FALL 2010 INTERNSHIPS For Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law Students
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is the first organization on the East Coast to protect and promote the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education. For more information about AALDEF, please visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
Fall internships are available for the following program areas (open to all unless otherwise noted):
Anti-Trafficking Initiative, legal research and writing related to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of women and youth trafficking survivors. **Law students ONLY**
Community Health Care Initiative, community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, health care access and database entry of legal intakes. **Undergraduate students ONLY**
Economic Justice for Workers, litigation on behalf of garment, restaurant, and other low wage workers.
Educational Equity and Youth Rights, legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, language access, and anti-Asian harassment. **Law students ONLY**
Housing Justice Project, community outreach/education, multi-city community planning research project and field work, and research and litigation on housing and land use issues affecting low-income Asian immigrant communities.
Immigrant Access to Justice, litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, and local and state enforcement of immigration laws. **Law students ONLY**
New Jersey Asian American Legal Project, community outreach, education, and legal services to Asian Americans in New Jersey, as well as community organizing and litigation on employment-related claims for Asian immigrant workers in New Jersey.
Voting Rights, legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and state and local election reform; produce reports and organize public forums; work with volunteer attorneys and assist in organizing legal trainings.
Administrative Assistant, provide administrative support in preparation for AALDEF’s annual gala, including: researching for prospective dinner sponsors and silent auction donors. Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs are helpful. **Undergraduate students ONLY. Workstudy grants accepted.**
Description of Internships. Interns are supervised by attorneys and/or AALDEF staff in specific program areas. These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week. The internship usually commences with the start of classes and ends in early December.
To Apply: Any bilingual ability should be stated in the resume. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Applications should also state the number of hours the intern is able to work per week and which program area(s) you are interested in. Email applications are accepted. Send a resume and cover letter (law students should include a writing sample) to:
AALDEF Fall Intern Search Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) 99 Hudson Street, 12th floor, New York, New York 10013-2815 Fax: 212-966-4303 or Email: info@aaldef.org
For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.
I'm the kid you helped. Thanks to your close attention paid on me, I've already recovered. I was born in a village and my family is very poor. There's no hope of recovery if I haven't got your donation. It was due to your help that I finally got well. I determine to study hard and will thank you again in the future.
I wish you good health and hope everything goes well. I'm JIAO wenhui, a third grade student from Lishu primary school in Weidian township, Taixing county. I live in Jiaowan village, Weidian township, Taixing county, a remote mountain village where is isolated. There are six members in my family. We spend our lives on the income from farming and the source of income is limited. What's worse, I was born with congenital heart disease. For years, my parents seek medical advice and borrow money for me everywhere which made my poor family suffering one disaster after another. What made me feeling sad is that the children have the same age with me have already been the sixth grade students, but I am still in grade three. I was desperate with my life during the years fighting against the illness. It is you who help me at this crucial moment with offering large amount of money and excellent medical care. You paid a lot for operation and finally helped me back to the school. Here I want to thank you again for your help. I will treasure the oppotunity of learning which is hard to come by by studying hard and making progress. I'll be grateful and repay the society with my own efforts.
Due to the serious flood in Philippines from Typhoon Ondoy, Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps is organizing a medical team to go to disaster areas and to donate 200 metric tons of rice for humanitarian emergency relief.
Both medical workers and logistic volunteers are welcome. Please call us to sign in and hand in your passport, a copy of ID, and two photographs by 10am, Oct. 1 for visa registry.
We are very happy and excited to share an important news with our Dear Friends and Partners. Nancy Nguyen, who is EV's Co-founder and President has joined Chao Foundation as its Executive Director. She will oversee all Foundation activities (including EV of course) and take it to next phase of growth and service. Please join us to welcome Nancy and wish her the very best.
As we scheduled, we went to NantouCounty for a medical mission during Aug 15th -16th . The mission was proceeded almost the same as we planned, only there’s no serious damage in thePingching Village, we, therefore, change the medical station to Tungfu Village, in which over a hundred patients came for medical treatment. When the service in Tungfu was over, it was dark adding to a heavy rain. Considering the rain may cause land slide on the path, the volunteers spent the night in Tungfu.
二、第二次88賑災義診和清理及消毒家園三項並進 (The second relief mission—To clean ,disinfect homeland and medical service )
We have been devoting in medical mission since we were founded in 1995. This time, in order to help the victims, we decided to launch a mission with both cleaning jobs and medical service.
1.We are recruiting 25 bulldozers and 25 trucks to do the cleaning jobs.
2.Many victims are suffering from dermal diseases and traumas. We decide to go the disaster areas for medical service (in Ping-tungCounty) again during Aug 21st-23rd .
3.Dr. Liu will go to south of Taiwan ,including Lin-Ben, Wen-Feng,Wen-Tzu, Yen-Wen, Cheng-Yuan and Dai-Ton flooding area for survey tomorrow.
