would say: "ke garne" (what to do). It's a fatalistic statement that states the frustration in situations that just shouldn't exist, but do.
I didn’t realize this, but my time here is running short. With a little over a month to go, I’ll be visiting some other missionaries in Nepal in the following week and may go to the villages once again with a church group. There may be other opportunities to begin a lung function study comparing people using eco-stoves vs. those with an indoor wood-stove, but we still gotta see about that.
Oh on the way back, we stopped in Maleku, where I went last week with Ernest, Sandip and friends (Sujan, Puja, Bimal, Indra and another really quiet girl). Anyway, we had met a doctor there. She’s the only live in doctor in this hospital that was set up in memory of an Italian photographer that died in a vehicle accident. It’s the only hospital in a 70km radius and has to service all the accidents of insane drivers going break-neck speeds around blind curves. Anyway, I felt like the prodigal son as I ran to the hospital during our 25 minute lunch stop-over. Before I even got the hospital door, the doctor and the assistant had come out to greet me. I overpaid for lichee nuts, but they were more encouraged by being able to see someone who will listen to their situation. Hopefully Ernest and I will be able to spend a couple days there. They have quarters for people to live in at the hospital too. But this clinic is pretty nice, it’s clean and decently stocked.
Anyway it for now. Gotta get going before host family worries. Will update more later.
Peace be with you all!
8.6.07
08.06.07
so I had my third bout of diarrhea yesterday after eating some vegetable momo's outside of the main tourist area. It's amazing how you can see what 'seems' to be a run down area, just get worse as you move out from that area. As you move toward the Vishnumati River from Thamel, it just gets worse and worse - from the condition of the people to the dogs on the street, 100m makes a difference.
We also visited a doctor friend who works at Kanti at his other job. He was the on duty ER doc that night. It was quite calm until a gang fight victim came in. The details I will leave out, but as Ernest would say, "I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh - this is seriously a tragic comedy."
Psalms have been continually an encouragement in the desolate state of this place. My lungs continue to feel like garbage as I breathe the narcoleptic concoction vehicular exhuast and street dust.
- everyone seems to be getting sick at the hospital which is not surprising with outstanding infection control measures. For you RTs, pseudomona comes with every bubbler...
- I also feel exceptionally clean having showered! for 2 days in a row. Been crashing at Ernest's place, but I think my cold has gotten a bit better, so I'll be back at my host family's place. I seriously hope they don't feel like they are doing an inadequate job because they have been by far the MOST hospitable people I've ever met.
- of the people that have come to know the Lord that I've met here, it's a tough switch. Hinduism is rooted deeply in Nepali culture. And to make that change is breeding ground for friction in the family. Although no physical persecution takes place, it is difficult for those individuals and families that have come to know Christ as Lord.
- oh notes from contemplation times during church service: like most asian community events, it never starts promptly. It is very energetic, and the vast majority of people females. 65-75%. Men are definitely dominant in this place and they do most of the work. Women are usually housewives taking care of the home. e.g. my house mother doesn't get out much, so when Saturday rolls around, it's a real treat to go to church. There are other short trips she takes during the week, but for the most part, the home is run by the women.
Thanks all for your comments on blog. As much as I don't like reading them myself, I thank you for the encouraging words and notes of what people back at home are doing.
ok it for now. hope you'll all well!
We also visited a doctor friend who works at Kanti at his other job. He was the on duty ER doc that night. It was quite calm until a gang fight victim came in. The details I will leave out, but as Ernest would say, "I'm not sure whether to cry or laugh - this is seriously a tragic comedy."
Psalms have been continually an encouragement in the desolate state of this place. My lungs continue to feel like garbage as I breathe the narcoleptic concoction vehicular exhuast and street dust.
- everyone seems to be getting sick at the hospital which is not surprising with outstanding infection control measures. For you RTs, pseudomona comes with every bubbler...
- I also feel exceptionally clean having showered! for 2 days in a row. Been crashing at Ernest's place, but I think my cold has gotten a bit better, so I'll be back at my host family's place. I seriously hope they don't feel like they are doing an inadequate job because they have been by far the MOST hospitable people I've ever met.
