My first experience to stay in the hospital

I have been back in Hong Kong for more than 2 weeks already.  There have been a lot of things to adjust to, even though Hong Kong has been my home since I was born.  For example, I need to watch carefully before I cross the road because the traffic direction is opposite to that in Cambodia,  I need to preach in Cantonese in front of the congregations (some colloquial expressions have changed or become obsolete),  my stomach needs to get used to the greasy and delicious food, and so on.  Anyway, one of the things that I never expected is to end up in the hospital for 2 nights.

One day when I was working at my friend's place in the morning in order to connect to the Internet, my finger was bitten by an insect (I think it was a mosquito).  I did not pay much attention because it is so commonplace to me, especially in Cambodia.  However, the infected area became swollen and extended to the whole hand by the evening.  The next day I went to the office and a colleague urged me to see the doctor.  I was reluctant to go because I had not consulted a doctor for years for any sickness, and I thought it was not a big problem, just needing a few days to recover by itself.  

My colleagues went with me to the emergency department of a public hospital.  My expectation was to take some medicine or get an injection.  However, after 4 hours of waiting, the doctor told me to stay at the hospital for observation because he was afraid that  there was some bacterial infection, especially as he found out that I had a fever (I did not notice at all).   I was shocked and was not prepared for this.  Nevertheless, God sent His the angels (my brothers and sisters in the Lord) to help me be admitted to the Emergency Ward.  Since I never had been admitted to a hospital before, I was a bit nervous and worried.  I had to cancel some appointments, and had no idea when I would be discharged from the hospital.   How come these uncertain feelings happened in my homeland? 

This two-night experience aroused some introspection about re-entry culture shock:

The Public Health System

In Cambodia, few people trust the doctor and the hospital system.   In case of serious illness, they will go to Vietnam or Thailand for treatment if they have money (usually needing to borrow money).  Or if the illness is not critical, they will buy medicine from the drug store.  The pharmacist automatically becomes the ‘doctor' to sell the drugs, which he thinks is no problem.   However, this is in total contrast to Hong Kong, where everything is so well controlled.  No matter how serious or non-serious the disease, patients are treated with the standard practices without discrimination.

The Value of life

Man struggles for survival against environment, disasters and competition.  In Cambodia, a life may cost a few thousand US dollars, whatever the cause of the death (except for the rich).  The usual attitude towards life is helplessness.  On the contrary, I can feel Hong Kong people value their health and life more consciously.   They are serious to know every detail of the diagnosis or operation of their body.  Moreover, they also have the right to know and complain if any ambiguities arise.  It is a totally different mindset about the value of life.  All are equal but some are more equal.

The tension in the system

During my stay in the hospital, I observed that all the staff in the ward (high or low rank) are very sensitive about the procedures of the operation.  Many records, counterchecking points or check lists have become the first priority to fulfill, instead of focusing on the various needs of the patients.  Sometimes, I feel there is little flexibility or creativity in their daily operation.  It is not a matter of right and wrong, but it reveals the stress and tension which occur easily when even a trivial mistake is made.  However, Cambodians are more ‘free' and ‘flexible' to decide what is the appropriate way to get things done.  Regardless of the corruption issues, they make full use of their existing resources to solve the problems instead of just following the rules.

Thank God that I can have this special experience in Hong Kong.  Some friends have laughed at me that it happened to me in Hong Kong instead of Cambodia.  Maybe I'd better stay in Cambodia where it is safer for me.  Nevertheless, life is unpredictable, but God never changes.

Prayer points

1. Thank the Lord for the safe trip back to Hong Kong

2. Pray for physical and spiritual strength to preach in different churches and fellowships

3. Pray for the God of missions to touch our hearts to care for our neighbors near or far

4. Pray for the missionaries in Cambodia who need to pick up more responsibilities during our absence (4 HK missionaries are now in HK)

5. Pray for my body check up and debriefing for home assignment

Proverbs 17:22

Davis Lam

Cambodia Mail Address: P.O Box 602, Phnom Penh, Cambodia