Last Day in Kien Giang

Today was our last day in Kien Giang province.

The medical teem saw 100+ patients and wrapped things up at 2pm. We then went to visit the garbage dump in Rach Gia where some of the students at the Catalyst school live. We saw some of the shacks that the families are living in and met some of the families. There was one with a 3 week old baby. The whole thing was overwhelming. It is hard to imagine how difficult their life must be living with no fresh water, no plumbing, no electricity,and the stench of garbage rotting in 100 degree heat all day long. I did get out and walk around and the stench was terrible. While we were there a garbage truck came and dumped a fresh load. As it was being dumped the people that live there and collect recycables for a living ran to the back of the truck and immedicately started sorting through it. After that we came back to the hotel and had about 1/2 hour to get ready for the party with the school children.

Zach's team spent the morning playing games with the kids at the school. They had a game similar to a pinata but with clay pots that they hit with a stick. They also had a game where they chased live chickens and tried to catch them. You can imagine how excited I was to here about that game! I think the chickens then became part of our dinner.

For the school party and talent show, the families from the dump labored at the school all day cooking and preparing dinner for us. There was so much food that even if we all stuffed ourselves we would not have been able to finish it. It is probably ore food than the school kids had ever seen at one time. They stuffed themselves. Zach and I were very careful what we ate, which means we didn't eat much. I just cannot get past how the food is prepared. When you see the pictures I took you will know what I mean.

After dinner was the talent show. Each team performed and the school children performed as well. We enjoyed that part of the evening.

Tomorrow we check out at 6am and head back to Ho Chi Minh City. It will take approximately 7 hours to get there.