- of the people that have come to know the Lord that I've met here, it's a tough switch. Hinduism is rooted deeply in Nepali culture. And to make that change is breeding ground for friction in the family. Although no physical persecution takes place, it is difficult for those individuals and families that have come to know Christ as Lord.
- oh notes from contemplation times during church service: like most asian community events, it never starts promptly. It is very energetic, and the vast majority of people females. 65-75%. Men are definitely dominant in this place and they do most of the work. Women are usually housewives taking care of the home. e.g. my house mother doesn't get out much, so when Saturday rolls around, it's a real treat to go to church. There are other short trips she takes during the week, but for the most part, the home is run by the women.
Thanks all for your comments on blog. As much as I don't like reading them myself, I thank you for the encouraging words and notes of what people back at home are doing.
ok it for now. hope you'll all well!
06.06.07
Same thing today. Done at the hospital, so Ernesto and I are back wandering around town. I think I'll have to call the police from last week to share the results with them. Our day usually ends before 1400. OK. this internet cafe is too loud with gamers. At first, I thought someone was pist off and yelling, then turned around and realized they were gaming.. Interesting the effects of gaming or competition.
oh yes. woke up this morning with crazy sore throat. i think caught something fr. hospital. i wouldn't be surprised with the lack of infection control. Was taking to a super-helpful med-school student from New Zealand who explained a lot to us during rounds, since it was all in Nepali. Heard a Pansystolic murmur for the first time among many other things. It's good that it's only half a day caue there's too much to intake. Dilian was warning us about trying to intake too much. As well, major difference b/w here and developed country would be # of infection cases. Just way too many, but perhaps a result of the lack of hygiene. I was trying to figure out how many water-bourne diseases i was exposed to last night as i waded thru the flooded streets on the way home yesterday. oh well, life goes on... Heb 13:8 is encouragement. but perhaps hope of heaven should be better.
oh yes. woke up this morning with crazy sore throat. i think caught something fr. hospital. i wouldn't be surprised with the lack of infection control. Was taking to a super-helpful med-school student from New Zealand who explained a lot to us during rounds, since it was all in Nepali. Heard a Pansystolic murmur for the first time among many other things. It's good that it's only half a day caue there's too much to intake. Dilian was warning us about trying to intake too much. As well, major difference b/w here and developed country would be # of infection cases. Just way too many, but perhaps a result of the lack of hygiene. I was trying to figure out how many water-bourne diseases i was exposed to last night as i waded thru the flooded streets on the way home yesterday. oh well, life goes on... Heb 13:8 is encouragement. but perhaps hope of heaven should be better.
05.06.07
OK. finally getting bck now. it's been an insane weekend and perhaps even crazier in terms of digesting experiences.
Kanti Children's Hospital is severely understaffed and ill-equipped. But with what they have they run a pretty good place. Today was interesting starting with the doctors report at 0930. A review of the last 24hrs happens at 0930 each morning. Doctors present new cases and consultants and other doctors give input. It is quite sad when mortalities are shared. Anyway, we followed a consultant for rounds in Nepali/English. Then shadowed a willing Dr. BP as he did a bone marrow extraction. It's seriously painful to see how doctors work in these conditions. Words can't do it justice.
I did a short presentation at the professional development seminar that they have Tuesdays on the handheld spirometry unit. In a hospital where blood pressure cuffs and pulse-oximeters are scarce, it was a real treat to see a spirometer. We were able to use it on an asthma patient in the PICU when the other peak flow metre did not work. Sad to report, but digital monitors do have their advantage in being able to record peak flows lower than 1L/s. Not sure how accurate they are.
More on the history and situation at Kanti here: http://www.kantihospital.org.np/
Kanti Children's Hospital is severely understaffed and ill-equipped. But with what they have they run a pretty good place. Today was interesting starting with the doctors report at 0930. A review of the last 24hrs happens at 0930 each morning. Doctors present new cases and consultants and other doctors give input. It is quite sad when mortalities are shared. Anyway, we followed a consultant for rounds in Nepali/English. Then shadowed a willing Dr. BP as he did a bone marrow extraction. It's seriously painful to see how doctors work in these conditions. Words can't do it justice.
