Clinic 7: End of the Road

Narita: All Good Things Must End

I'm currently writing my final blog entry as I sit in Narita International Airport on the outskirts of Tokyo. Alan and Jacob have just left for their home and I'm on hour six of an eight hour layover.

Six hours is a long time to think and write. Alex already figured the exact number of minutes we all spent together so I won't do that again. But I will try to recollect as much as I can of the tail end of this surreal blur of events that has been my life for the past 20 days.

1. Looking at, picking out, and then eating two deliciously crispy fried snakes. The next day, taking shots of another snake's blood and then endlessly nibbling on its rubbery flesh while drinking more of its blood with the waiter.
2. Haggling tank tops down to $2 dong each, changing colors and sizes repeatedly, and being cursed by the merchant. Feeling guilty yet triumphant after every success at Ben Thanh market.
3. Getting a thoroughly intimate massage at Quynh Nhu Hand & Foot Massage parlor. From a very flexible man.
4. Trying to find the legendary Highlands Coffee club sandwich and failing.
5. Considering but never actually using the toilet-showers at the Kien Giang hotel the way they were obviously built to be used.
6. Teaching hundreds of kids how to brush their teeth at one of the clinics. Actually spending most of that time running around and scaring kids with the teeth models.
7. Appreciating the view from the roof of the hotels in Kien Giang.
8. British accents. All the bloody time.
9. Getting excited to observe a pelvic exam, hearing the words "lube those fingers up", and backing out of said pelvic exam.
10. Singing the "Star Spangled Banner" at the end of a hilarious night of karaoke, feeling paranoid about communists, and then singing "Sai Gon Dep Lam."
11. Dancing with locals and security guards, trying on Japanese slippers, and generally integrating Zara into the PVNF after hours itinerary.
12. Somehow adjusting our bodies to wake up at 5, eat, sleep for 3 hours, work for 7 hours, sleep for 3 hours, eat, relax/rage, and repeat.
13. Ingesting jitters-inducing amounts of caffeine, ice, condensed milk, and sugar.
14. Helping hundreds of people a day and changing thousands of lives (patient, volunteer, and professionals alike) over the course of our two week adventure.

I'm positive I've forgotten so much cool stuff that happened but then again, most of my memory is tied to my camera and what it remembers. I am also beyond sad that I missed the last night with everyone with PVNF. I'm sure this list would have been quite longer if I'd been there to see the festivities last night. However, I think everyone deserves a little break for all of the amazing work that we did together these past two weeks. I've said this before but this 2011 PVNF Summer Service Camp has been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I've ever had, an ideal blend of work and play. I am glad that I can call many of you friends and I hope that we all can see each other again, whether that be in the States, Canada, or France.

To hard work done, new friendships made, and life in Vietnam!

-Sean Nguyen

Kien Giang: Take 5

Today we took a 3 hour bus ride to a beach in the Kien Giang province. The bus ride there was long, sleepy, bumpy, and completely worth it. We first toured a cave with a Buddhist temple inside of it; the views from one of the natural openings of the surrounding rice paddies and mountains was awe inspiring. Many of us bought little flavored ice bags for about 20 US cents. When we got to the beach we were treated to a delicious meal of canh chua (for the 5th or 6th day running? Not complaining though), seafood and steamed vegetables, fried pork, and rice. Then there was the beach. The water was perfect for relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of the surrounding water and sand; not too warm to be uncomfortable but cool enough to be refreshing. We played frisbee (poorly on my part) and chicken (much better). Some of us wrestled and others looked on with concern. Although we only got to stay for about an hour, the break from the constant work of PVNF really balanced the trip out. Appreciating the natural beauty of Vietnam and its people gives us a more personal connection to the work we do with PVNF. Floating in the salty water looking at clear blue skies or laying in a reclining chair and taking in the panoramic beach at the edge of tropical rainforest covered hills is completely surreal, something you only see on Corona commercials.

But I see it almost as a generous payment for our volunteerism. I would gladly do crowd control and clean dental equipment to be able to go to beaches like the one here in Kien Giang, paddle down a river in Ben Tre, or have a blast at any of the tours that we have been lucky enough to experience through PVNF. To another day starting bright and early at 5AM tomorrow!

