March 6, 2014- Cooks, Cookies, and Class

     Today the students finished presenting their chapters and medicines to the class. Dr. Nilson also reviewed medicines today in preparation for the final exam tomorrow. He demonstrated for the students how to use Google to find interesting pictures that showed different medical conditions. He also showed them a picture of a eucalyptus tree. All of the students recognized the tree, and learned how to use its leaves to treat cold symptoms. We also spent some time reviewing for the final exam that will be given tomorrow. 

     This morning we weighed all of the students before breakfast, and they have all gained weight! In Myanmar, they usually only eat one to two meals per day and their diet is lacking in protein and other essential nutrients.   While they have been here, they have received three meals a day, and have gained weight.  All of the meals here have been very healthy and very tasty.  (We did have ice cream bars one day and some yummy cookies yesterday though).   We try to use every opportunity to teach so we used their weight gain while eating healthy as a great teaching tool.  We revisited the chapter on nutrition and reviewed the necessary nutrients for physical health and the weakened state of health with poor nutrition.  We compared it with their spiritual food, as well.

     At lunch today the class president shared a few words of thanks to all the instructors and requested that they all return for the next two years.  The Physicians were each presented with ties made in north Myanmar.  Lindsey and  Gayle were given a purse and woven basket, respectively.

Dr. Nilson receiving his Burmese tie and wall hanging

Dr. Nawrocki with his gifts from the students

Dr. Jim Buie and his wife Gayle Buie with their gifts from the students

     During the afternoon, the team took the opportunity to thank the cooks by giving them a night off and to prepare a special spaghetti dinner for the students.  They kept asking if it was American food – didn't know how to explain it was Italian/ American.    They do understand pizza!  We feasted on spaghetti with rice noodles, tossed salad, sourdough garlic bread and Coca Cola.   Dinner was topped off with Lindsey’s no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. In most Thai homes, there is no oven and “no bake” was our only option.   

 
 We had trouble keeping the cooks out of the kitchen, but mainly because they were so interested in how we were making the food.    Wish you could have seen them chow down!  We wrapped up the evening with a few games  and singing, then off they went to study for their exam.