Good thing this blog is not a paid commitment because I would have been fired by now. I do apologize for my lack of posts, it has not been any lack of adventure and good times I can assure you all that. Given the circumstances at home and the disaster that has run through our city, I was not in the spirit to blog about adventures afar. Thank you so much to everyone for sending me a quick note to let me know you are safe, I so appreciated it. As one of my dearest said to me, it is often more difficult to be away and watch disaster hit and feel totally helpless then it is to be present. Thank you Tania for reminding me of this and Shaun for calming me down and convincing me not to come home and to my amazing family and April and Casey for taking the best care of my boys back home. Since there is no electricity and water in our building still and it is expected to take another 2 weeks, my mom was so kind and took my boys to her house. I can't thank you enough...seriously...
So 2 more nights here in Taipei and I'm off to Bali. I cannot believe how fast the time went. When I originally booked this trip I thought for sure I would be ready to leave after one month. Even when I arrived and was totally overwhelmed by the amount of people and bikes and general frenetic sense about the city I thought...yup, 1 month is certainly going to give me my fill. I couldn't have been more wrong. Tomorrow is my last day in clinic and I am dreading it. I am not ready to say goodbye to anyone here. I feel as though in this time, I just started to really get comfortable with the city, the food, the people and training and now I'm leaving. To any of my classmates reading, if you are considering this trip, 1 month is not enough, 3 months minimum next time for sure! This I know...I will be returning to Taiwan. I have met so many INCREDIBLE people on this trip and I am going to miss all of them so much - they really have become like family to me.
My last 2 weeks spent at the Lo Sheng Sanatorium and Hospital were life changing. I don't even know if words can describe the experience I had there and the patients, doctors and nurses I had the chance to work with. I mentioned in my previous post that the hospital was originally built for the Leprosy community. The one doctor I worked closely with is the only Dr. in TCM who treats these patients so I had the unique opportunity to meet many of the original residents there. It brings me to tears when I reflect on my time spent with them. They are, hands down the happiest, most humorous, light hearted group of people I have ever encountered. Many of them suffer with chronic pain and health ailments but I was blown away by their resiliency and the character that shone through each of them. When touring through the community with one of the nurses we came across some of the community members sitting in a garden. They insisted we come over and share in a pot of tea with them and some crackers while they laughed and told us about their gardens, and pet rabbits and anything we wanted to ask they were open to discuss. I was also astounded by the humanity Dr. Shu and his nurses had for these patients. The power of touch can work miracles and to see Dr. Shu do Tui Na on their crippled backs while they melted into their wheelchairs, just momentarily feeling at peace with his touch and the nurses joking about marrying them and poking fun of their surf shorts...I know I can't do the experience justice in this post, it has to be felt and it will forever have a place in my heart along with the doctor and nurses I worked with there.
So I know this is a long post, but long overdue. So I won't bore you too much more, but outside of my amazing clinic experience I had more amazing food, lots of swims at my pool, a 2 hour Thai massage, a few more foot massages and a ton of new friendships forged from all around the world. Enjoy some pics...this is my last post from Taiwan. I'm off to Bali June 29 and I am unsure as to what the internet connection will be like there. That an my uncertainty on if I want to plug in and be connected at all there so I may not post until I return home. Miss you all, take care and I leave you with a quote...
"Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you"
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| Beers all the way in Taipei with a highschool friend from home! At 7-11...couldn't get any better :) |
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| Some of the amazing Leprosy patients I was able to work with and Dr. Shu |
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| Singing Cups |
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| Amazing little pottery town a Doctor showed me and even got to make some :) |
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| Designing my cup I made |
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| Working at the wheel |
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| This patient insisted I take a picture with her to show the height difference |
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| Losheng community center |
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| A night out for dinner with new friends - GREAT PEOPLE |
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| Ukelele store - reminded me of Hawaii |
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| Yup these stands are everywhere at the night market, you are see correctly and even better....they are cream filled and chocolate covered! HAHAHA |