I did a short presentation at the professional development seminar that they have Tuesdays on the handheld spirometry unit. In a hospital where blood pressure cuffs and pulse-oximeters are scarce, it was a real treat to see a spirometer. We were able to use it on an asthma patient in the PICU when the other peak flow metre did not work. Sad to report, but digital monitors do have their advantage in being able to record peak flows lower than 1L/s. Not sure how accurate they are.
More on the history and situation at Kanti here: http://www.kantihospital.org.np/
04.06.07
Update from Kanti Children's Hospital. I just finished the orientation with the good Bishop today. It was a really long into session, but extremely informative and at the time I seriously couldn't figure out why this guy was going on for so long. But as soon as we began walking through the wards, I came to understand the frustrations of this man who was trying to raise funds for aiding the children. Isaiah 1:16-17
It was a very sobering experience walking through the halls of a destitute hospital - one that reeked of stale urine, was grossly understaffed and ill-equipped to provide fundamental care. e.g. patients in the cardiology ward don't have monitors; in fact, the only EKG is out of commission with a unknown timeline to get fixed. This is no tiny hospital either. It's got almost 300 beds. over 200 of which provide services to the public free for charge. Over 65% of admitted patients come from the village sometimes walking for days. With over 40% of the popluation of Nepal between 14 years.
ok, pictures to perhaps explin what i've been up to:
1. patan hospital outside. i get a drink b/c it's cheap. i laugh because there's a label that says 1 glass guava 3 glass water = 4 glass guava. i nearly died alughing at that label and in my infinite wisdom drank this juice thinking it was the contents label and that some crazy company was trying to ingeniusly market 100% guava juice. this drink produced some cough reflex and when my host/friends arrived and were offered the drink, they laughed hysterically at me because I was spp'd to dilute it by 3 parts. who was I spp'd to know if you sell this on the street w/ other juices (blow to my ego)
2. at bkstr
It was a very sobering experience walking through the halls of a destitute hospital - one that reeked of stale urine, was grossly understaffed and ill-equipped to provide fundamental care. e.g. patients in the cardiology ward don't have monitors; in fact, the only EKG is out of commission with a unknown timeline to get fixed. This is no tiny hospital either. It's got almost 300 beds. over 200 of which provide services to the public free for charge. Over 65% of admitted patients come from the village sometimes walking for days. With over 40% of the popluation of Nepal between 14 years.
ok, pictures to perhaps explin what i've been up to:
1. patan hospital outside. i get a drink b/c it's cheap. i laugh because there's a label that says 1 glass guava 3 glass water = 4 glass guava. i nearly died alughing at that label and in my infinite wisdom drank this juice thinking it was the contents label and that some crazy company was trying to ingeniusly market 100% guava juice. this drink produced some cough reflex and when my host/friends arrived and were offered the drink, they laughed hysterically at me because I was spp'd to dilute it by 3 parts. who was I spp'd to know if you sell this on the street w/ other juices (blow to my ego)
2. at bkstr
3. monastary... more on this later
4. rainwater collection in a random home on really steep road on route to cmonastary in the middle of nowhere.
5. Mrs. Izadi: nothing to fear! Ernesto is eating very well - perhaps a bit too well! (Lots of momo's: Buffalo, Mutton, chicken and pork) Canadian buddy, who convinced me to come inthe first place is staying at a very nice guest house very close by. This restaurant came at the recommendation of director of ENPHO. It's staffed by extremely competent, yet deaf and dumb waiters. Great food although pricey, but supports a chain of restaurants doing good work and training up marginalized members of society.
6. book store buddy. who offered me tea the next time i went in. work at Kanti may only be a couple hours each day cause there is really nothing that can be done for the patients with limited equipment and expertise. so i may end of having more to time do work with traffic police and advocacy work for pollution awareness.
4.6.07
03.06.07
we met w/ Bishop Joshi @ Kanti and will visit again for the grand tour and to see what we'll be doing at Kanti tomrrow. I'll also be visiting a doctor at Patan to drop off the supplies that Ernest brought over.
