Hi ! I am into my second week in Nepal already. How fast time flies ! 

Had a wonderful one week posting with Obs/Gyn. The staffs were really nice. You know, here the hierarchy system is not so rigid as in UH, where the consultants are so high up, and medical students and housemen are lowly lifeforms. Everyone mix around well here, it's like a big family. Got some very good teachings from the staffs here, followed them on ward rounds, clinics, operation rooms .. etc. Usually have a long day with them (typical 8 to 5), sometimes cabut early. 

Nepali girls marry quite early. While in the Obs/Gyn clinics, saw many girls aged between 24-26, who already have 3 to 4 children, and are considering tubal ligation. 

How is the medical standard in Nepal? Knowledge wise, I would say they've got some very good brains; and modern equipments (ERCP, Endoscopy, CT scans...) are available in Kathmandu, in one hospital or another. They use the books that we've got in Malaysia (e.g. Harrison, Bailey and Love...), plus some good and cheap Indian books. The problem is, development is only centered in Kathmandu, and the rest of the nation is still very under-developed, uneducated and poor, which make them inaccessible to modern medical facilities. Also there are many who still do not accept modern medical practice. Girls tend to be neglected when they fall sick, since the family would think many times when spending medical cost for girls. 

Am starting with Surgery posting today. One of the Surgical master students belanja me lunch just now. 

I get to meet all kinds of people here. Told you guys about the diversity of Nepali people in my last email. There is also a large variety of expatriates here. In the guesthouse where I stay, there are Dutch, Americans, Koreans, Germans, Brits... they are missionaries involved in various projects under the United Missions to Nepal umbrella. Patan (where I stay) is like a transit point for these ppl. They'll come for meetings and stay a few days in the guesthouse, then go back to where they work. With such high turnover of people, I get to hear tales and stories from all over Nepal. 

There was this 26-year-old Medical student from Michigan who stayed with us over the weekend, and left for Okhaldunga (really ulu place, need to go there by aeroplane) this morning for electives. I met in the hospital this morning a 21-year-old Social Worker student from Chicago, who will be entering Medical School soon. 

Have been doing quite bit of walking around town during the weekend. 

Last Saturday, rented a mountain bike and cycled around the Kathmandu Valley. Was really tiring, but it was nice to see how the countryside looks like. Most of the places are very barren, with lots of dust, traffic and people. Got to visit a Nepali church too. It was a lively church with about 600 people. We were able to follow the session coz they had earphones with intepreter for us. With the Nepali church growing like wildfire despite social pressures and persecutions, sometimes I wonder whether expatriate missionaries are still relevant here. Anyway, Nepali churches have good praises for expat missionaries who "go to places where no Nepali would want to go, just to share the love of Christ". 

Went also to an International Church, housed in a luxurious International School (that's where missionary kids study). That was about 80 ppl, mainly Whites and some Asians. That place is a real luxury, like those European schools we see on TV. 

Sunday was spent walking town. In Nepal, Hinduism is very much a part of life. Everywhere you go, within 50 steps, you'll find objects of worship along the roadside, be it stones, trees, images of Gods, prayer wheels ... The average Nepali will pay respects to these objects as they walk down the street. In town, there are some magnificent temples squares (many different temples in one area), where we got to see animal sacrifices, burning of incense, worshippers, processions ... such exciting sights and smell. I went to a place called Durbar Square, and a Swayambunath Temple (a Tibetan Buddhist Temple high up in a hill, where you can see the whole Kathmanudu Valley). Also, spent the night in Thamel, a touristy area, much like Petaling Street, where there were lots of Quailos and exotic Nepali souvenirs. Some temples charge a certain entrance fee for tourists, but I've got a Patan Hospital tag, which I could show them and say I work in Nepal... and they let me in free. There are some temples in Nepal that are world-famous pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. There's this place called Lumbini, which is the birthplace of Buddha. 

Still healthy and fit here. Just that the air is very dry... so got dry cracked lips already. Also, Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease and TB is very prevalent here, hope I won't get into trouble with those. There're lots of severe burns victims in the wards, because the average Nepali family uses very low quality cooking stoves, and many are not educated on the safety aspects of fires. 

Power cuts are common in Nepal. Had about 3 cuts since we got here. Luckily the weather is cool, and there're no mosquitoes. In the day, it's very sunny, but once you get into the shade, it's very cool and nice. Night is much colder, but a jacket would be sufficient. 

Still enjoying myself exploiting the cheap food and travel in Nepal. Things cost one third of that in Malaysia. Don't be surprise if I come home putting on more weight than when I left. 

> Well, please write when you are so that I will be able 
> to offer my best prayers to you.. 
> You have been a blessings to many, including me! 
> Thanks for being my good brother in Christ.. 
Thanks for your prayers. Do continue to pray for us, for a great learning opportunity here in Nepal, and open our eyes to the needs of people. 

HwaSen : Wei, you're one of our top students from Malaysia lah... must maintain the nama baik of UM ! You find difficulty understanding Aussie English? Here I hardly understand the Nepali language ... So, can't really communicate much with the patients. Have to rely on the the staffs to translate. $ 30 for a dinner (!?), my heart will pain for a many days ! Here the most we spend for a meal is RM 3-4. Take good care of your leg. 

Cheers, 

Michael
Count your blessings !