The end of an amazing experience...

Following an exciting and interesting first week at the hospital, the group looked forward to a weekend of leisure in Vinh Long. The Saturday saw the group take a tour along the Mekong Delta to the floating markets. We stopped at several sites to see the local people making traditional rice paper, snake wine and performed theatrical Vietnamese songs. The group disembarked onto smaller wooden row boats with a single woman paddling standing up. We sat in groups of four and travelled seamlessly through smaller channels. We saw beautiful greenery and witnessed local Mekong Delta residents going about their usual day. The Sunday was a time of relaxation and immersion into the local Vinh Long atmosphere.

Our final week at the hospital went past quickly. Our Vietnamese language skills had developed and basic communication with the local women and families was possible; even if they did find our pronunciation hilarious. The professional relationships between the staff and students further grew. This allowed for open transfer of practices, culture and knowledge. We gained valuable insight into the Vietnamese way, particularly their great family involvement from pregnancy to the postnatal period. We provided information on Australian obstetric practices which that staff found very interesting.

As the week neared the end, our group was humbled to be invited to share meals with the local staff. A generous invitation for a few of us to attend an Anniversary of Death at a doctor’s home was humbling and beyond expected. On attendance a lush spread of local food was presented before us. This had obviously taken several days to prepare and tasted divine. Another generous invitation to attend a local restaurant for pancakes arrived from another doctor. On our final day at the hospital, we dined together with several doctors and midwives and enjoyed the Vietnamese pancakes. We returned to the hospital and said our goodbyes. It was a bittersweet moment to part with the wonderful staff and families as we began our trip home to our own families. 

We travelled back to Ho Chi Minh City on the final Friday, ready to depart for Adelaide on the Saturday evening. We were fortunate enough to have some more leisure time. On the Friday evening we enjoyed a delicious farewell dinner and saw the views from the highest building in Ho Chi Minh City on the 52 nd floor. On Saturday morning most of the group went to the Cu Chi tunnels to learn of the Vietnamese War and its impact. Finally, we scattered to quickly buy gifts and bargains from the local markets before departure. 

Now back in Australia to our creature comforts, I reflect on the most amazing experience I have had as a student midwife. Words cannot describe these experiences well enough, especially those shared with the women, families, local practitioners and as a group. We thank Antipodeans for arranging this placement and extend a special thank you to Michelle, Chi and Tam.

Our Exciting First Week of midwifery in Vietnam!

After check in and a team photo we were finally boarding. The long, overnight haul had finally begun after weeks of planning, preparation and excitement. Two stopovers and rough nights' ‘sleep’ saw us to Ho Chi Minh City where we had the afternoon to settle in, a welcome dinner of local cuisine, and an early night. Monday morning was here, time to pack up, board the bus and move onto Vinh Long. 

We dumped our bags at the hotel, were fed an enormous lunch that could quite easily have fed us for days and made our way to the hospital for a tour. Waiting at the steps of hospital were the beaming smiles of staff and translators. As we made our way through the corridors, locals stared, waved, giggled and followed us. It was clear we were going to be welcomed, it was also clear this was not a place that foreigners frequented.

The staff proudly walked us through their hospital and sat us down in the meeting room for an official welcoming. If you’re a health professional student you know this kind of welcoming doesn’t happen at home (well it certainly doesn’t in Australia). We felt like royalty and were all thrilled to finally be here.

We later left the hospital and made our way through the local supermarket collecting some basic supplies. Once again the locals looked on intrigued that white Aussies were wandering through their supermarket. Tuesday was here, day 1 of placement! It was very different to home, there was no patient hand over, we had no idea of the daily routine and yet we all drifted off into our own areas and began to immerse ourselves in the women, babies and families. It was difficult, we looked at babies, smiled and felt unsure exactly where to begin. This didn’t last long... as we were collected and off on ward rounds, showering babies, hands deeps in welcoming new arrivals or practicing our ultrasound skills. 

Ward rounds were not like home, for one patient’s don’t get privacy like we are used to. Woman sharing birth rooms, or being examined surrounded by others was something we were just not used to but here in Vietnam it was completely the norm, they know no other way, and it was time we got used to it. The other thing we had to get used to was working through interpreters or communicating without one if they were busy in other room. I think we all left our first day feeling relieved, exhausted and excited for day 2 of placement. As the week went on we moved throughout the various areas of the maternity/obstetrics unit. We all faced different challenges and were given new opportunities that we know we wouldn’t get at home. 

