I participated in medical and dental clinics. We would stay all day to see as many people as we could. This was the only time most of these people ever get to see a doctor or dentist. I helped with taking vitals, listening for heart mumurs, cleaning ears (some had dead bugs), and cleaning and dressing wounds. I saw many sad things that could easily be treated quickly in the US, but that is just not how it is in 3rd world countries. It is too expensive to go to the hospital. It was disheartening for me to see these people and know that they die from simple accidents and diseases. We also went to a lepresy colony and dressed their wounds.
The hardest thing for me during the entire trip was the food. I could deal with the incredible humidity, but I was so sick of eating rice when I got home. We got fish and shrimp WHOLE. You had to peel off the scales and eyes and everything, and I just couldn't stomach it! So instead I ate a ton of rice!
The best bonus about the trip was that there are tailors and inexpensive shopping everywhere. I had clothes made and brought many fun dishes home for souvenirs. The people were very kind and thankful for everything we did. I got a lot of attention for my white skin and bluse eyes. The rich people wear masks and long gloves to protect their skin. If your skin is dark then it means you are poor and work in the sun. I guess they thought I was really rich!
The pictures are from my second trip in 2007 and my good friend, Ashley went with me. I have great memories and would love to go back again.
These were some of the children awaiting us at a clinic. They put on a show for us at the end of the day. 
Diet Coke Light was so much better than Diet Coke here. It seems sweeter :)
Obviously too much fun shopping!
One of the many rice fields.
A squatty potty. Luckily we only had to use one of theses 2-3 times.
Ashley and I chilling on the boat at out clinic in Halong Bay.
This is one of the dentists, Ashley, a girl in a classic Vietnamese outift and I. This outift consists of silk panks and a silk dress that has slights upto the stomach. We were waiting for our ferry ride to visit a school.
This was Halong Bay. The are rock formations all over and my pictures do not describe how beautiful it is. We went to do a clinic for the boat people.
Here is the shrimp. Feelers, eyes and all.
This was the triage group : Ashley, Adele, Me and Nanette. 
Some of the cute old ladies. Most of them had black teeth.
This was the view from one of our hotels. Ashley and I were on the 8th floor and had NO elevator. The poor little Vietnamese boys had to carry our heavy suitcases. We felt bad but had a good laugh from their grunting.
A cute baby that played with my stethescope .
This hot picture of me was how I dealt with the incredible humidty and heat!
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