Clinic Begins

Whew! Survived the first day. Each of us saw either 9 or 10 people, so about half of what we’re expected to be pulling out, and im still feel worked like a dog! Mostly everyone came in with pain today, knee pain, shoulder pain, back pain, ankle pain, wrist pain, pain pain pain pain pain. I can do pain. 

   The day started off at 9am. My clinic room was ready, my music was set to the monotonous paradise-like tune (mostly to keep me calm), and im sitting there wondering why in the world i took a cup of coffee at breakfast. My interpreter, Sunita, shuffles in 3 people and BOOM, it starts. During the first patient I had, I was visibly shaking so bad (the coffee, of course) that i had to use my other hand to stabilize my needling hand. Thats worse than my first time treating at school clinic! Maybe it was due to the fact that i had 3 people intently watching my every move, all wondering if they have been assigned to an adequate ‘doctor.’ Will she be as good as the last person, will she do the points i like, will she hurt me when needling like the other person once, etc etc. Though, by the second and third patient I had gotten myself a little more under control and at the end of the day, i felt like a pro. In these moments i am thankful that i have been taught how to connect to others with sincerity and a smile. AND i know a few phrases of nepali, which was the true charmer, i must say. Or maybe more like the comic relief hearing this curly haired, blue eyed white girl try and speak.

Chapagaon, where we’re living, could be called a suburb of Kathmandu city. Though you cant see the city, its close enough to catch the 30 minute bus ride, every 20 minutes. We are surrounded by mountains here, but you cant really see them until the afternoon when the smog burns off. Everyone farms here! Not only do all houses have a little plot of garden alongside their house, there are also farmlands that start right off the backside of town and span for miles. Its beautiful. 
The clinic building is what we are dorming in as well and it sits next to the monastery where there are about 80 monks living (all under the age of 17). Our clinic and the monastery are in a gated area with a large ‘yard’ all around that is mostly used by the monks playing hacky sack or soccer. I noticed people playing bocce ball too with coins. Lol.. might have to join for that.

 The building we are in is like a refrigerator. With marble floors and concrete walls, no matter how warm the sun feels outside, its freezing in here. The nights are so cold it hurts in your bones and really there is no reprieve. lol (that ones for you b). Good thing i brought a sleeping bag that keeps me nice and toasty... But going to the bathroom in the night is pretty painful. No toilet paper here, so we hose ourselves down with freezing cold water and then ‘dry’ ourselves with a designated towel. Which we then wash off with freezing cold water. Pooping here is super shity. hehe... no pun intended. It REaaaallly makes you appreciate certain luxuries of home. 

 Im  not able to upload pictures for now. But i will soon hopefully. 

Hope the next time YOU sit down on your toilet to go number 2, you really appreciate that paper! 

 Everyone has a garden here in these villages. It is so nice to see farming everywhere. There are some Newari villages, an older group of nepali people, who keep the first floor of their homes for the goats, cows sheep.

Here are some of our potential patients. They work hard, carrying slash for miles on their backs. (lots of neck and shoulder tension here)