 We had all collected donations of new and pre loved baby goodies to which we made into packs for the women. Their faces were often blank when we handed these out. In shock that they were given something and unsure of exactly what was inside. If you walked back to the room a half an hour later the baby was often dressed in your clothes and snuggly wrapped in the blanket you had gifted. A warm smile was exchanged and it was clear they were appreciative. After all these women were not used to receiving things from the hospital in fact it’s quite the opposite. The women themselves provide everything they need to birth at the hospital from disposable mess mats to food, so they hardly expect to be handed a collection of brightly coloured baby goods. 

As the week draws to a close I think we can all proudly say we all survived week one! Mainly because we all came with no expectations, embraced opportunities and, importantly, supported each other through challenges big and small, personal and professional. I feel like next week with be filled with new challenges as some have been overcome and new ones arise. We are all craving a home cooked meal (or at the very least vegemite on toast) and missing loved ones (both two and four legged)!

Cruise, clinics & cooking classes: It's all happening in Cambodia

COUNTRY: Cambodia
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing & Midwifery
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Mathes, University of Queensland

Sousdei Australie! (Hello Australia)

It's been an action-packed fortnight here in Cambodia. On our second weekend here we headed to the capital city, Phnom Penh, for some exploring. We were treated to the delightful night lights of the city via a dinner cruise on the Mekong River. We made a sobering visit to the Killing Fields and to the S21 Museum. Despite the heavy feeling in our hearts it was an insightful experience. It’s hard to understand where a person is without understanding where they have come from. The mood of the afternoon was lifted with a visit to the Royal Place. The flag was flying indicating the King was home- and so were the monkeys! The weekend was topped off by a visit to the Russian Markets where we shopped, bartered and bought.

The second week of placement brought a new range of experiences. After settling into our first clinic, it was hard to leave the staff and begin at a new clinic. The range of patients has been vast, with cases ranging from coughs/colds, to diarrhoea and even wound dressings. We have been able to practice our skills giving both paediatric and adult vaccinations.

For the midwives within the group, we were lucky enough to have plenty of antenatal and postnatal appointments to attend too. The Nokor Thom group even got to meet a 28-week-old miracle, born in the wee hours of the morning. The Ba Kong group also experienced an emergency, as the day was winding down a patient was wheeled in on a wooden cart attached to a motorbike. The patient presented dehydrated and was our first evidence of a patient with mental health issues. We found it difficult when her family wheeled her away 10 minutes later. This is just one example of how although everyday brings smiles, we are still presented with many challenges too.

What an amazing way for Beatrix to spend her 21st birthday! We know she missed her family and are sure she can’t wait to celebrate with everyone back home but the team pulled out all the stops and aimed to make it truly memorable. The day started with a gorgeous Siem Reap sunrise, some beautifully wrapped pressies and smiles from everyone! We arrived at the clinic on a tuk tuk and witnessed a dog get cannulated for a vomiting bug!! He left the clinic in his owners lap on a scooter with his drip hung up on a stick… at least we know some of the street dogs are beloved pets. We enjoyed some amazing cake with everyone for afternoon tea and more pressies! To finish an awesome day we had a mass of giggles at a ladyboy broadway show. Beatrix mentioned she was so blessed to have celebrated with such a generous and joyous group. All families should be very proud!

Our first free weekend began with a very early start for the much-anticipated trip to Angkor Wat for the sunrise. We broke into two groups, riding in either a guided tour mini van or the classically Cambodian tuk tuk for a less structured exploration. The sunrise was magnificent, highlighting the black silhouette of the amazing Angkor Wat temple (well worth the 4am wake up call!). This was followed by a visit to two more wonderful temples (Bayon- The Smiling King and Ta Prohm- built for his mother).

For those who weren’t too washed out, Saturday evening was spent at a Khmer cooking class. Initially the group toured through the local market with tips on how to select the best produce- not quite your typical Woolies experience! We chose our own meals to cook, a starter, a main and a group dessert, which was everyone’s favourite, sticky rice. Our Nekru (teacher) taught us how to chop vegies as well as cook the meals. We created our decorations- birds and flowers- out of carrot. Once the cooking was done we went down to the restaurant to enjoy our meals. We look forward to perfecting our skills on everyone back home. Friends and family: I hope you're game enough.

