Oh Mercy!

I love reading about what everyone is up to this Summer, especially since I'm so far away right now! I thought I'd add to the ever-growing blog myself. Since Arriving to Vietnam last Monday, I've stayed continually busy. In fact, I'm up past my bedtime to write this entry, but thought I should take the time. The city we are in is like nothing I've experienced before, almost no cars, all scooters, and little fear of collision. All the components that equal chaotic traffic. I've been on shore for a total of three days now at two different sites. One was a school in the city, the other was a school in a rural district with nothing but rice fields around it. It has been nothing short of incredible to work out here. I sit chairside and assist several different dentists throughout my workdays, and learn a lot from each of them. Some days I think I won't ever know how to be a "real" dentist because all my clinical experience thus far has been out in the field without the luxuries of suction and rinsing equipment. Patients arrive, and we sit them in a chair, numb them, and extract any bothersome teeth. Our team does very few fillings due to equipment and circumstantial limitations, but I think even basic extractions help those who we treat. Another crazy note is that I went out to lunch in Nohn Binh two days ago and ate a fried baby bird, a snail, a frog leg, and squid. I'm still feeling alright so far. Happy Belated Birthday to Hill, Way to go Bonnie, and love to all the rest of the family! Thanks for posting!