Last Day in Cambodia!

Angela, Onika, and Erin are on their way to the killing fields. We'll meet Jasette for lunch then we're all headed to the Russian market! Then....off to our 10 hour layover in Korea for some last minute sight seeing! Exciting times  ahead!

-- 1:33pm

Just came back from the killing fields while Jasette went to the prison for medical care. It's very depressing to listen to how the Khmer Rouge killed so many intelligent people. We learned a lot about the history of Cambodia and have really enjoyed our stay here. The people have been so kind to us and we are extremely grateful for everyone's generosity and kindness.

Overall, we are so humbled by the people we met at One-2-One Cambodia. Even though some of them have nothing, they are still smiling. From the mobile clinic, to the prisons, to the people that housed us, it was an amazing experience. The people we met at One-2-One Cambodia were like our family. Their home was our home. We were so touched that they cared for us and really extended their services to us. We heart them!

Right before the trip to the airport

Last good-byes

Last day in MOBILE

Today was our last day in mobile. It was such a great experience to work with international students, doctors, and dentists! We did more operative restorations and extractions. Afterwards we took a few pictures and then headed back to One-2-One Cambodia HQ. Overall, we feel sooooo lucky to be apart of this team. It breaks our hearts to see people of Cambodia seek treatment for the first time in their life. Not only that, the people living at One-2-One Cambodia  are very kind to us. They cook, clean, and are so friendly even though they do not have much. They're always smiling and do anything to make us feel welcome and comfortable. We learned that every year they get a sponsor in order to go to school.In just 3 weeks, one student learned English and already is so good! It's sad to learn that they are sponsored only 1 year at at time. They work so hard and they may not even get to go to school unless they have a sponsor. That truly breaks our hearts after they've been soo good to us. Konnga is amazing -- she really goes above and beyond for our ASDOH ASDA team! We can't forget Linda and Mr. Bourne! They've been really good to us too!

A ton of people just came back from a wedding from one of the doctors. The rest of us ate dinner at FRIENDS and then went to the night market! The clothes are super cheap! $2.50 for a dress! Very awesome!!! Tomorrow Jasette is going to the prison to do more medical work. We just said good bye to Dariene and Elisabeth. They'll be in Korea in 5 hours. Angela, Onika, and Erin are headed for the killing fields tomorrow, going to the Russian Market then head for their flight back home. They've got a 10 hour lay over in Korea and get to explore that area for a bit! Then it's back to Arizona for some TMD and clinic!

(Onika, Dr. Neal, Dariene, Elisabeth)

(Anglea & Dariene looking over a procedure)

(James playing with the kids)

(Josh outside the One-2-One van)

Thursday

Another long exhausting day we are chilling in the room reflecting on our day. The clinic is HOT -- so hot it exhausts a person even more than usual. Erin has SUCH a great assistant, Rathna, that does an amazing job. They work really well together. For example, he knows what the next instrument to  pass before Erin even asks for it. She's going  to miss suchhh an awesome assistant!  They worked on extractions, anterior and posterior restorations, SDF, and others! Onika is sick, but is still fabulous. She  loves working with Vengsran. He is a Cambodian dental student that helps  assist her. They work  together on  extractions, anterior composites, deep restorations, and many more! Angela learned so much and had  a  lot of fun! Dariene and Elisabeth also did an awesome job. Jasette went to work with Medical team in the  slums.

We got our certificates today and are so appreciative! Geckos are around the house, but we welcome them! Dinner will be served soon, and the staff are soo nice! They gave us pineapple, coconuts, and are making us dinner again!! It's sad, tomorrow is our last day working with One-2-One Cambodia. We've really enjoyed our stay here. A few of  the students are hanging out with us in the lobby. We heart Cambodia!

Delicious Dinner

The staff just cooked us delicious dinner! Vegetables, noodles, eggs, soup with chicken... YUM! They also had a traditional Cambodian side dish that Erin says is similar to a Filipino side dish called bagoong. Angela says the noodle dish is similar to a Chinese dish.We still can't get over how everyone is soooo friendly and nice to us!

We learned that geckos eat bugs! We like  them!!

Wake up call is at 5am (leaving here at 6am). Time for some bed rest to get up bright and early! Good night!

Another Day

The Khmer people are soooo niceee!!! They are cooking us dinner after a long day in clinic ! Extractions, SGF, preps... we've learned so much in the MOBILE clinic!!! Dr. Neal from the UK introduced us to international numbering. Teeth are divided up by quadrant. A #8 would be called 1.1 and a #1 would be a 1.8; a #16 would be 2.8. Interesting! After a day of getting used to it, it's second nature now! Erin's assistant was so nice! He knew the steps for composite anterior restorations and more! He's a 5th year at university with only 1 more year to go before becoming a dentist. Onika, Angela, and Erin had anterior composite restorations today. They also had to share 1 curing light. The clinic was really HOT--so hot you have electric fans and sweat dripping. Head bandannas are a must! Everyone here is so friendly and we can't believe how accommodating everyone is! One-2-One provided the girls with a driver, Mr. Bourne and he has gone above and beyond to make us happy. One-2-One really has a great thing going on with the people and students they house. THEY ARE AWESOME!