Sunday afternoon began with a very bumpy van ride to the flooded forest. Lucky for us it’s the dry season and we were able to see the amazingly engineered stilt houses whilst cruising in a double decker boat. In a local canoe we were paddled through the mangroves emerging into Southeast Asia’s biggest lake, Tonle Sap. We then patiently waited as the sun set leaving a rainbow of colours in its wake. A serene way to end our second week.

Choub Kinear Chab Chab! (See you soon)

UQ Cambodia Nursing and Midwifery Team 2015

5 things I learnt in Palampur

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Mixed Health
WRITTEN BY: Georgia Stuart

After arriving in Delhi, we settled into the guest house before all having dinner at a local restaurant. Our chance to get to know one another and also see how much food we could eat before we couldn't fit any more in. The next morning we left early for the drive to Palampur.

The drive was long, taking us through town after town, with the last bit almost like a roller coaster, twisting and turning through the mountains. Arriving late, we had dinner and a chat before early bed. It didn't take us long to find out why we were told to bring thermals.

Monday started by experiencing one of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen. Snowy mountains that look like a poster and not reality. Our first day in Palampur involved orientation and a quick guide to town and the buses. Fruit shopping done, we all decided to walk the way home instead of the bus. Once again reminding us of the beautiful place we now are staying in.

Placements began early on Tuesday. It was a bit of a shock for the students at the hospital to get used to speed of the doctors and the way the hospital ran. The time spent in the internal clinic has been a wonderful experience for the students placed there, working next to a wonderful, caring doctor. At the clinic, we were introduced to a different approach to healing and care, learning the varying treatments of Panchkarma and Naturopathy.

So at the end of this week what things have I learned?

1. Thermals are an invaluable resource
Palampur gets cold... very cold. Nighttime routines now involve an interesting dressing routine of thermals, pyjamas, socks, jumpers, sleeping bags, sleeping bag liners, two blankets and a quilt! Surprisingly the days are sunny and warm.

2. The pictures you see in travel guides are actually real
We have been here nearly a week and I still get goosebumps every time I look up. The gorgeous mountains sit behind our house and can be seen from the markets and our placements. Nothing can quite describe their sheer presence and beauty. Our balcony has become a great place to hang out and stare open mouthed at the view.

3. The locals are extremely friendly
Even though a lot do not speak much English, I have received kindness and smiles from everyone I meet. Whether it be help catching a bus, buying fruit or smiling to us on the bus, every interaction with the locals is pleasant.

4. Indian food is delicious
While a local Indian take-away in Australia may seem good, it is nothing compared to the taste of the local food here. Our meals mainly consist of rice, chapati, daal and vegetables. Leftovers have become a thing of the past.

5. Always go up the weird path by your house
One afternoon, we all went for a walk up by our house and had the most wonderful time. It took us through tea plantations and amongst houses where the people all waved and said hello.

Murdoch nursing & midwifery students return home from Thailand

 

COUNTRY: Thailand
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Murdoch Nursing & Midwifery
WRITTEN BY: Lidia Palumbo

A whole three weeks absolutely flew by and before we knew it, we were arriving home at Perth Airport being greeted by loved ones. When you first apply to come on this amazing once in a life time trip you have all these ideas on how amazing it will be and yes it will be tough but it won’t be that bad will it? The truth is, the experiences that you will have here will change your life and it truly will be amazing. But the tough stuff, the things that you may have thought about and the stuff you think you’re mentally prepared for, you won’t be as prepared as you need to be.

Being in the city is your first introduction to this brand new country and you think to yourself “this isn’t too bad, what was I worrying about” a tour of the city opens your eyes and you get to see how other people live. The day before heading out to the villages everyone is so excited and ready to make a change, we all said a quick goodbyes to our families over Skype, Facebook and let them know we would be out of touch for the week.

