First week at work done! What a shock to the system- I'm exhausted! My last day at work was Christmas eve- that seems like a lifetime ago.
The work is a big challenge, I'm not doing actual clinical work, more looking at how they can improve their service. I'm not sure what would be more of a challenge- clinical work in this very basic/backwards setting with weird and wonderful patients- far removed from the type of clinical I'm used to doing; or the development stuff that I've got no prior experience of. I suspect I would find the clinical work much more frustrating due to the restrictions on the service.

COPE it's self is an amazing organisation they are the only provider of prosthetic/orthotic care in Laos. The prosthetic side of things is much more developed compared to the orthotic. But again far removed from the prosthetics I'm familiar with. The legs are made entirely from plastic so they don't rust in the rice paddies. There are no 'fancy' modular components, they received some donated legs from otto bock (a leading European manufacturer, the sort of thing I trained with), they were looking at them in awe. To me they were beat up old legs, to them they were cutting edge technology, even though the hydraulic knee control didn't work- a real eye opener.

Vientaine it's self is a quiet place, not much happens here. I spent the weekend mainly getting slowly drunk on Saturday with a fellow cycle tourer who I'd met at the COPE visitor Center earlier in the week. Then Sunday recovering- went to the gym only £6 for all day plus an hrs massage- who wouldn't? I didn't even use the gym just sat by the pool and steamed etc.

The house I'm living in is getting busier which is nice. There are now 3 short term visitors plus Marnie. They are all yoga types... I really struggle to get it. Marnie a DVD collection to put any blockbuster to shame, in the abscence of tv this is how most evenings are spent.

There is a cycling group in town called team Dai ( means cycle in Laos) but I love that is also just sounds super tough. They train at 6.15am!!!! Not yet made it out with them but there is no way I can miss out on that!