Day 2

The people from One-2-One are soOOOooo nice!! They cooked us breakfast! about 10-15 people waved to us good bye as they left for school.  One-2-One is doing some amazing things with students. the team headed to mobile on day 2 and it was incredible working with international dental students and even dentists from the UK! our commute has been long today -- 2 hours to the site and 2 hours back home... BUT IT IS WORTH IT!!!!

One-2-One Cambodia

Made it to One-2-One Cambodia safely!! We just met with Mr. Bouren and the Khmer people. Everyone here is very friendly and really nice! Lis, Dariene, and Angela are at the mobile site while Jasette, Onika, and Erin are at the main HQ. We're going to do orienation in about 30 mins and super excited to start! Earlier, Onika, Erin, and Jasette ate at Friends,Trip Advisors #1 place to eat at in Phnom Penh. Excited to start this dental mission!!

Erin & Onika in a Tuk Tuk

Friends!

Angkor Wat

Onika, Jasette, and I (Erin) had a very long and exhausting day today! We woke up at 5am and left Phnom Penh for Siem Reap! We had a delicious breakfast at 6:30am and then headed 4-5 hours north. We stoped by a few places and Jasette and I held some spiders! We stayed at Golden Mango and their service is spectacular! We saw Angkor Wat, a couple other temples and then had an amazing two hour massage. Woooooooow! We ended the night by going to Haven Training Resturant which is rated top 5 by Trip Advisor. Here are some of our pictures. Tomorrow we're heading back to Phnom Penh and starting our debriefing by One-2-One Cambodia. The people here are very nice! I am so impressed by the niceness of everyone here =). 

(Upper right: Jasette, Onika, Erin)

Dariene, Elisabeth, and I (Angela) went to the Wat Phnom temple in the morning and admired the statues along the steps. There were several Cambodian people that came to pray and tons of people that just came to hang out in the surrounding park. While we were walking around the base of the temple, we notices several small birds, maybe finches, that were cooped up in small cages. Confused about why the birds were in cages, a local Cambodian, purchased a pair of birds and said a prayer before releasing them back into the wild. Elisabeth saved a bird as well, and said a prayer for the injured man she saw the day before on the streets of Phnom Penh. After visiting the Wat Phnom temple, we got a tuk-tuk and saw the independence monument signifying peace and freedom in Cambodia. We also had a short visit to the Russian market, where us foreigners were trying to bargain with the many vendors. After purchasing a few souvenirs, we headed back to the hotel to await pick up to One-2-One Cambodia HQ. 


The hospitality at the Khairos guest house is amazing. I have never felt more loved and taken care of by a complete group of strangers. All of the residents at Khairos are from very underprivileged areas in Cambodia and have sponsors that help pay for their education. They  are  trained to maintain the guest house for volunteers and visitors. When  we arrived we sat in a medical team meeting.

Arrived in Cambodia!

Journey to Angkor Wat!

So we have arrived in Cambodia! After 35+ hours of travel from Phoenix, LA, SF, Korea, we have arrived!! Half our group will travel 5 hours north to Siem Reap to see the beautiful temples of Angkor Wat!!

ASDA Goals

Hi everyone!

One of ASDA’s many goals this academic year is to organize an international dental mission trip during spring break. After a lot of research, we have chosen to volunteer with One-2-One Cambodia, because we will be able to perform dental procedures (within the scope of our training, thus far) and/or assist with procedures, AND, have the opportunity to explore the city of Phnom Penh with a guide. ASDOH students will work alongside Khmer dental students in 2 dental clinics in Phnom Penh that treat orphans for free, as well as in slum communities and schools, and there is a possibility of going on provincial mobile trips as well. The volunteer work will be under the supervision of a Cambodian dentist who will sign off on the treatment plan.

Another reason for choosing this organization is because of the cost. Most private organizations that travel to South America range from $2000-$4000. This trip to Cambodia, which is literally across the world, will be approximately $1800 (INCLUDING AIRFARE, FOOD, LODGING, ETC.) for the week of 3/10 – 3/17.

A detailed breakdown of the cost, a basic itinerary for the trip, a brief introduction about the organization and previous volunteer groups’ experiences, in addition to my email correspondence with the organization will be presented THIS THURSDAY, JAN. 19^TH at LUNCH in FLAGSTAFF. I will try to answer your questions to the best of my ability, and relay any additional questions you may have, to the contact person.

PLEASE NOTE: THE ENTIRE COST FOR THIS TRIP (~$1800) WILL BE DUE BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25^TH.

Some of the organization's work has been featured online: http://www.dentistry.co.uk/news/4459-Dentistry-focus%3a-students-fund-oral-health. I have also attached informational brochures about the program in this email.

IF YOU ARE AT ALL INTERESTED, PLEASE ATTEND THE BRIEF LUNCH MEETING!

When? THURSDAY, JAN. 19^TH
What time? ~12:20 pm (You can stop by the Pre-Dental workshop meeting in Prescott first)
Where? FLAGSTAFF

Sincerely,

Angela H. Lee
Doctor of Dental Medicine Candidate | Class of 2014
A.T. Still University| Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health