The route of the mission will be released after President Liu’s estimation trip tomorrow. We welcome medical and logistics volunteers to sign in with us.
We ( RIPC - Root International Peace Corps and Chao Foundation) are now accepting donations from US individuals or corporations for the benefits of Taiwanese victims from Typhoon Morakot.
All donations will be applied to joint relief effort
If you'd like to give, you can send a check, wire money, or do an online transaction.For matching from Chao Foundation, simply write “East Villagers” in the note when you donate.
Root International Peace Corps is registered in the State of California and classified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our tax ID is #20-5363742. You may choose to make your tax deductible donations as follows:
By Check
Please send check in U.S. dollars, payable to:
Root International Peace Corps
800 High Street, Suite 408 Palo Alto, CA 94301 Phone: (650) 323-2148 FAX: (650) 323-2179
By Wire
Beneficiary Bank :
Bank of the West ( San Marino Branch), 2395 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108
**ABA Number : 121100782
Beneficiary Name : Root International Peace Corps.
Beneficiary Account : 718034671
By Credit Card or PayPal We encourage you to give by check or wire to maximize your donation. Using Paypal is free for the donor but 2-3% + a transaction fee will be deducted by Paypal from your donation to us. Thank you for your support! Please write "East Villagers" as part of the note so we can add it to the matching donation.
YOU DON’T KNOW JACK reveals the inspiring story of Jack Soo, who grew up in Oakland as Goro Suzuki. Soo, a six-foot-tall man who was turned down for hundreds of roles because he was too tall for an Asian, is an extraordinary example of someone who followed his dreams to be an actor, but refused to play stereotypical roles. Soo played the role of a police detective in the 1970s TV sitcom "Barney Miller," one of the first Asian Americans to appear regularly on primetime TV. An intimate look at comedy, community, and ethnic identity, the film features rare photographs of Soo’s life and career and fond recollections by his daughter, fellow cast members, high-school friends, and fans. Filmmaker Jeff Adachi has created a film that demands not only that we know Soo and his legacy, but also that we learn from his spirit, which was alive and unyielding, in spite of the discrimination of his time.
WHATEVER IT TAKES chronicles the struggles and triumphs of the very first year of the Bronx Center for Science & Mathematics, an innovative public high school set in NYC’s South Bronx. This deeply emotional, character-driven documentary focuses on Edward Tom, the school’s dynamic rookie principal, and Sharifea Baskerville, a talented but troubled ninth-grade girl. The personal stories of this school’s students and staff call to mind larger themes of school reform and the need for educators, parents, and policymakers to prioritize the transformation of the public school system so that all children can receive a quality education.
The road ends at Imaza. It is a five-hour journey from Bagua along, what according to the Peruvian police is “one of the more dangerous stretches of road in Northern Peru.” Originally built to help make way for an oil pipeline, travelers on the road to Imaza are frequently victims of attacks by rebels and bandits. It is a grueling ride, littered with boulders and blanketed in mud that has washed down from the hillsides. The Peruvian government had assigned two armed guards from its elite police force, ‘Segundo’, to insure the safety of the medical mission. Stationed at the front of the Taiwan Root caravan, the guards keep watch for danger ahead, their pistols and automatic rifles always in plain view and within easy reach. After Imaza, “The Gateway to the Northern Peruvian Amazon,” any further travel into the Amazon must be made by boat. Huampami, the first destination of the TRMPC medical team, is another six-hour journey up river, on open-air boats where there is no protection from the blistering Amazonian sun.
Taiwan Root was not traveling light. Four boats were hired, three small speedboats for the doctors and support staff, and a cargo boat to carry the 2,000lbs of equipment that they had brought from halfway around the world. There were thirty-two crates full of not only medical supplies and personal luggage, but lights and generators, a stove and food, tents and sleeping bags, etc. All of which would have to be unloaded from the boat at each stop they made, and reloaded when it came time to set out for the next destination. Taiwan Root had with them everything that they would need for their three week medical service, as procuring even the most basic items is would be all but impossible once inside the Amazon.
There is one simple way to describe the work of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps and that is humble. There is no assumption of a prodigious impact but rather it is the diligent effort of all the volunteers striving to do their best that delivers success. On a medical mission in November 2006, I was part of such a group of twenty-one strangers who came together from Taiwan, the United States, and Canada to provide a variety of medical help to the people of Ecuador. The mission was co-sponsored by Root International Peace Corps, a sister organization of Taiwan Root based in the U.S. We were an eclectic bunch that included three physicians, one ophthalmologist, four pharmacists, one laboratory technician, five nurses, and four volunteers. Some of us had never participated in a medical mission while others had experience volunteering in Taiwan and in other countries like India and the Philippines.