After a long drive that really doesn’t seem that long at all we arrived at our first village destination for the week. We were all so excited about the adventure that was ahead of us.
Then we began our clinics, our first day was scary and confronting. Eventually you get the hang of things, become more comfortable with the environment and the people. I think I speak for every one of us when I say we all had good days and bad days, but by the end of it not one of us regretted our time here. There are days when you see a patient and you have all these ideas of what you could do to help them and then you realise that you’re not in Australia and treatment options are so very different in rural Thailand and you feel defeated. Then the next day you can give someone something that seems like such a simple treatment option but your patient is so overjoyed that they got some vitamins or a new pair of glasses.

The Thai people are the most wonderful people I have come across. They are kind, thankful and very humble people. To think about the amount of work these people do and what their life is like is something to applaud. I remember when they would thank me for the time I spent with them and I would think to myself “Thank me? I should be thanking you for welcoming me into your world”. Throughout the whole three weeks we experience a whirlwind of emotions, frustration, accomplished, tired, overjoyed, humbled, sadness, happiness and it was worth it all.

In the end, no amount of “what will I see” and “will I be able to deal with it?” preparation will equal the things that you will see coming on this placement. It was the trip of a life time and I would not change my experiences both good and bad. The amount I learnt and the way it has impacted me will stay with me and in my practice for a very long time.

Health promotion clinics for Murdoch University students

 

COUNTRY: Thailand
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Murdoch Nursing & Midwifery
WRITTEN BY: Murdoch University

Sawatdee! After a fun filled weekend with lots of adventure, shopping and pampering we headed out to Tong Loi village where we would be based for the week. This week provided lots of time for us to get involved with the kids and do lots of health promotion. We’ve all lost count of how many times we washed our hands and brushed our teeth! We got to have some fun too teaching the Thai children the hokey pokey, heads-shoulders-knees and toes, and this is the way we brush our teeth! The kids definitely had much more energy than we did!

Our clinics were a little quieter this week, but it only enabled us to work harder and spend time with our Om Goi health care workers. Our lunch breaks included jamming sessions as getting to know our team! We all got to discover what it was like to live together 24/7!

After the end of week two our weekend provided a much needed break with showers and shopping and more wonderful Thai food. Before we knew it the weekend was over and we headed back out to Tong Loi for our final week. We travelled a bit further on Monday and Tuesday and arrived to our clinics with patients already waiting for us! Our last week has definitely been bittersweet, we are all so excited to come back home to family and friends but were all sad our time in Thailand has come to an end.

While in Tong Loi we were privileged enough to have the head man's house to live in and on Monday night we had a ceremony. In Thai culture they practice one ceremony which is a welcoming, good luck and goodbye all in one! The focus is on all things new, included is chickens (not from a farm), fresh cooked rice and last but certainly not least rice whiskey that has not been tasted before. The Thai people believe that when you travel your spirit may wander so by having this ceremony it calls back your spirit to you. We all have our own white wrist bands that are symbolic of our ceremony.

Tuesday we said our goodbyes to Tong Loi and all the people who made our time here so special. The head man gave us all a traditional Karen bag, these bags usually take about 2 weeks to make. We are all so grateful of the hospitality of the people and of their gifts to us. We then headed out to our very last clinic that proved to be as hectic as our first day!

We then headed to the hospital for a last goodbye and got to see our co-workers from the hospital. Wednesday and we are heading back to Chiang Mai and heading out for dinner together before doing last minute shopping to make sure our suitcases are full as can be!

We can't wait to be home and share all our stories. Speak soon!

Laos baby named after Griffith midwifery student!

COUNTRY: Laos
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing & Midwifery
WRITTEN BY: Rosie Haynes, Griffith University

As we headed to the final villages this week, the terrain became more challenging and the first day of the week saw one of the trucks get a flat tire. However this was the least of our worries as on the second day of the week the road was impassable and the group was forced to walk 3km to get to the town. Chipseng was horrified that we had to walk, even after we reassured him that it would be fine and that we wouldn't mind a bit of a walk (the people in Laos find it difficult to understand the western view of doing exercise for fun).

The walk was quite spectacular and finally allowed us time to stop and take pictures of the scenery. As we first got off the truck and started walking several people in the group started singing si-quay, si-quay (right-left, right-left) and our equipment was transported via boat to the village. This also highlighted the real issues presented to the villagers in regards to health care because they live in such an isolated and rural area.The last few days of the clinics also saw some interesting cases with a lady coming in complaining of a sore ear and upon further inspection we saw what looked like a spider web inside her ear, leading to some odd questions.