Just finished a presentation here at ENPHO. Lots of people came fr the office. (even tho it's a holiday) and some other guests came from other organizations. i'll be talking wtih a guy from Clean Air Nepal and an associate prof in environmental health. we'll hopefully be going sit in on a lecture in 2wks when vacation over..
anyway, Psalms are extremely encouraging. msg on sat. was based on theme for this yr. 'not just surviving, but living...' it's a good theme and he was really encouraging the chruch to live by the Spirit. - which i believe is the only way to live (as per John 10:10 definition)
other encouragement among madness of living with excessively hospitable ppl.
- note from parents
- ernest
- meaningful wk @ enpho and gettign to know the ppl there & thru there
Just finished a presentation here at ENPHO. Lots of people came fr the office. (even tho it's a holiday) and some other guests came from other organizations. i'll be talking wtih a guy from Clean Air Nepal and an associate prof in environmental health. we'll hopefully be going sit in on a lecture in 2wks when vacation over..
anyway, Psalms are extremely encouraging. msg on sat. was based on theme for this yr. 'not just surviving, but living...' it's a good theme and he was really encouraging the chruch to live by the Spirit. - which i believe is the only way to live (as per John 10:10 definition)
other encouragement among madness of living with excessively hospitable ppl.
- note from parents
- ernest
- meaningful wk @ enpho and gettign to know the ppl there & thru there
30.05.07
Another very interesting day – and it’s not even done yet! Started off this morning when was awoken in the night. Not sure I’m sleeping too well these days. Last night just passed out. Awoke with upset stomach, but too tired to move and kind of cold from the draft. But most disturbing of all was random itches that I’d believe to be ants crawling up my pants, arms, etc. I think these are psychological cause I something get the weird sensation during the day. Anyway, to add on top of that I felt like I was getting attacked by a crazy mosquito. They fly really loudly during the middle of the night – especially when they buzz right by your ear over and over and over again. It can be quite annoying and just downright depressing.
Perhaps this was brought on by stuff yesterday. My host has planning out fun excursions for me, but I seriously can’t go out that often, I feel as if I’m to be productive with the skills that God has given me. I had the chance to go to the Koteshwor Traffic Police office to do spirometry on traffic police there. Then the Inspector there referred me to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. Contacts really do make a huge difference. I’ll share about this later…
So went hiking again yesterday but was most uneventful cause I was tired and not really in a photo mood as the rest of the gang was. Regardless, you do what you have to do… At night got to visit my bookstore buddy again. I went with Sujan so had to be quick, but the guy gave me a 10% discount without even asking. Then he even offered me tea. I did spirometry on him too. It was good to speak again with him. I just read in the religions book that there is no evangelism allowed in Nepal. But no restriction on sharing hope I have in JC! It’s a bit out of the way, but I hope to visit Zahed at least once every 2 weeks. Trying to get him to quit smoking too! Come to think of it, I think I’m being quite demanding but seriously, it’s like we’re known each other for a years now. Very open and encouraging talking with him, but yesterday’s conversation felt rushed so perhaps that discouraged me in a way words can’t express.
As well, no matter how much I write or how many pictures I take, it still doesn’t do being here justice. There’s simply no way to share the experience of tasting diesel exhaust, while smelling the rotting sewage of half burned bodies in the holy river, feeling your nostrils expand as your nose collects more particulate matter throughout the day, etc.
But this morning I woke up refreshed by Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” Enough said.
Perhaps when you see such stark differences, you wonder sometimes where God is. And this came as a reminder that God is who He is regardless of the perceived parameters of the situation.
More encouragement came as I received a call from Bishop Joshi of Kanti Children’s Hospital. I will meet him Sunday, June 3, 2007. I hope to be traveling with Ernest the first week of June then move to volunteering at KCH in June and a bit of July. Hopefully do a 1 week course on Bhuddism at Kopan Monastary and visit an orphanage before my time in Nepal expires. I think the worst is to come as I now realize the poor conditions of the roads due to the monsoon. You think winter roads are bad, monsoon roads are treacherous especially with vehicles with brakes that normally don’t function optimally. Oh. I think I was involved in my first motorbike accident last week. We slammed into a car cause the brakes gave out – then proceeded to pass the car with the driver giving us a dirty look. Interesting how things work here…
There’s a strike on Friday. Apparently its in the paper – things you miss when you’re illiterate. What to do now… I was hoping to compile my final presentation Friday cause I’m out of valley tomorrow. Going to Maleku with host kid and some friends.