Though our roles varied, we were all driven by the same passions to serve the people of Ecuador who welcomed us heartily. From the moment we were ushered off the plane onto the Brigada Medica bus until the moment we left the country, we were treated with warm hospitality from the Ecuadorian government and the people.
Departing from Quito, we made our way south to the lowlands where we were greeted by the immense expanse of the western coastline. When we were not meandering through the mountains or along the coast, we were holding one-day clinics, whose locations were scattered across the country. Quickly I discovered how simply a traveling medical clinic could be arranged. The 25 crates of supplies that Taiwan Root dragged from Taiwan across two continents, and through customs to Ecuador became our lifeline.
Although the first day we set up clinic was disorganized and rather hectic, the later clinics we held ran seamlessly by the time the last one occurred. The location of our clinic was usually a school and its surrounding courtyard, which allowed us to be accessible to the people and to also have space to organize the various stations. The first station was where patients received a number and a registration sheet of paper, la hoja, which essentially became their ticket to visit the doctor and to receive medicine from the pharmacy. Before patients could see the doctor, they were first screened and measured by the nurse’s station. Large crowds of people became assembly lines where information on weight, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse were extracted and recorded on their papers. We learned that the quickest way to screen through the hundreds of patients was to divide up the tasks so that multiple people handled one patient—one measuring weight and temperature, another recording it, and yet another measuring blood pressure.
Our toughest patients to handle were the little children, many of whom were scared to step onto the scale or to have their ear poked by the temperature wand. The clever solution was to weigh the mother holding the child, then remove the child and weigh the mother alone. Thus, we had the weight of the child. This maneuver meant there were instances when a charming baby was thrust into our arms and just for a moment we sensed the preciousness of life. By merely measuring body temperature we could assess the immense diversity of the Ecuadorian patients. I saw ears with tufts of hair curling out; limp ears of babies that were pressed to the side of their sweaty heads; dirty ears which left ear wax on the wand tip; sagging lobes of the elderly; and cartilaginous pinna of young adults. A few people found it scary to have a foreign object inserted into their ear so they would flinch and cringe until a beep sounded, but most accepted it passively. All the staff loved to play with the children who in their innocence saw our Asian features and promptly deemed us japon�s. They liked posing for photos with us and often sought us out for the hairclips that we kept clipped in our hair and on our uniforms just for that purpose. With completed hojas, the patient was sent to wait in line for the physician, who would examine the patient and if necessary, ask for some lab exams. In a makeshift laboratory consisting of worn classroom desks, our sole lab technician carried out a dozen tests at a time ranging from urinalysis to glucose meter to white blood cell count. Although lab conditions were primitive with limited electricity and outdated machines, the tests were sufficient for giving the physicians enough information to make a diagnosis such as to confirm a urinary tract infection or disprove a suspicion of anemia. If patients were prescribed drugs, they took their prescriptions to the pharmacy, the last station in the clinic. The pharmacy was essentially a collection of crates holding large bottles filled with pills of all different colors. The quantity and variety of these drugs limited our capacity to help the sick patients. However, one physician told me that although he could not offer long-term assistance, he insisted on prescribing enough drugs to last three months, which was necessary for the regimen to be effective. I was nervous that our supply of drugs would not last us the whole trip if h continued prescribing them at that rate. However, I understood that it was more important to sacrifice the quantity of patients treated for the quality of the treatment. If we could not offer effective short-term treatment, our work in Ecuador would be useless. Thus, we sent pregnant women and children with parasites home with a decent supply of vitamins to help them regain and maintain their health. The dentists had the most decisive role in the clinic, giving the patients a simple choice of pulling out a rotting tooth or doing nothing and letting the pain continue. If the person was in pain, it meant the cavity was close to impinging on the nerves so it was critical that the tooth be removed. However, it was usually toothache that drove people to visit the clinic so tooth pulling was a more common procedure than filling. The dentist’s station required the least translation effort as most actions could be covered by a few basic words like sacar (to remove), abrir (to open), and dolor (pain). Sometimes the diagnosis consisted of an absurd exchange between the dentist and the patient of pointing, a mispronounced “sacar?” reluctant nodding, some poking around, and then “dolor?” answered with a grimace. Despite the makeshift setup of the dentist’s equipment, basic hygienic practices were maintained. One- liter soda bottles were reused as the receptacle for all the fluid waste—a large suspension of blood and saliva testifying to the dentists’ productivity. The dentists were so adept at their work that a tooth could be pulled out in less than ten minutes. The forceful yanking and jabbing that occurred felt more painful for the wincing onlooker than for the patient who was locally anaesthetized. Many children left with gaps in their mouth, the gums around the hole still tender and fresh with blood.