Clinic #4: Vinh Thuan Commune

Yesterday morning after leaving the hotel at 5 a.m. and a 3/12 hour bumpy bus ride, the members of PVNF Summer Camp finally reached their destination for the fourth Clinic at the Vinh Thuan Commune Clinic in Rach Gia. Thang Dong, member of Team S, laughs as she runs through the early morning rain before arriving at the Clinic.

Quoc Bui plays with a baby waiting to get a medical exam.

PVNF Student Volunteers look on as Tuanh Hathi-Nguyen performs a tooth extraction on a young patient.

A week's worth of Clinics and humidity that seems to pull the moisture straight out of your body, finally took its toll on members of the PVNF Summer Camp. Despite the wide spread physical and mental exhaustion, over 500 patients were seen in what was the most productive and efficient Clinic yet.

After a full day of service, PVNF members hold on tight to a little wooden water taxi that transported them to and from the remote Clinic at the Vinh Thuan Commune.

Moving on

Last night, the PVNF team had a farewell dinner, a bittersweet moment for both us and the Ben Tre students we met. The food was nothing special, but it was still a memorable night. I could see the joy in the Ben Tre professionals and students as they received gifts of gratitude from the leaders of both the camp, and their own teams. They were also obviously disappointed that our time in Ben Tre had come to an end. Personally, I had come to hold a deep respect for these students that came everyday to help us at clinics. These students had taken times out of their days to devote to helping improve their own community, attempting to strengthen the well-being of those around them. One of the Ben Tre student's motivation and dedication inspired me to working harder during clinic. After working in the burning sun for 1 1/2 hours, we were told to take a break. The Ben Tre student refused to take a break, and continued to work throughout the day. This gave me motivation to work harder, seeing this girl work twice as hard as I did.

The next morning was one of the most exhausting bus rides I have ever experienced. Although we were scheduled to leave at 6:45, we did not end up leaving until 8:30, spending time waiting for an extrta bus, since there was an excess of people. The 6 hour drive was filled with bumpy roads, hot air and flat tires. When we finally arrived to lunch, we quickly consumed the food, and listened to a speech by the leader of the new Vietnamese students. We then settled into the hotel, and sorted pills in preparation for the next day of clinic. I am very excited to see the new site, and work with this new group of college students.

Ben Tre Bridge Building

After making his way across the current unreliable bridge, this child leaps to land barely missing a fall of about 10 feet.

Students help workers move wood through a narrow opening in barbed wire that will be used as scaffolding during the construction of the bridge.

The new bridge will provide safe passage to a nearby school that these children attend.

After work, PVNF Summer Volunteers pose for a group picture at the site of the new bridge that is dedicated to a former member.

Where everyone has a symptom

Today was another day of clinic, but was a completely different experience for our group. During the clinic, our group worked in vitals, taking blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate. For our patients, this brief 5 minute interaction was their chance to describe as many symptoms and illnesses they experienced as possible. My translator was overwhelmed by the amount of patients that plunged into their life stories, or attempted to show sores, rashes and bruises. Even after explaining we were not doctors, these patients continued to list their symptoms, in many cases even offering advice and opinions about their diagnosis.

I remember specifically one woman, who was insistent on being seen. After sitting down she immediately launched into an explanation of her symptoms. As the translator attempted to explain that we were not doctors, the patient continued to list her symptoms, even physically attempting to force herself closer to us. The experience made me realize how desperate these people are for professionals, men and women who can enjoy the luxury of learning and education, without worrying about farming and earning money for the family to survive. The desperation of the patients made me appreciate the luxuries we enjoy in America, and helped to reconfirm my motivation and desire to come to PVN.

The country that keeps on giving.

