So we arrived in Cambodia just about a week ago and have settled in rather nicely, finely being on the right timezone and all. On our first day we were in the operating room watching a team of French doctors reconstruct the head of a young child who had something called a meningoencephalocele (MEC). They are relatively common in this part of the world but rare everywhere else.

So over the last week we've been each working on getting our respective projects set up, scrubbing in to various surgeries and touring around with the chief financial officer of the hospital (Kanya) while she wrapped up all the details before leaving for a well-deserved 1.5 month vacation (to Alaska). We've been living with her and her nephew for the last week, but have found some wicked apartments that we will be moving into within the hour :) Yeah! Please see pics.

Yesterday was quite an exciting day. We were supposed to attend a meeting with Kanya to officially have her new NGO recognized by the Cambodian government and the meeting was scheduled for 5 pm. Around 10:50 am we were told to run downstairs for the meeting time had been switched to 11:30 and we had to go back home, get dressed up and be downtown in time. Frantic. But we made it. Not quite what any of us were expecting, but we went up with Kanya and while she signed the documents with the minister of Foreign Affairs we smiled politely for all the cameras. There was champagne afterwards and much congratulation. The NGO she is forming is for survivors of Acid Burn attacks. I'm sure I'll be telling you all much more about this as the summer progresses, but basically acid is really easy to come by in developing countries and if you are ever angry with someone, throwing acid on them is a quick and easy way to get your revenge. The results are devastating, and as such, a new NGO catering solely to the needs of these survivors has been set up.

Kanya also has a private medical clinic, which she uses to generate funds to support the non-profit hospital that we are volunteering at and possibly also the Acid Burn Survivor NGO. Not sure. But it's working. Within 6 months she had broken even on the for-profit clinic (which is spectacular, by the way) and now the funds can be funneled over to the hospital for the people who cannot afford to pay.

Alright, I think that's enough for now. I'll try and put up pictures soon. I'm heading down to Kampot tomorrow to meet with my translator and then hopefully do a bit of sightseeing. Hope all is well with each of you. :)