Gang Nam Severance Medical Service in Veitnam 1

August 11 to August 16, 2009 was the week which I learned and experienced many different things for my life. It was only 5 days, but even now I am still moved and changed after my 5 days in Vietnam .


I headed to Hanoi, Vietnam with 12 other people riding Asiana Airlines, including my dad.
We were the member of 2009 Gangnam Severance Hospital Medical Service Team, headed by my dad, Dr. Kim. 4 doctors, 2 nurses, 1 pharmacist, and 5 other volunteer helper planned for the trip for this 5 day trip for months. The purpose of the journey was to provide free medical service to Vietnamese in Hanoi. When my dad suggested this journey, I immediately thought of Hanoi and Vietnam, Medical Service was not on my mind. Although, I study abroad in the United States, and live far away with my parents in my early age, I have never travel to another country besides the North America continent. Thus, Hanoi, Vietnam was exciting enough to ignore the medical service part. I immediately said yes to my dad.

Since that day, I planned carefully what to where in Vietnam. I knew it was going to be hot, and I planned to bring all my summer clothes in my little bag, until I find out we, including me, had to carry all the medicines. Worrying about my clothes, sunglasses, and my camera, I tired my best to carry as much clothes I could in the limited space with all other various medicines. Sun screen, snacks, and magazines, I was totally prepared for my Vietnam vacation. Everybody who saw my bag would not notice I was a member of a Medical Service team if there were no medicines.

In addition, I met my dad's friend's son who was about my age in the airport. He seemed to be nice and fun, and I thought this vacation could not be better.

However, as I arrived in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, something was going wrong. The air port was the smallest airport I have ever been to (although, my dad he had been to worse air port), and the air pollution was worse than Seoul. Everybody was riding a bike or a scooter, and I could not understand anything.

When I arrived in to the Hotel, it got worse. It seemed the spelling error on the front door saying "SPORT HOTEL" started the inopportune consequences. Shower and the toilet was next to each other without any divider, and room was extremely dark. And as soon as we came to the Hotel, the whole team gathered in our room to check the medicine and rearrange the medicine. My imagination of " I am not a doctor or nurse so I will just chill and tour Vietnam" was broken. I and my new friend walked from here to there delivering and distributing medicine at 1 o'clock in the morning. I was more shocked when I herd I had to get up at 6 o'clock.

Clearly, it was not going to be a vacation. However, still I assured my self by saying " I am not a doctor."

To be Continued...