Imagine seeing a woman so frail, her ability to walk is so limited, she must be carried into the clinic. Imagine that right next to this woman, is a 14 year old child that is so grossly undernourished, he looks no older than 8. To me, this tragic scene is not just a figment of my imagination, but has developed during my brief time in Vietnam. Yesterday PVNF worked at a health clinic in Ben Tre, treating patients from all ages and walks of life. We offered them a chance to have their vitals taken, be seen by doctors, health education, and even had a pharmacy in an attempt to provide as many medications as possible to those in need. For the kids, PVNF even offered dental services, including dentists and dental students. My team participated in crowd control, the group of people that attempts to maintain calm and order in the mass of chaos and confusion. Throughout the day I led Vietnamese men, women, and children to designated areas, to wait for their chance to enjoy the many opportunities PVNF had to offer. With each new person, my heart dropped slightly, seeing the immense amount of pain and suffering these Vietnamese citizens underwent. I felt helpless, unable to create a permanent solution to their problems, or the problems of millions of others both in Vietnam and other countries. I quickly realized that, although we could not possibly solve all their problems, our work in Vietnam was immensely important. The joys I saw throughout the day convinced me that we were making a difference in the lives of hundreds of Ben Tre citizens. The happiness I saw when they finally were able to see the doctors, as well as the unending thank-you’s from almost every patient convinced me that these men and women would not forget us, or the work we had done. I realized that, although there were limited tools and resources, the care and love we displayed exceeded any they had seen before. Although I was exhausted at the end of the day, my spirits had been lifted, and my heart for service renewed. I was reminded why I had come to help serve the people of Vietnam. I understood that the time I spent in the clinic was not about helping the people as a group, but to care for each individual to the utmost of my ability. I came to Vietnam hoping to help educate and heal the citizens I met, but have received more knowledge in 3 days from them than I can ever possibly hope to give.

Ben Tre: Wee!

During our second clinic at Ben Tre today, I met a girl named Qui. I had to get her to spell that using a chalkboard because I'm not quite fluent in Vietnamese- it sounded like "WEE" to me. I accidentally told her that I was 200 years old instead of 20 and from then on she would call me "Old Man Sean". I was wearing some black wayfarer sunglasses; she said that I looked like a fish (a fish big enough to feed her family for 3 days). I told her that I lived in a dormitory with 9 floors and she was boggled that a building could be that tall.

But the best moment though was when I asked her if we were friends. She replied "No". I was surprised and was about to ask her why when she said "No, we're brother and sister!" with a goofy smile. It was one of those things that little kids say that they don't really think means anything but makes our trip so much more meaningful. We go to Vietnam with PVNF and categorize a certain amount of medicines for a certain amount of people. We treat entire towns as statistics. We perform these well planned, clinical, organized services for the people but it's the personal connections that make the project meaningful.

To another clinic day at 7:00AM!

PS. This dude Jeff is super weird.

Kiet Visits The Clinic

Kiet Nguyen was one of many children that visited the clinic in Ben Tre. His day started with an eye exam by a PVNF student volunteer.

His farther holds him down while he tightly grasps his hand in preparation for a filling.

Project Vietnam dentists start to work as Kiet’s father looks on.

After the dentist, Kiet pokes his head around the corner to wait for his father.

The pair waits at the pharmacy for prescriptions and vitamins.

After receiving an eye exam, a standard medical check, dental exam and prescriptions all in one day, the two are all smiles.

Kiet jumps on the back of his father’s bicycle and holds on as they start the journey home.

Clinic Day One

What sounds like an intimidating job assignment for the first clinic of the trip, crowd control turned out to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable experiences thus far. I was placed at the entrance of the building and told to make sure the people waiting got medical attention did not get upset and push to be first in line. Those living in the countryside struggle to make ends meet, and opportunities to recieve healthcare are few and far between, so when a medical group such as ours comes through, hundreds of people show up in hopes of finally seeing a doctor.

While helping the line move along, I was able to pause and listen to some of the stories the locals had to tell. My favorite was a little 10 year old girl named My Linh, who I met in the very beginning of the day. She was there to wait for her dad, and asked me if I could save a stuffed animal for her since she wasn't able to go in for herself. I didn't know if I really could do it, but I gave her a wink and a smile and told her I would try. Throughout the course of the day, she came back to ask me questions, teach me games, tell me about herself and her nine siblings, and remind me to keep an eye out for that stuffed animal...

