After a long and exhausting journey, we finally arrived in Siem Reap. We used the first few days to explore the city and its surroundings. We visited impressive temples and also discovered Cambodia's beautiful countryside. We realised that although the country is rich in history and culture, it is also very poor - especially in rural areas. Despite these challenges, we were immediately impressed by the friendly people and vibrant culture.
We received a warm welcome as soon as we arrived. The people here are extremely friendly and helpful, which made our stay pleasant right from the start. The hospitality of the locals is truly remarkable and made us feel welcome.
After these impressive days, we were able to start our work at Jayavarman VII Hospital. Rachel worked in paediatrics in the neonatal intensive care unit, while Jan worked in surgery. The first few weeks were very instructive, we have already learnt an incredible amount and were able to actively help out. The frequent traumas, mostly due to road accidents, surprised us a lot compared to Switzerland. We had the opportunity to participate in the treatment of malformations, tumour removal, neonatal resuscitation and the management of premature babies. The treatment of infectious diseases is also very important here.
We are looking forward to learning and experiencing even more in the coming weeks.
Best regards from Siem Reap
Rachel and Jan
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