After the first few days, we began to notice the regional differences in health and disease burden of the Ecuadorian population. When we were in the more tropical or seaside regions of the south and the western coast of the country, we encountered patients whose ailments were more specifically related to their poor diet. There was an excess of adults with high cholesterol and hypertension. One obese patient revealed that her diet consisted of rice that was fried and salty, which likely kept the food from spoiling. She admitted that she had less access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Although the coastal villages are famous for their seafood, the way fish is cooked is simple—it is most commonly deep fried in oil. Aside from giving them drugs like beta blockers to treat hypertension and statins to control high cholesterol, the physician could only use health education to try to make a long-term impact on these patients. The cardiologist in our group patiently advised the more unhealthy people to eat a diet with less salt and oil and to increase intake of fruits and vegetables. I wondered if this advice was completely new to them due to a lack of public health education in Ecuador or rather it was the environment or lifestyle that dictated their deficient health. In contrast, the children in tropical regions were more likely to develop skin fungus and the overall most common complaint was abdominal pain, which was due to parasites. There was not much that could be done to improve the quality of food these children ate or the sanitary conditions of their surroundings so the pediatricians gave them antiparasitic drugs to kill the bugs and vitamins to improve overall health.
The environment also greatly influenced the health of people living in the mountains and colder climates. We set up clinic in the mountains of Tosagua, near the western coast of Ecuador, where homes are located so remotely from one another and from the city that every family had a donkey as means of transport. We must have driven an hour on a dirt path off of the main mountain road to reach the small elementary school where hundreds of locals had gathered to be examined. On that day, we saw more unique cases than we did at all the other locations combined. There were children with congenital birth defects like cataracts, which was likely the result of a viral infection that the mother had during pregnancy. The physicians speculated that one boy with cataracts who was also mute and deaf had a rare syndrome. Another boy had a botched operation in Quito where the cataract was incompletely removed and it left him with a cloudy white patch in the cornea. The lack of access to basic health care in this location meant that normally preventable conditions were neglected and allowed to worsen. Even the dentists noticed the greater number of patients needing teeth pulled compared to people living in more urban areas. There was not much we could do for the unusual cases, except give them a regular health checkup. What is clearly lacking in these rural areas is a regular local clinic that can provide important screenings.
Our last day of clinic was held in an Indian village of Otavalo, which is located high in the Andes Mountains two hours north of Quito. Perhaps due to its isolation, the Otavale�os make up a highly organized and productive society where indigenous social and cultural values are maintained. They are easily identified by their distinct traditional clothing: women wear delicately embroidered blouses with many strands of beaded necklaces while men keep their long hair braided and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals. Whereas it was not uncommon to encounter a single mother as young as 16 years old in the urban communities, it was not the case in this Otavale�o village where mothers were typically middle-aged and married. Otavalo is famous for its textiles and many of the men and women who came to our clinic were laborers whose medical maladies were directly related to the nature of their work. Due to the cold climate in the mountains, many suffered from swollen hands and foot pain as well as wind-blistered skin. Working in the mountain sun also adversely affected their eyes, which watered easily and became irritated. The ophthalmologist examined many cases of pterygium, fleshy tissue that grows in a triangular shape over the cornea that can impede vision if large enough. It is caused by long-term exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays so wearing UV protective sunglasses is important. That day, the ophthalmologist distributed dozens of bottles of eye drops to patients whose eye complaints all stemmed from pterygium. Overall, the Otavalo Indians are significantly healthier than people living in the tropical and seaside areas, due in part to more nutritious food and constant physical activity. Cases of high cholesterol, hypertension or heart disease were rare.
During the five days of clinic, we treated over 2,000 patients with a staff of only four physicians. Some days the length of the line was unbelievable as hundreds of patients waited for hours to be seen for a variety of reasons ranging from request for vitamins to examination of a sick baby to treatment for a laceration. Despite the wait, people behaved orderly and expressed sincere gratification that we had traveled such a far distance to help them. Even if their government was too ineffective to provide medical help, we showed the Ecuadorians that the world still cared about them. It did not matter that they had never met an American and knew nothing about me; I could still touch their heart and leave a lasting impact. One woman who waited hours with her feverish daughter sought my help repeatedly to understand why they were being shuffled from station to station. After the dozen lab tests that had been ordered were finally completed, she turned to me and asked me to write a message to her son who was at school and as a result could not come to the clinic. She wanted to give him a message as memory and proof of the clinic and of me. I was touched by the acquaintance that we had developed over a few hours of time and sometimes I wonder if the mother and her children still remember me. We will never fully understand the true impact of our work in Ecuador, but it has the potential to persuade people to take better care of their bodies and to inspire the children to grow up to help their country. If anything, the efforts of Taiwan Root and Root International Peace Corps have shown me that little things can go a far distance where there is need. A simple clinic set up in the local schoolyard using just the desks and chairs is more than adequate. It is the medical knowledge, compassion, and generosity that the staff and volunteers provide that transform the classroom into a doctor’s office, albeit a primitive one.