Imagine her delight when, at the end of the day, we were able to admit all of the remaining people waiting to be examined and (after a full medical and dental exam) she finally got the stuffed animal she wanted! She got THREE, actually, for being such a good sport about getting her teeth pulled.

It was definitely a good first day.

-Stina

First Clinic: Long Thoi Commune

Thu Pham instructs proper brushing techniques to a group of children.

A child’s blood pressure is checked before meeting with health professionals.

Dr. Etzkorn uses a stethoscope to examine a patients heart.

Children wait patiently before being examined by a PVNF dentist.

Dr. Hathi-Nguyen performs a standard dental procedure on a Ben Tre youth.

After a long day of service, members of PVNF gather for a group photo.

Chi Oi! Chi Oi!

My time in Ben Tre has been nothing short of amazing. The first thing we did, aside from the lovely 3 hours of medicine sorting on the first night in Ham Luong Hotel, was go to a local orphanage. At first it was a bit awkward for the 30 or so kids shyly greeting our enormous 100-man group, but all it took was one game of soccer to begin the complete integration of the two groups. By lunchtime, I had met and befriended two small girls, Cam and Tien, who took my by the hands and all but dragged me to their table to eat with them. They told me all of the dishes we were eating (canh chua, rau mun, ca chien, and chom chom and mang cup for dessert) and were surprised when I told them my mom made me similar dishes back home-- I wasn't as different as they had thought. In turn, I asked them about their life at the orphanage, and what they did for fun when finished with their studies and chores. Cam told me that if I wanted, she would take me out to the back of the building to pick some special flowers, which she and her friends could make into birds and butterflies for me. They asked me to draw for them and take their pictures, and I gladly did so if only to see their faces light up with delight once I showed them the final product.

The most heartbreaking thing was when they repeatedly asked me when my friends and I would be back to visit, and I had to tell them that it wouldn't be for a very, very long time. I had been told that merely playing with these kids would be a life-changing experience for both us volunteers and the orphans, and that some people couldn't help but tear up towards the end of the trip...but I never quite expected those tears to be mine. I wish we could have given them all the luxuries we take for granted back in the states, from clean water to comfortable beds to the most basic of things: a pair of decent shoes. I hope that our time with them brightened their lives a bit, and left them with something positive, because I know that I'll remember those kids for a very long time.

Ben Tre Orphanage

The number of orphans in Vietnam continues to grow due to poverty and many other factors.

A young girl carries her plate of food to the dinning area in one of the largest orphanages in Ben Tre, Vietnam. Most orphans in Vietnam are female due to law that mandates when a daughter marries, half of her families land must go to the husband.

Clothes dry on hangers after an afternoon of rain.

A medical aid worker from Project Vietnam gives care to a permanently disabled child who lives in one of the many orphanages in Ben Tre, Vietnam.

After a long day and many mouths fed, workers start to clean the dishes used to cook dinner for the children who call this orphanage in Ben Tre Province home.

Ben Tre: Benadryll and the Beast

Photograph By Jonathan Gibby

Photograph By Jonathan Gibby

First day in Ben Tre: playing shoeless soccer with the orphans leads to an open blister on my foot which exposes me to grass and other such allergens which leads me to break out into hives on hives, transforming me into the Beast of Ben Tre!!

Thanks to modern science though, Benadryll was my beauty today. Also many thanks are in order to Jimmy, Paul, Alex, Dr. Etzkorn, and the other doctors for getting me some of that wonderful drug and a cab back. Wish I could have played with the kids more though. Oh well on to medicines packing then dinner and a night on the town!

Hello Vietnam

After a combined total of 14 hours in the air, 8 hours of uncomfortable airplane sleep, two relatively decent meals, and two movies, my journey to Vietnam is a success! The first thing to hit me was the humidity, which we could feel seeping through the connection terminal from the airplane to the airport. The day was relatively clear when we arrived, but the minute we stepped foot outside we got a dose of the bipolar Viet weather in the form of a flash thunderstorm. The rain came down in buckets as we stumbled our way onto the buses, and once I was properly drenched, I made myself as comfortable as possible for the long ride ahead.