Jumping all over the place. So visits to the police station are the weirdest things ever. It’s like they need to psycho-analyze you before you’re allowed to see the big chiefs. Yesterday, I asked to see my contact G.B. Shah. I then sat around the lobby for about 15 minutes before a kid with a squeegee came in and motioned for me to follow him. I walked up one flight of stairs and my man G.B. Shah was there to greet me with the biggest smile on his face. I met him on the street yesterday turns out he’s the big boss. Today, I ask for P. Malla. I again go to a place where a bunch of other people are just hanging out, I sit for 2 minutes then we walk to meet the man. There’s gotta be something else going on that I’m not aware of. Anyways, I felt kind of bad after all these ppl were saluting him and I still had my backwards cap on. So I took it off to notice that I also had my shirt untucked – it was hot… oh well, he was a really nice man. And everyone here gives you their home and mobile number. Very personal ppl, perhaps that explains the physical affirmation. Ok heading out now..
Perhaps this was brought on by stuff yesterday. My host has planning out fun excursions for me, but I seriously can’t go out that often, I feel as if I’m to be productive with the skills that God has given me. I had the chance to go to the Koteshwor Traffic Police office to do spirometry on traffic police there. Then the Inspector there referred me to the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division. Contacts really do make a huge difference. I’ll share about this later…
So went hiking again yesterday but was most uneventful cause I was tired and not really in a photo mood as the rest of the gang was. Regardless, you do what you have to do… At night got to visit my bookstore buddy again. I went with Sujan so had to be quick, but the guy gave me a 10% discount without even asking. Then he even offered me tea. I did spirometry on him too. It was good to speak again with him. I just read in the religions book that there is no evangelism allowed in Nepal. But no restriction on sharing hope I have in JC! It’s a bit out of the way, but I hope to visit Zahed at least once every 2 weeks. Trying to get him to quit smoking too! Come to think of it, I think I’m being quite demanding but seriously, it’s like we’re known each other for a years now. Very open and encouraging talking with him, but yesterday’s conversation felt rushed so perhaps that discouraged me in a way words can’t express.
As well, no matter how much I write or how many pictures I take, it still doesn’t do being here justice. There’s simply no way to share the experience of tasting diesel exhaust, while smelling the rotting sewage of half burned bodies in the holy river, feeling your nostrils expand as your nose collects more particulate matter throughout the day, etc.
But this morning I woke up refreshed by Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” Enough said.
Perhaps when you see such stark differences, you wonder sometimes where God is. And this came as a reminder that God is who He is regardless of the perceived parameters of the situation.
More encouragement came as I received a call from Bishop Joshi of Kanti Children’s Hospital. I will meet him Sunday, June 3, 2007. I hope to be traveling with Ernest the first week of June then move to volunteering at KCH in June and a bit of July. Hopefully do a 1 week course on Bhuddism at Kopan Monastary and visit an orphanage before my time in Nepal expires. I think the worst is to come as I now realize the poor conditions of the roads due to the monsoon. You think winter roads are bad, monsoon roads are treacherous especially with vehicles with brakes that normally don’t function optimally. Oh. I think I was involved in my first motorbike accident last week. We slammed into a car cause the brakes gave out – then proceeded to pass the car with the driver giving us a dirty look. Interesting how things work here…
There’s a strike on Friday. Apparently its in the paper – things you miss when you’re illiterate. What to do now… I was hoping to compile my final presentation Friday cause I’m out of valley tomorrow. Going to Maleku with host kid and some friends.