Ecuador was an unforgettable experience, in both having the opportunity to work with such dedicated medical professionals and volunteers and learning to appreciate the value of basic medical care. If anything, our medical mission trip to Ecuador gave the local government an incentive to start caring for their people, whether they are urban inhabitants or mountains dwellers or Indians. At one point during a rare house visit, we discovered a newborn baby with a congenital heart defect that needed to be repaired urgently. The single mother was distraught over the news because she could not afford health insurance with her monthly income of $150. We called upon the local government and charities to take up this special case. By the end of the day, they had assured us that the baby would receive all the necessary medical treatment. Although through our daily clinical work could only provide immediate care, we left Ecuador knowing that we had saved at least one precious life.
China’s emergence as a superpower has significant implications for Sino-American relations, which in turn impact the whole world. Advancing the best interests of both countries and the international community will require global-minded servant-leaders to envision and effect changes in the world. These leaders must have professional expertise, but they also need international competencies such as cross-cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and a commitment to service.
In response to this need, PESI has created the China Intercultural Studies Program (CISP) — a summer study abroad experience for American students to learn about 21st century China. We want to help cultivate future leaders in business, education, international development and relations, law, social service, etc. who will promote positive and productive relations between these two great nations.
Cross-cultural competence and servant-leadership based on a spirit of humility are core values cultivated by our CIS Program that offers the following features:
We partner with China’s top universities in colorful mega cities — Tsinghua in Beijing and Fudan in Shanghai.
Educational excursions, community service projects, and meetings with professionals in business, technology, education, health service, etc. help students catch a vision for international careers. IBM in Shanghai
Our China study program offers courses in Language, History, Culture & Society, International Relations & Economics, etc. Credits from prestigious Chinese host universities are transferable to U.S. institutions.
Study program students are instructed in English by Chinese faculty and local professionals to acquire a Chinese perspective. They are also mentored by an American resident director to help them process what they learn.
Unlike “island programs” where American students are just among themselves, CISP students interact with local young people and Chinese students at the host institutions to enhance cross-cultural learning.
Summer 2007: With limited enrollment as a first-year program, we had one program at Fudan University. An excellent cohort of students came from Austin, Berkeley, Rice, Stanford, University of Toronto, USC, etc. with an average GPA of 3.76 from their home institutions. The course participants gave the program an overall satisfaction score of 4.85 out of a maximum of 5.
Plans for CISP 2008: We will have a 4-week program in May—June at Tsinghua and a 6-week program in June—August at Fudan to accommodate students who start their summers early or late.
The Ping & Amy Chao Family Foundation has donated generous scholarships for CISP students based on merit and need.
Tour # 181 (Central America – Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras)
August 8, 2008 – August 24, 2008
Nervous, excited, and scared was how I was feeling at the start of the trip. I joined Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps in their second leg of the Central American Mission. I was not sure how the group would react to me since I am joining in the middle and was the only non-Taiwanese of the group. I was afraid I would be an outcast since they all had the opportunity to bond in Panama. That ideology couldn’t be far from the truth, the group welcomed me with open arms. They were all very hospitable, cordial, and glad to see another volunteer. I couldn’t ask for a more friendly and gracious group. We were a group of thirty-two individuals that comprise of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, professors, and volunteers, most of whom had experiences with medical missions in Taiwan, but for some, like me, this was their first medical mission abroad.
Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps is a wonderful non-profit organization that dedicates it’s time to improving the quality of life through medical services and health education in impoverished countries. The organization’s main focus will be in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. They diagnosis and treat various diseases that are held in these one day clinics. When necessary, they also prescribe and dispense medication and vitamins to the patients. They are able to provide the medicine at no cost to the patients. TheTaiwan Root Medical Peace Corps have volunteered over one hundred and eighty missions in the mountain ranges of Taiwan and abroad. Many locations are known to be underdeveloped and isolated.Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps is a very charitable organization and should be recognized for their efforts in improving the lives of many less fortunate individuals.
The word that best describes how I felt during the entirety of the mission is grateful. I am grateful for the roof over my head, the clothes on my back and the food in my stomach. I thank God and my family for giving me such luxuries. We take for granted the accessibility of getting clean water, having air conditioned homes, and having daily toiletries such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, soap, and q-tips. We consider these items as necessities, whereas many countries deem them as luxuries. I cannot keep count of how many times we used the restrooms without having toilet paper or even a working toilet for that matter. The toilets we came across did not have running water, so we had to poor a bucket of water down the toilet for it to flush. In retrospect, I am glad I bought cleansing wipes at Target before I left for this mission. That was the best two dollar investment I ever made. We were a bit more fortunate on this mission because one of the other volunteers retold her account in Haiti, where they did not have toilets; they simply had a hole in the ground.
I met with Dr. Young, a pediatric cardiologist, and his wife in Miami. They are a sweet and humble pair who took me under their wing. They treated me as if I was one of their own kids.Dr. Young advised me to get my Hepatitis A and B shots, because Hepatitis is prevalent in the countries we will be traveling to. They also suggested for me to bring bug repellant and a hat. Those two little tips went a long way for me. It made the mission more bearable than if I were unable to fend off mosquitoes and the sun.
