Thursday December 22. I am developing a routine here...

 This morning was really foggy. I wore my warmest coat to school. I saw that my brother in Montana is experiencing -25 degree temperatures, so maybe I should stop complaining about how chilly Nepal is?

I sat in on a seminar of the final year students with Manisha. The topic was endodontic instruments. I was impressed with their level of knowledge and understanding. I would argue that it compares favorably with that of 1st year endo residents in the US.

After that class, the Chair and Program Director for Pediatric Dentistry found me and requested several presentations for her faculty, residents and even for a multi-school resident meeting. I gladly obliged -- that is the purpose of my Fulbright Award. I am here to share my knowledge and help where I can. 

All 9 of the final year students in the last batch passed their exams so they are now beginning their internships. They gave me a sweet to celebrate that event.  One of the dental assistants celebrated a birthday.

The fog burned off by lunchtime so we enjoyed a sunny lunch at the canteen. Like at lunchrooms in the US, the Canteen provides good social and professional interactions. At the canteen, the Chair of Oral Surgery asked me to provide a presentation outlining potential enhancements and development opportunities for the school. The Hospital's Chair of Quality Improvement also found me there and scheduled another meeting with me next week. For all, I gladly oblige! -- that is the purpose of my Fulbright Award. 

I am getting used to the routine of my life/work here. It was 5 weeks ago tonight that I landed in Nepal.  That means that my Fulbright term here is now already 1/4 over! 

My Dhulikhel work schedule is typically to arrive at the department at 9:00AM and we leave around 3:30PM (with a lunch break in the middle). But nothing is set in stone. Tomorrow we will start at 8:00AM because the final year students are starting to give their peer-education / peer-teaching presentations. In the US this teaching modality is more commonly applied to graduate students / residents. As I have said earlier, the students here may be as knowledgable as 1st year endo residents in the US. Tomorrow morning's presentation is on endodontic diagnosis -- a challenging topic for any speaker!