As we went from the bustling crowds and traffic-riddled streets of Saigon to the more rural, countryside area, a lot of things ran through my mind. For one, I was finally in Vietnam, rolling along the same dirt roads my parents used to walk on when they lived here. The grass huts and metal-roofed structures we passed could very well be home to friends and family I didn’t yet know. The stories I remember being told were finally coming alive now that I could see their setting for myself. It was definitely a surreal experience.

Most importantly, though, I was excited to finally be here. I’ll be interacting with doctors whom I one day aspire to be and patients who hold a special significance to me because they are my roots. If circumstances had been different, it’s entirely possible that my family could have been part of the communities we were planning on seeing. Food for thought, huh?

I really hope to learn a lot in the coming two weeks, both about the field of work I want to go in and also about my language, culture, and heritage.

Onwards, to Ben Tre!

-Stina

Summer Service Camp 2011 launched...

This is Quynh Kieu, pediatrician, president and factotum/gofer for Project Vietnam Foundation. Finally the main team for the Summer Service Camp has departed. Months of preparations, years in the making, contributions from hundreds is coming together for real, without even a test drive.

Again and every time, the palpitations upon sending the group off...

This year we hit new heights:

-5th year and largest team of 94 people by last count...65 students from 3 countries - US, Canada & France.

-for the first time 2 student leaders non-Vietnamese-speakers, Alex and Zach. This took a complete reversal of our initial thinking, a new experiment successful pre-camp phase as they connected really well with the campers.

Yesterday while the team was in the air, about 30 people, we had some excitement. In Taipeh, the group leader, Paul emailed "we have 2 missing students" which triggered a search for information and calls to 2 families in California. It turns out that they are departing from San Francisco and supposed to join in Taipeh but have not shown up yet. 2 worried families and multiple calls from Alvin's...Well, there is nothing we can do until they land, calls to the land crew and Jimmy, logistics manager.

Mai & Nghi, parents to Aileen -first time camper, first time away from home for substantial time, first time overseas- came over to share the vigil for the campers. Connections by phone with various parents, anxious and excited... For Vietnamese parents, this is a new experience...which prepares them for the college separation. Checking the flight, airline website, sharing with other parents...when they came unanounced, I said "missing Aileen already?", Mai responded "no way, we are busy with plenty to do" , denial, denial...we have been there.

Ooh well, what is new? Being parent is an ever-exciting journey for those of you out there who live it! ourselves included. On our March 2011 medical mission, Monica came as a 4th year medical student. She learned so much, and we treasured the opportunity to work as a family albeit sporadically... the comradery of working as colleagues with the same patient in the surgery room as she assists Dr. Michael Miller, one of our best plastic surgeons for medical missions, hearing her comments as team member...

On this trip, several parents are taking that road to share in the experience. They are part of Team S (for Support) which provides the professionals and advisors/counselors/translators for the students.

When Alex, student leader, stated "everyone is accounted for" big sigh of relief, and quick phone calls to the families of Alvin and Leslie, the "missing" students. Then another concern "we are missing 2 people who are supposed to join us at the airport" . It turns out Tuan will come to Ben Tre and Ha has not reponded to emails and even contact attempts from her friend in the US. But she has been in Vietnam with family for several weeks now and knows her way around. Hopefully we will find her as her contribution is needed as a pharmacy student.

Today, the team of Journalism students at Cal State Fullerton will be presenting their coverage on our Medical Mission March 2011, at 3pm in Little Saigon. We will discuss our workplan and hope for many questions.

Please come back to follow blogs from the travelers.

Quynh

The Journey Begins

Saigon: A Sea of Scooters

Photograph By Jonathan Gibby

Saigon, Vietnam

So this year I celebrated July 4th by flying out to Vietnam a few days before the meet up with the PVNF group. After a 20 hour flight complete with a lot of Angry Birds, a Polish model, about 300 pages of Game of Thrones, and 3 really unappetizing airline lunches (don't try the sukiyaki on United airlines), I arrived in my home country.