What was supposed to be a two and a half hour flight from Miami to Nicaragua took five hours. Apparently, there was a little miscommunication between a husband and his wife. To make a long story short, the couple did not make it on the plane and their baggage did. We were not able to depart until the couple was located and boarded the plane. This upset a lot of the passengers. Obviously, a plane should not take off with a person’s belongings without them on the flight. It became a safety concern quickly, who knows what those bags contained. We were informed it would take airport security a lot longer to find the couple’s baggage and take it off the plane then to have waited for them to arrive.
After the missing passenger’s ordeal, we made it to Managua, Nicaragua and I received my first stamp in my passport. We were picked up from the airport by the Taiwanese embassy and dropped off at the Crowne Plaza. There we were greeted by Ms. Winnie Tsai, the CFO of the development. She was the first of many that spoke to me in Mandarin. I’m Vietnamese, and responded with, “Oh sorry, I don’t speak Chinese.” I was sure glad she spoke English as well. She was young, beautiful, and elegant. She took time out of her busy schedule to take us on a tour of the facility. She showed us the convention center, shopping mall, and hotel. All of which were properties of a development company in Taiwan. After the tour of the grounds, we went back to our rooms to clean up and get settled before heading downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. A buffet style dinner was prepared for everyone. Everything looked tasty and smelled delicious. One of my concerns going into another country was getting sick from eating their food and drinking the water. I did not drink the water because that was easily avoidable, but I did get a plate of salad. I then realized you are also not supposed to eat raw vegetables because that same water is used to clean the vegetables and my small blunder would soon be tested later in the evening. I had a little luck on my first day and did not get sick. Which leads me to conclude my first day with; Day one: Still Healthy.
The volunteers of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps were scheduled to arrive later in the day, so we decided to take an early tour of Managua. The scenic views were breathtaking. We took a hike on several beautiful volcanoes. There was plenty of walking and climbing to be done. The trek worked my lungs to full capacity. I am not sure if it was just the elevation or just me being a little out of shape. I felt like an overweight smoker, which I am neither. The athletic Dr. Young decided to trek ahead of Mrs. Young and I and was not fazed by the long hike. I would say he is twice my age possibly three, but was climbing the trails with no problem. He was consistently ahead of Mrs. Young and me. Our last bit of time of the tour was spent visiting the local market and catching a glimpse of the large lakes in the area.
It was time for us to head back to the hotel and meet up with the rest of the group. As soon as we returned to the hotel, they told us we were meeting the president of Nicaragua in ten minutes. We had to rush and change into our uniforms. I hadn’t received mine yet, but Mrs. Young said she had a spare. We scurried our way to our room to change as quickly as possible. By the time I got down to the lobby, everyone was all loaded. Then and there Mrs. Young introduced me to the first two volunteers I would be getting acquainted with, Grace and Jo. Grace and Jo have worked a few of these medical missions in the past and were very helpful in guiding me in the right directions. The shuttle was a bit full so we had to go in one of the Taiwan embassy’s vehicle. As we sat in the SUV, we saw the shuttle leaving. We were then told by one of the hotel’s employee that we were in someone else’s vehicle. Eek! We rushed off to the other SUV. That gave us a bit of a laugh. Off to meet the president we go. We met with the Taiwan ambassador, Nicaragua’s president and their staff. The entire greeting process went over my head. They spoke only in Mandarin and Spanish. I only picked up a few Spanish words here and there, but the vast majority of the time I was boggled about what the conversation was about. After the speeches, President Ortega, came around and met with all of us and shook our hands. He didn’t have to meet with us, but he did and he recognized the good deeds of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corp. There were cameras everywhere. My cheeks were hurting from all the smiling. We were even featured in their local newspaper.
Next, we drove to the ambassador’s house for a regale. A rather beautiful house I might add. We had a great feast waiting for us. We were waiting for awhile, for what reasons I was clueless. It gave me a chance to mingle with a lot of people. I am rather shy at first, but once I get to know you, I can talk up a storm. Everyone was very friendly. They would all talk to me, albeit in Mandarin, but that is ok too. It could have been my fault too because I would say “ni hao” and they would go on speaking Mandarin misleading them into believing I am capable of speaking Chinese. Our conversations would usually proceed as the following: “Oh sorry, I don’t speak Chinese. I’m Vietnamese.” “What?” They would say. “You don’t look Vietnamese.” “Yes, I know. I get that a lot.”
