Our first weekend

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

So there I was, (Nathan) half way up the hill, a stick in my hand as I tried to 'encourage' a 10 year old abused and mentally disabled boy to carry his third bucket of water from the well up to the health clinic. 20 metres to my left I had a growing crowd of local onlookers, appearing very disapproving. Young kids, old men, all stared and wondered who this white slave driver was and who gave him the right to beat this poor kid.

Backtrack...

This same poor kid came to the Bamboo school after spending time at a Budist temple and suspected of being forced to do things that young boys should never know about. However, this time changed him mentally as well as his actions. So, when he came to the Bamboo school a few months ago he has developed an addiction that need not be mentioned in this space. However, his punishment has been a beating and carrying 10 buckets of water from the well to the clinic.

On this particular day he was caught in the act and after I gave him a fair beating on the legs and hands with bamboo, (a new experience for me but it made me wonder why it's illegal in Australia now) we started carrying water together.

I kept the stick with me as we made our trips, always ready for a little more encourement. At first he was quick and made the trips up and down as quick as possible, not wanting any more lines on his little quads. However, by the third trip on this Friday afternoon, the onlookers had grown from a couple of local kids to approximately 30 villagers, helping him carry his water.

I didn't want to experience a stoning for be eaten for dinner so I decided three trips was enough for today...

We finally made it back to the clinic with the water but my fear was not relieved as some of the locals followed me in. I kept walking up the hill to my room, hoping to escape justice, as they headed to the clinic.

Fortunately, for me, they had only come to help a patient remove a piece of bamboo from his leg. I think both the boy and myself learnt a lesson that day.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Very brief - Rachael and I (Nathan again) rushed an 8 month pregnant woman to hospital, thinking she may give birth early. However, she did not give birth. She only had malaria and we took her home again a few days later. Maybe we'll see her in another month when the babies due.

MONDAY MORNING

 God-sent Diorrhea?

I (Nathan) awake at 5 am and hear lots of tummy rumbling and lots of fluid moving through my body. I need a toilet. But I decide I can't be bothered. I try to sleep it off. Bad mistake. I wake a few minutes later and know that I NEED a toilet. But with the time wasted I've missed my chance. I do manage to make it outside and create a little mess in the drain. I then make it to the toilet where I clean myself up for a minute. Because the power is off and the sun isn't up yet I am temporarily pantless. However, once I finally get everything cleaned and just as I put my pants back on, a patient walks up. Fortunately by now I was awake and functioning well for the coming events.

She tells our translator that a woman is going to have a baby in the nearby village. Our translator runs to get Rachael. I grab the emergency bag and tell another volunteer what is happening. Jump into the ambulance. I'm driver, Rachael is nurse and we have a translator with us as well.

We get to the hut and the woman jumps in the back of the ambulance. Lights on, siren blaring and we head off to Sai Yok hospital. Five minutes down the road Rachael taps on the glass. I pull over and head to the back. Rachael thinks we are going to deliver in the ute-converted-to-ambulance. Not today. We carry on and race to the hospital, overtaking trucks, dodging stray dogs etc... We make it in time and she goes straight to the delivery room.

Later in the day we found out that the woman gave birth to a baby girl 25 minutes after we dropped her off. Well done to Nathan and Rachael - Emergency response team!

P.S. Sorry about the lack of pictures, we didn't think we were getting on the internet today but we have lots we want to show you when we get the chance.