As it was Bec's birthday during the week, the group had bought her a chocolate cake to share after one of the dinners. After seeing this, our amazingly talented local cooks decided that for the next night they would bake a traditional mut fuc cake. What originally looked to be a strange combination of pumpkin and coconut custard turned out to be an even better cake than we had the night before. The cooks on this trip have been amazing, turning up with a delicious warm meal three times a day, and during our last few days at the village they pulled out some of their best dishes, including their version of KFC! On the first night at the village this week they cooked us a traditional meal including whole roasted fish (freshly caught), lots of sticky rice and fresh salad.

On our last night in Pak Xeng, after a tour of the hospital, the midwives were informed that there was a lady who was in labor at the hospital. After speaking with the attending midwife at the hospital, it was found that the students help was greatly appreciated. Our dedicated midwifery students stayed up for the majority of the night with the lady at the hospital until she gave birth at 4 in the morning. During the labor there was a bit of negotiation between our midwives and the staff working at the local hospital, who wanted her to deliver in a set of what looked like medieval stirrups.

Over breakfast the next morning we heard stories of the night before and the three midwifery students huddled up on one of the wooden beds at the hospital and also of how attentive and dedicated the father was. At the end of the night, the mother decided to name her new girl Laura, although their pronunciation is closer to Lorla.
The morning of our last day at Pak Xeng the village threw us another basi ceremony and we gave out gifts to our translators, cooks and drivers who have put in so much work for us these past few weeks. Now that group A is back in Luang Prabang the only thing we have left to do is meet up with group B, visit the hospital and give them a bit of a hand over of the things we have done.

I know for me this has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I have learnt so much from my time in the villages and not just about rural and community nursing which was our primary aim of this placement. We have learnt of the importance of community and looking after the people around us. We have learn the art of non verbal communication, and the universal language of laughter as we have blown bubbles for the children in the villages and given out balloons and stickers though most of all we have gained an appreciation for what we have.

Saving the locals from infected wounds in Laos

COUNTRY: Laos
PROGRAM: UniBreak Groups
PROJECT: Nursing & Midwifery
WRITTEN BY: Rosie Haynes, Griffith University

Most people were happy as we headed back up to Pak Xeng for another full week of clinics, as it is impossible not to fall in love with the quaint village, the families we are staying with, the feeling of overwhelming community and friendliness. It seems however, that we ran into some bad luck in regards to weather this week and the day we all went river rafting was the coldest day so far. However that didn't stop some brave people from jumping in for a quick swim and what we consider a shower when we are at the village. As we traveled down the river it was interesting to see hydro electricity contraptions set up at most of the rapids, which collect electricity for the villages. Continuing our run of bad luck with weather, it was on the hottest day of the week that we visited one of the schools and donated a heap of sports equipment, we then played some of the Lao kids in a game of soccer in the blistering heat. Some of the students who attend this school walk for up to 12 hours on the weekend, carrying their week’s rice to attend school. During their week’s stay they live in tiny huts with a small fire, non of the luxuries we have in Australia, putting a whole new spin on Student Living.

For one of the meals this week the cooks made crinkle cut chips, though when they reached the dinner table they were found to be cold and soggy. This however was not a problem and they proved to be a favorite among some of the group. The next night, as the cook caught on to how much we enjoyed the chips plied us with more chips than we could handle, bringing out three plates piled high.

The clinics went well this week, and on several days as the villages were small we were able to finish early and get back in time for a nice swim in the river. This week seemed to be the week of wound care. On the first day we were called out to a house of a boy who had broken his leg, when we arrived to inspect his ankle it was found that not only was it infected but also it was massively swollen to the point that the skin had broken. It was a very satisfying feeling as we were able to transport him to hospital so he would receive IV antibiotics that would save not only his leg but also his life. Through out the rest of the week we were bombarded with wounds with everything from infected boils to gravel rash. By the end of our week’s clinics we were asked to partake in a traditional ceremony so that the villagers could show their appreciation for the work we had done there, this involved being given handfuls of egg and sticky rice to eat and often being handed our second serving before we had finished the first, and also having many pieces of string tied around our wrists. The ceremony was to ensure our good health and many children, for the future, and something about making sure we have our 32 souls intact.

