Practicum week

8/16/10
Today was the first day of practicum week, which the week that we practice what we will be doing for the next two years. The volunteers that are here for education are spending the week in the schools teaching English lessons. Because we are the first group of health education volunteers are schedule is a little more impromptu. Today we had a session on obstetric care in Cambodia, which was really interesting. I was even asked to help teach some of the information to the other volunteers. And if you know me, you know that I enjoy any chance to talk nursing! Tomorrow we are going to the Health Clinic and shadowing the staff.
Little note about Cambodia… Community Health Clinic staff includes (usually) 1 doctor, primary and secondary nurses, primary and secondary midwives, a pharmacist, a receptionist, and sometimes a person who gives vaccines. Also, in the past medical schools in Cambodia taught doctors in either English or French, but the nurses and midwives are taught in Khmer. They have started to change this practice, but there are still some areas that there is a language barrier between the two. Cambodian clinics offer consultations, vaccines, medications, prenatal/postnatal care, childhood development, HIV/AIDS testing and consulting, and they also deliver babies (and this is just listing a few services). We have visited multiple clinics but tomorrow will be our first time shadowing.
Also I have developed a new habit in Cambodia… usually once a day (on a hard day twice) I ride my bike to this bread stand and buy “nom” (Khmer for sweet bread). I usually get the one shaped like a flower with this sugar/coconut jelly in it. And it is awesome! But there is a rumor that the nom shaped like a crab has an apple-cinnamon-like filling. It costs 1,000 riel, which is like 12 cents. Then I take it to the coffee shop in the market and get an iced coffee, and it is a breakfast of champions!