Tuesday was the day for us to hear some of the new special topics presented by the fellows. Dr. Thung had a great presentation on stigma, discrimination and the need to have physician leadership to combat this. Then Dr. Hung blew me away with a presentation on non-verbal communication and the need to break down the barriers between patient and physician. I was really pleased with the way they are incorporating the teaching. I was supposed to do a role play on communication to help cement this important skill; but we run out of time with so much excellent discussion. I think that if we can help then with teaching communication to others that could have a great impact. I have suggested that they should consider trying to make some communication videos so that they could share skills with students and others.
Well today I had lunch with colleagues. I wish they would let me help pay but they are so gracious that it is hard for me to get them to let me. I didn’t have to ride on the motorbike since one of the doctors had a car. New very nice restaurant in a new nice neighborhood that I hear is quite expensive. The town houses apparently are going for 40-60 thousand dollars. I asked Thuy about if he thought of moving and he said he could not afford it now. I also asked if you pay a mortgage or if it is cash. If I understand correctly, you pay the government a lump sum and if there is a private person you might get a mortgage.
The lunch had several dishes with fish. They made some spring roll like thing with fish and dipping sauces and then a hot pot of a dish fish and vegetables. The most interesting part of the dinner was the bear gall tonic. Dr. Hung was mixing a powder and crushing up the substance in some vodka and then he put it in the whole bottle. This was served around to the men. I had a taste on my tongue but not any more than that. I used my chop sticks to as my way of toasting so I would only have a drop. I can not say that it tasted bad but it just was weird. I told them I was worried about the bears and animals going extinct. They told me there was a process of putting the bear to sleep and using a tube to extract the bile and then doing this over and over again. I wonder if this could be true and it is not so nice for the bear. I do not think that this will catch on in the USA.
1 comment:
Poor Bear indeed. I bet it hurts. I know it is rewarding to have your colleagues there doing so well. It makes you know the trip was worth while. Hopefully they will keep it up after you leave. What is this with Vodka at lunch, do they go back to the hospital ready for a nap.
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