I asked another volunteer how to say “sorry, I don’t speak Mandarin” so I would be able to let them know more easily, but after he explained to me how to say and pronounce it, I realized it was too complicated for me to remember. It is so much easier to say it in Spanish, “lo siento, no hablo Mandarin.”My three years of Spanish did not all go to waste. Back to the hotel to shower, relax, and watch the Olympic Games. There I met Suzie, my roommate for the rest of the mission and also one of my many “mommies” to come. She told me how old she was. “Wait a minute, you are how old! Forty? What?” My jaw literally dropped. I knew Asian genes were good, but I didn’t know they were that good. I could have sworn she was in her twenties. I still don’t know what her secret to being youthful was; possibly a secret fountain of youth in her backyard? On that note, my second day has come to an end. Day two: Still healthy.
Wake up call was at 6:00 am. Practically every morning we would wake up to the crows of roosters, albeit, there were times where we woke up before the rooster. You can imagine how early that was. It was early, but manageable. I thought this only happens in the movies. It was different, but a good different. It was like getting in touch with nature. I’m a city girl myself, so to experience this was a bit unorthodox. Stepping outside to a cool breeze was always a plus, since the harsh rays of the sun always got to us in the afternoon.The morning was always calm and quiet. We were usually tired from the previous day. Even the brewing coffee in the morning couldn’t wake us up, although it did help. The mornings were so tranquil and silent that you can hear a pin drop on our shuttle rides. Well, you might hear snoring here and there, but that’s only because you were the only one awake. The mornings were such a great transition into the hustle and bustle of setting up the crates. Typically we had a nice breakfast buffet and would eat till our stomachs were satisfied. Then it was off to the community center where we will be setting up our clinic for the day. We had a truck full of armed guards escort us everywhere we went. I don’t know if that put a bull’s-eye on us or did it really intimidate others to stay away. It must be the latter because we were not in danger in any way throughout the duration of the mission.
As we set up the clinics, I had no clue of what we were doing as did some of the other volunteers. I had no idea how they wanted to set things up. I just helped with opening up the crates and numbering the registration forms and putting up the chairs and tables, which was pretty much the norm in the beginning for each of the clinics. We were also there with another organization. They were an American Taiwanese group and partnered with us on the endeavor. Extra help is always a plus. The day ran pretty flawlessly. We had pretty close to 400 patients that day. The responsibilities of my station were to take the patient’s blood pressure, temperature, and weight. Later that evening we had dinner plans with some local Taiwanese businessman at a Chinese restaurant. Dinner was offered family style. We had roughly ten dishes. All were equally good. There was this fruit juice that was exceptional. We had a lot of driving ahead of us before we would reach our destination, so we ate like there was no tomorrow. We also utilized the bathrooms. The line for the girl’s room was quite long. Day three: Goal is to not get sick tonight!
For the next week or so the routine was all the same. We would wake up, eat breakfast, and head out to the site. On the way to and from the sites, some would opt to take a nap on the shuttle. Once we arrived, we would be opening crates and setting up stations. After the stations were set up and duties assigned, we would start seeing potential patients. A few hours would pass and we would have a quick lunch. Most of the mischievous and entertaining times during the mission were found between seeing patients. We had to lighten the mood every now and then. Our last stretch of taking more patients would start after lunch and end before the sun started setting. Stations were taken down, and crates packed back onto the shuttle. The trip back would consist of another nap on the bus.
At the end of the day we were dirty and smelly, but at least we were dirty and smelly together. After a long days work, coming home to a hot meal and warm shower was all we wanted. We were fortunate to get hot meals every night. We were fed very well. My extra five pounds can attest to that. Dinner is served and a nice shower followed right after. The warm shower on the other hand, came to a lucky few who took showers first. What can I say; you snooze you lose! A few cold showers every so often were the least of our worries. As long as we had running water, we were all smiles. A good night’s rest is in order from a long days work.
The clinical sites were usually located at schools and community centers. There was always a few straggling malnourished dogs roaming around. There is always a place in my heart for animals and children. When I see a helpless child or animal my heart melts. If I can do something to ease their pain I would do it. For many meals, I was unable to finish my lunch box, so I would feed it to the dog. It took awhile for them to come up to me. The dogs were scared of humans. The people there treat the dogs inhumanely. I witnessed a few people kick and throw rocks at them. It is no wonder why they run when you get close to them. If only my dog came with me and saw these dogs, she would know how lucky and spoiled she is.
I had some memorable experiences seeing patients throughout my time in Nicaragua and Honduras. Most of which I wish I were able to offer more than I was capable to at the time. I am proud of myself and everyone that came out to help the people that came to our clinics. It is such a great feeling and sense of accomplishment when you make a difference and impact another person’s life. Here are a few experiences that I recall from seeing patients.