Jumping all over the place. So visits to the police station are the weirdest things ever. It’s like they need to psycho-analyze you before you’re allowed to see the big chiefs. Yesterday, I asked to see my contact G.B. Shah. I then sat around the lobby for about 15 minutes before a kid with a squeegee came in and motioned for me to follow him. I walked up one flight of stairs and my man G.B. Shah was there to greet me with the biggest smile on his face. I met him on the street yesterday turns out he’s the big boss. Today, I ask for P. Malla. I again go to a place where a bunch of other people are just hanging out, I sit for 2 minutes then we walk to meet the man. There’s gotta be something else going on that I’m not aware of. Anyways, I felt kind of bad after all these ppl were saluting him and I still had my backwards cap on. So I took it off to notice that I also had my shirt untucked – it was hot… oh well, he was a really nice man. And everyone here gives you their home and mobile number. Very personal ppl, perhaps that explains the physical affirmation. Ok heading out now..
29.05.07
I woke up early because I forgot to check email to confirm meeting place with Bhushan before he left for a town south of the valley area. I showered at 0630 and think I’m become very water and time efficient – either that or the cold water was a stark contrast that prompted me to move a bit faster. Didn’t get a response, so I guess it’s a no go.
Walked to work today. Took a couple detours to satisfy my exploratory taste. Journeyed into a deadend that seemed like it took forever to get out of. My theory now is that you wait for at least 3 cars before heading down a street.
Man exhausted now. It is kicking in.. and feet smell bad cause of sandals, think I’ll have to purchase another pair here. Lunch was interesting too. Don’t think I can stomach the stuff here. I tried last week twice and it was ok but not really good with the bitter tasting items. So today I thought I’d see if there was something different served. Boy was I wrong, the exact same thing. I’m not even sure that it’s cooked everyday. It just might be reheated until it’s all consumed. There’s very crunchy chick peas, vegetable mix and potato mix. And you also get an omelet that the cook makes for you. I guess you can’t complain for 30Rs. That’s about 50 cents. And you get all the roti or bhat (rice) that you want.
I’ll eat what my host mom has also prepared for me. It’s usually something sweet and with the favourite ingredient – CHO. Hahaha. So I was thinking this morning that if I didn’t get to travel today then there’s gotta be something else interesting; here I am eating a tuna sandwich… I’m not a tuna person at all… God’s idea of an interesting experience is one that makes sure that I’m relying on him.. oh yes, lunch was minimal today cause I had an spicy instant noodle package with parsley another anti-favourite that I picked out. Maybe I’ll try some street food on the way home. Hopefully it gets retained in the stomach. Hehehe.
Okay. 5 minutes later, I find out my net connection has been cut. I think they do load sharing for their limited connection here as well. Oh well, live and learn…
Anyway, back to a lung function presentation. Hopefully have this finished by today.
Walked to work today. Took a couple detours to satisfy my exploratory taste. Journeyed into a deadend that seemed like it took forever to get out of. My theory now is that you wait for at least 3 cars before heading down a street.
Man exhausted now. It is kicking in.. and feet smell bad cause of sandals, think I’ll have to purchase another pair here. Lunch was interesting too. Don’t think I can stomach the stuff here. I tried last week twice and it was ok but not really good with the bitter tasting items. So today I thought I’d see if there was something different served. Boy was I wrong, the exact same thing. I’m not even sure that it’s cooked everyday. It just might be reheated until it’s all consumed. There’s very crunchy chick peas, vegetable mix and potato mix. And you also get an omelet that the cook makes for you. I guess you can’t complain for 30Rs. That’s about 50 cents. And you get all the roti or bhat (rice) that you want.
I’ll eat what my host mom has also prepared for me. It’s usually something sweet and with the favourite ingredient – CHO. Hahaha. So I was thinking this morning that if I didn’t get to travel today then there’s gotta be something else interesting; here I am eating a tuna sandwich… I’m not a tuna person at all… God’s idea of an interesting experience is one that makes sure that I’m relying on him.. oh yes, lunch was minimal today cause I had an spicy instant noodle package with parsley another anti-favourite that I picked out. Maybe I’ll try some street food on the way home. Hopefully it gets retained in the stomach. Hehehe.
Okay. 5 minutes later, I find out my net connection has been cut. I think they do load sharing for their limited connection here as well. Oh well, live and learn…
Anyway, back to a lung function presentation. Hopefully have this finished by today.
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