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Published: March 31st 2008
Head In Tact
Back to life on a motorbike...helmets are now the law in Vietnam. See mom, nothing to worry about!From the moment I landed in Danang, it's been an emotional roller coaster. Excited from the high of being reunited with the familiar faces I fell in love with 2 years ago, and heartbroken from the raw, unedited, continuing struggles of poverty, neglect, and disabilities - all reasons that bring me back here today. Before I start on specific stories, I thought an overview would be appropriate. And because I’m finding it difficult...OK, impossible... to write a neat and tidy paragraph that sums up this past week, here are the notes from my daily planner, as is. Giving a bit of an idea for those who ask, “So, what are you doing in Vietnam?”
* Thursday, March 20th (Karen’s birthday): Arrive 8:45PM Danang Airport
* Friday AM Clinic (Dr. Josh/John): Meet with Vinh, President of disabled group
Discuss 3 wheel motorbikes for disabled, and how to design a motorbike with a side car for a wheel chair for Tung (paraplegic)
* Greg write proposal to Honda to donate bikes
* Devise contract for disabled that they do not sell their bike
* Discuss artist workshop (11 disabled women- ranging from polio to cerebral palsy), Start Monday, figure out a lifter/carrier for toilets how long they can sit for, where to sit, floor/tables, wheelchairs, buy mats for resting, build ramp for stairs, assess any skills they may already have (embroidery, sewing)
* Research renting land to farm animals (how much land, how much space needed for goats, pigs, chickens)
* Motorbike to visit Tung (different materials for making baskets besides plastic - natural/recyclable?)
* Karen’s birthday party, Saturday night!
Happy Birthday Karen * See new LIFESTART house; 3 floors - plan spacing for new Lifestart clinic/offices/classes/workshops
* Motorbike out to meet Hoa, 21 years hold, motorbike accident one year ago, no movement from neck down. Dr. John & Dr Josh assessing situation, weekly infections possible from unclean catheters...what type of catheter is best, what is available, who is looking out for him, where is money coming from?
* Memory Portraits, stories/photos, which members to choose?
* 1PM see new school! Assess materials/spacing for workshop
* Workshop schedule: 1-5pm
* Teach kids: 5:30-6:30pm
* Teach Sinh (artist) how to take good photographs of his work, Photoshop tutorial for color corrections, design basic website for promotion, contact Dave (Lifestart webmaster)
* Motorbike to meet Nhat (VP of disabled group) Discuss further details for workshop reed mats, snacks (fruits, biscuits - cost per day, use Lou’s donation money from ECRI)
* Donation from Carmel: $100AUD, to use for workshop. Keep records of donations/costs
* Get samples of products already sold in gift shops (note cards, bags, bookmarks, coasters, vases, etc.)
* Research materials available in Vietnam/Hoi An, Danang, Hanoi, Saigon (sewing, papers, etc.) and costs
* Design stamp for Miriam’s contracts/paperwork for office
* Design business card/menu for Gai and manicure/pedicure services
* Thanh’s engagement party (get card, collect money from volunteers), boat out to island
* Volunteers - collect old magazines for scraps
* Ghi - get silk scraps from tailor
* Karaoke with the kids
* Lunch at Pagoda with Buddhist nuns, Monday 11AM
* Research polio/cerebral palsy: abilities/limitations?
* Visit Hiep (organic herb farm)
* Call Giao
“Enjoy those relaxing afternoon teas in Australia now, there’ll be no time for that in Vietnam!” - Karen Leonard, Feb. 2008
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Leslie Jane
non-member comment
I love
reading this list. a perfect way to pull us readers into your world in a totally hands-on way!