I remember an older gentleman that was roughly fifty who came in and couldn’t stand on his own. He had another man, presumably his son, holding him up. As he sat down, he would continuously put his head down on the table. He couldn’t sit still. We constantly had to tell him to sit still because the machine would not get a reading. He was very lethargic and his skin was cold and clammy. It was very difficult to get his blood pressure. He was not being very cooperative. Another volunteer and I tried at least fifteen times, but the machine would show “Error” every single time. We had no choice but to get a doctor to asses him right there. They measured his BP the old fashion way. It was fairly low. Then they took him back to their station to diagnose and further assess him. Later, I had asked the doctor what had happened to the man. He said that there was no serious illness. Apparently, the man had not eaten in days. That’s what will happen if your body does not get enough fuel or energy that it needs. As we were about to close shop at one of the locations, I remembered an elderly lady saying she had walked fifteen kilometers to get to our one day clinic. We of course took her in. We rarely turned anyone away.
I really hate giving bad news to people. So when the patients asked me if their blood pressure was good or bad I would merely say, “yo no doctor, por favor hablar con doctor” meaning I’m not a doctor please ask the doctor. Unless they had average to great blood pressure, I did not hesitate to say “bueno” meaning they had good readings. They would smile and say “gracias.” I felt it was better for them to receive a diagnosis from a doctor rather than from me. I did not feel it was my duty to give them a medical assessment. I didn’t want them to get any more stressed out because it was usually a long wait after they saw us to meet the doctors. My hesitancy for delivering bad news is the exact opposite of giving out good news. It is definitely easier to tell the people good news.
One of the most difficult tasks I had to undertake was to take the toddlers’ temperature. Before I got close to them they would already be screaming and crying. They see the foreign medical instruments and assume it will hurt. I would try to reassure them by saying, “no duele” it does not hurt. Sometimes it would work, but unfortunately sometimes I did not gain enough trust in the short period of time to reassure them. There was one particular thermometer that would take temperatures fairly quickly compared to the others. I would always try to use that particular one on the children. After, I took their temperature; I proceeded to tell them, “no mas” no more. To my surprise, some of them actually stopped crying. They saw how painless it was and realized they cried for nothing.
We frequently had to refill the canisters with alcohol wipes. I highly doubt they know the concept of a q-tip. There was a surprise waiting for me in everyone’s ear when I took their temperature. Whether it was orange, yellow, or brown there was usually always something for me to cringe about. I made sure to clean the thermometer’s tip after each use. I didn’t want to spread infections around. Just because we were in a less developed country, we shouldn’t forget about cleanliness or good basic hygiene. Another thing about the thermometers was that it will take an inaccurate reading if it was not inserted deep enough in the ear canal. We got many false readings when we did not get it in the ear canal. Although it was discomforting for some, we needed to get an accurate temperature to correctly diagnose their illness.
I despised many individuals that took advantage of other people’s time by cutting in line. It really aggravated me when some individuals felt they were better than the others and cut in line. If we were able to catch them, we would tell them, “la fila” the line. I’m certain there were a few people that slipped through and did not return to the end of the line. The only time we allowed someone to move forward in line was for an emergency. We did experience numerous emergencies working at the stations and were able to get immediate medical attention for them.
One of the most memorable cases involved a little boy. He was born with a congenital heart defect. The mother knew of the condition, but could not afford the costly surgery. Without heart surgery, the boy would die. Our one day clinic was able to take the little boy in and diagnose his problem. He was able to get examined by a pediatric cardiologist, who then talked to one of the directors working in Honduras to see if there was anything that could be done for him. The cardiologist then informed the family that there will be a group of surgeons coming in a couple of months. The surgeons would perform the heart surgery at no cost.
Towards the end of the expedition, I went to observe different stations. The dental station was not necessarily the longest line, but it usually took the longest to finish. That was because the procedures were a bit more difficult. I am pretty amazed at how much can be done in such a depleted facility. The clinics were able to offer so much to people who had nothing to help their health issues.
Day four, five, six, and rest of the days: Healthy as an ox… until the very last night. I guess I let my guard down as the mission was winding down and got a small stomach ache. It was not feeling well that night, but good thing I was around people that could give me some advice about my stomach ache.
Boy, that mission just flew on by. I was sad to see it already end. As I finish this piece, my hometown Houston and surrounding regions was in the direct path of Hurricane Ike. I was left to experience the difficulties of having no electricity or any running water. It brought back the feelings of being in Central America. Having been limited to few resources during the mission, I realized that riding out the hurricane with no electricity and running water was not so bad after all. After the storm had ravaged most of the town and surrounding areas, water was running again but the pressure was low and it was recommended to boil the water before we drink it. Since electricity was still in the process of getting back online, there was only cold water. The cold freezing water brought back memories again. If I haven’t said this enough, I am extremely grateful for accessibility to clean running water and everything electricity provides. I am truly blessed. I have met so many wonderful people on this mission, whether it be the local volunteers, the local people, the Taiwanese ambassadors and staff, and of course the amazing volunteers of Taiwan root who made me a part of their family, I would welcome another invitation to provide relief for people that need additional assistance.
根治乙肝的青海实践
