Mission to Cambodia 2014
from Libby Franck, Nursing student

Today, we all went as a Group to the Asia School to teach. I had the privilege of watching the other students in our group teach as I took notes along with the Cambodian students. It was a great experience, not only to learn what I have not yet learned in school, but also to see how eager the Cambodians are to learn their practice. Though what we were teaching them were all fairly basic concepts to us (like hand washing and how to assess and report a patients condition) to them these concepts were less understood. The way they were engaged and asked questions was really great to watch because I could see the impact of what we were teaching.

After teaching all morning and having lunch, we had some down time. A group of us decided to go to the Russian Market for a bit (It is not actually Russian) to experience the culture of this beautiful city even more. Continue reading →

Mission to Cambodia 2014
from Kathryn Nichols, Nursing student

On our second day in Cambodia we toured the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope and clinic that a few of us will be working in. The hospital is a private organization that works to provide free healthcare to those who need it. It was such an eye opener to see the difference between this hospital and the hospitals we have in America. Right when we pulled up, I was amazed to see people sitting everywhere. I learned that some of these people could wait all day to be seen or admitted. The ward was a room with 14 beds and no privacy. There is no air conditioning just open windows and fans exposing the patients to 80 to 90 degree heat.

In the afternoon we went to Tuol Sleng or S-21. This is a museum that is in a former Khmer Rouge prison. Tuol Sleng was originally a high school but when the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975 it was converted into one of the biggest prisons in the regime. There were a total of 20,000 people that were imprisoned and tortured there. After these people were tortured they were taken to be killed in a nearby killing field. Of the 20,000 people, only 7 survived. Now only 2 of those 7 are still alive,  Vann Nath (picture) and Chum Mey. We were able to meet these two men. It was inspirational to hear each of their stories about their survival in the prison and made me so thankful for what I have.

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