Being in Vietnam for the first time in my life has been a dream. Just being in the central part of Saigon (staying in the excellent hotels Thien Xuan and Hosen) and immersing myself in the local culture has been a humbling experience. I've gotten used to the damp heat that hits you as soon as you leave the coolness of air conditioned buildings and the ensuing sticky feeling all over. The mosquito bites have been limited to my left knee and I've yet to use my Immodium (knock on so much wood). I've met family that I had only heard my dad tell stories about and gotten to experience a small yet intimate piece of their lives. Getting an unofficial tour of the city from a family friend makes me realize the importance of connections. Eating pho from the country that invented it is a gastronomical experience that I've been waiting to do for a while now (though I still think my mom makes it better). Haggling with a shop keeper in the Ben Thanh marketplace for a bottle of alcohol with a snake coiled inside is something you think you'd only see on the travel channel. Buying a dinner for less than $3 is awesome. Buying an iced coffee that costs the same is strange. Seeing Marlon Brando's face on a menu while having a good time with Zach, Alex, Jonathan, and Jimmy has been a blast. But what has struck me as the most unique and interesting part of Vietnam, and in my opinion a a representation of Vietnam and its vibrant culture, is the traffic.

When my cousin Nu (whom I had just met for the first time) handed me a helmet and told me to hop on his scooter I was equal parts nervous, excited, and terrified. I had flown into Saigon the night before and had only watched the traffic go by from my hotel window. I hopped on behind Nu and held on to the grips under my seat. My cousin hit the throttle and we were off into the mass of vans, cars, trucks, bicycles, taxis, and scooters. He deftly maneuvered his way between cars and past taxi vans. He rode side by side with other scooters and raced ahead of the bicyclists when he felt like it. Traffic lights seemed to be more suggestions than commands. Incoming traffic and cross traffic made me think we were going to be t-boned at every intersection. The roundabouts were nightmares. Though I was highly concerned about my safety at the time, as I got used to the traffic of the city more, both as a pedestrian and in a vehicle, I began to see a simple logic to the madness. As long as you moved with purpose and kept alert, others would yield and you could be on your way. The fluidity of the traffic reminded me of a shoal of fish. The few large fish (vans and taxis and cars) moved at their slow and steady pace while the swarms of little fish (scooters and bicycles) darted in and out and between as they pleased. But because they all moved with purpose and were always alert, everything moved along without a hitch.

We go to meet the rest of the PVNF group at the airport tomorrow morning but the last few days have left me with enough adventure to tell hours of stories about. Growing accustomed to and embracing the flow of life in Saigon has been an experience that I will cherish but I hope to make many more memories in the upcoming days.

-Sean Nguyen

Who We Are.

My name is Alexander Etzkorn. I am 26 years old and attended UC Irvine where I received a degree in History in 2007. After college, I began working as an EMT where I have worked in specialized psychiatric transport, 911, and in an emergency room as part of the cardiac and respiratory arrest team.

While my parents have been involved for almost a decade, I personally became involved with the Project Vietnam Foundation in 2010 when I attended the 2010 Summer Camp. This year, I am acting as the Summer Camp Student Leader along with my longtime friend Zachary Stone.

I come into this year's service camp with two goals: one goal for the high school and college students attending the camp, and one goal for myself.

Being the student leader, I only want what is best for the students attending this service camp. The majority of our students currently attend high school or college. These years for the students are vital in our development from children to adults as we attempt to discover who we are, what we stand for, and what we want to do with our lives. This service camp removes the students from their comfort zone of computers, video games, Facebook, and anything else that distracts us from what is important in life. I want the students to realize that we are capable of amazing things when we put our blood, sweat, and tears into something we are passionate about. In short, I want our students to realize that it is not our clothes, our cars, or how many friends we have on Facebook that defines who we are as people. In reality, it is our capacity for love, our ability to give, and the efforts that we take to make the world a better place that truly defines who we are.

Personally, I have a single goal for myself in this summer trip. I want to push myself and invest every part of myself towards a singular purpose: to help in any way I can to improve the health and quality of life for the people of Vietnam. If I am able to make even a single child's life better in any way, I will gladly donate two weeks of my life to that purpose.

Mother Teresa once said, "What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop were not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." While the work that we do on this trip may last for two short weeks, the ripples that our work creates from that single drop in a vast ocean will carry on long after we have left.

- Alexander Etzkorn