March 28, 2008
This was a day for going solo. Eric, the guy who recruited me, had to go to different hospital so I was off to K2 on my own today. I got there this time all the way in the Taxi although he wanted to charge too much as is always the case.
The day started off cool and I think it must have rained some last night because the city looked washed. Still the road to the hospital is impossibly narrow and pitted and this is the second campus of the National Cancer Center. I got to meet with the Professor today and have coffee and chat before he went to do a colon cancer surgery. He has asked me to come a little early on the days that I am there so that all the doctors can practice their English during their morning report. The Professor has had a very full life and would be interesting to talk with more. He was in the Army as a doctor in the war and also spent some time training in the Soviet Union. Now he is learning English. He is interested in starting a home care program and I told him that that was something that I thought was a great idea since it was good for patient, family and health system. I will be glad to offer our experience at the VA.
Oddly some of the fellows had other duties so today I so saw three follow-ups and one new patient with endometrial cancer. We discussed the other treatments for this.
The fellow paid for my lunch today. It is impolite to refuse but also it is difficult to take something from someone who I know does not have much money. I ate everything except for the deep fried boiled egg in a batter. This seemed a little too strange. She told me that one of her professors told her not to eat too many eggs because of cholesterol. I told her she was so tiny I doubted that would be issue. I gave the fried boiled egg to her and she seemed to enjoy it very much. Maybe I should have tried it? Later one of the doctors was talking and from what he said the government pays them about $7 dollars a day. I felt even worse about getting my lunch paid for after hearing that. The cab driver got paid 5 dollars for taking me to the hospital so I can see why some jobs in this country, while they take much training, do not support a family or pay debts .
In the afternoon we had a very interesting and difficult case for us about HIV and a brain lesion. I doubt that we will know for sure what this is but I am confident that we can help him be better.
Now back at the hotel and I hope to try to get some rest. I am starting to feel a little sluggish. However, tonight I am going to a traditional Vietnamese Folk Opera that Eric has arrange for us to attend. More information to write up on that tomorrow and more pictures to put up.
5 comments:
Batter fried boiled eggs that anything like our 1000 year old egg in N.Y.C. Next time try it just to see what you are missing. Sounds like things are going well, you been there less then a week.
Did the egg look like this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_egg
I think you should have eaten it, of course, but there will be plenty of opportunities for the weird stuff.
Also, have you noticed how expensive gas is? It seems like driving a cab could have a big overhead (car, gas, cabdriver permit?) compared to medical jobs.
I am going to try this the way Amanda said to, I have been the anonymous person. What to do ( batter fried boiled eggs ) eat them of course, Granny
Deep fried egg? No.
Deep fries Snickers Bar? Maybe.
Yes it did look like the Scotch Egg that the website mentioned. No sure what it was coated with
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