To finish off the week, we were able to take in some more of the culture as were invited to join some of the ladies at our village in learning the local craft of weaving scarves. It was lots of fun and quite amusing as they attempted to teach us how to weave through hand actions and lots of pointing as we didn't have a common language. We also discovered how much taller most of us were as we struggled to fit our legs under the intricate weaving contraptions. We were able to support local business as most of us bought some of the beautiful and intricate scarves that the ladies had made. After the weaving we were invited to a cooking classes and we all split up to learn different traditional food including papaya salad, stir fry, beef soup and beans with coriander. After spending two weeks in Laos and time up in the villages I am sure that coriander is their favorite herb which they put in everything, as the girls who make the beans with coriander reported that there were equal parts coriander to beans mmmmm. After getting to try our wonderful creations the group then headed down to Luang Prabang for a tour of the local nursing and midwifery school where we were able to see the different courses available and ask lots of questions about the health care system currently running in Laos. It was interesting to hear how they were planning on improving their hospitals and hoped to soon be level with the health care system currently working in the majority of South East Asia.For one of the meals this week the cooks made crinkle cut chips, though when they reached the dinner table they were found to be cold and soggy. This however was not a problem and they proved to be a favorite among some of the group. The next night, as the cook caught on to how much we enjoyed the chips plied us with more chips than we could handle, bringing out three plates piled high.

The clinics went well this week, and on several days as the villages were small we were able to finish early and get back in time for a nice swim in the river. This week seemed to be the week of wound care. On the first day we were called out to a house of a boy who had broken his leg, when we arrived to inspect his ankle it was found that not only was it infected but also it was massively swollen to the point that the skin had broken. It was a very satisfying feeling as we were able to transport him to hospital so he would receive IV antibiotics that would save not only his leg but also his life. Through out the rest of the week we were bombarded with wounds with everything from infected boils to gravel rash.

By the end of our week’s clinics we were asked to partake in a traditional ceremony so that the villagers could show their appreciation for the work we had done there, this involved being given handfuls of egg and sticky rice to eat and often being handed our second serving before we had finished the first, and also having many pieces of string tied around our wrists. The ceremony was to ensure our good health and many children, for the future, and something about making sure we have our 32 souls intact.

To finish off the week, we were able to take in some more of the culture as were invited to join some of the ladies at our village in learning the local craft of weaving scarves. It was lots of fun and quite amusing as they attempted to teach us how to weave through hand actions and lots of pointing as we didn't have a common language. We also discovered how much taller most of us were as we struggled to fit our legs under the intricate weaving contraptions. We were able to support local business as most of us bought some of the beautiful and intricate scarves that the ladies had made. After the weaving we were invited to a cooking classes and we all split up to learn different traditional food including papaya salad, stir fry, beef soup and beans with coriander. After spending two weeks in Laos and time up in the villages I am sure that coriander is their favorite herb which they put in everything, as the girls who make the beans with coriander reported that there were equal parts coriander to beans mmmmm. After getting to try our wonderful creations the group then headed down to Luang Prabang for a tour of the local nursing and midwifery school where we were able to see the different courses available and ask lots of questions about the health care system currently running in Laos. It was interesting to hear how they were planning on improving their hospitals and hoped to soon be level with the health care system currently working in the majority of South East Asia.

Midwifery update: Over the past couple of weeks, us midwifery students (Laura, Jordan and Hannah) and our lovely midwifery lecturer Jane, have been running daily midwifery health promotion classes to improve maternal and infant health and well being. These classes encompass the antenatal, labor, birth and the postnatal period, tailored to the needs of women living in these remote underdeveloped villages. The women who've participated in these classes have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share their birthing knowledge, culture and experience with us. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with the women and village midwives in trying to ascertain better health in their remote villages. It has been amusing to watch the villagers fascination with the dolls brought for demonstration in these classes, as most of them have never seen a 'Baby Born' before and even the men were playing with them. As some of the villages did not have a separate room for these classes to take place, several times we set them up in the open and a large majority of the village would attend. As the villages asked different questions about birthing there were times when it was easier to show than tell and everyone had a good laugh as the midwifery students gave advice on different positions to give birth and accompanied it with a demonstration as well. (By Laura)