Ticket to ride

Cambodia as of 12/22/05 I have a plane ticket in hand! Yea! If it wasn’t for all the help I wouldn’t be going. The expenses are adding up quick and the plane ticket was much more than anticipated, $1418.00 Ill be flying NWA. Our route of travel will be Japan, then to Bangkok were we have a 8 hour layover each way over night. So I’m planning on getting a room there each way and then to Phnom Penh, around 28 hours each way. With the time and date change leave Seattle Thursday afternoon and arrive Sunday morning. The Cambodian government apparently is having a budget crisis with gas prices as well. Do to the cost of gas they are not willing to have fire training done at this time. The good news is that we do have a EMT class to teach with 40 students from all over Cambodia and a lecture hall at Hope Hospital to teach at, so I’m on for sure. The bad news is the government hasn’t committed to covering our lodging and travel while were there, as of today and will be able to make the trip. Thanks again! I’ll be posting trip progress and expenses on my Blog site

Thanks Andy

Update 12/19/05

I'm back from a very interesting conference were I had an opportunity to meet with a CCD official. The avian flu is my biggest fear associated with this trip. I got some good advice on not to kiss any chickens and such. The Cambodian government has waffled somewhat on who much their going to assist us while we're in Cambodia. As for now the fire classes are canceled but we're full steam ahead with the EMS classes, so my part is a go. I'm working on getting the best deal I can on tickets today. (their going up fast) and I still seeing a few checks roll in. (thanks so much, If it weren't for the help I could'nt go)

Account set up

Today Gary and I did an interview with the Mason County journal. We should see it hit the streets this week. I also started a savings account just for the money and checks you all have given and mailed to me and sent to the web site, $1190 so far. Yea! Thanks again. Here's a list of donors so far.
GB $25.00
BPS $100.00
PH $20.00
EFC $100.00
TFA $100.00
SLM $50.00
MS $100.00
ND $50.00
BG $25.00
HG $50.00
GE $100.00
JLK $50.00
RB $20.00
RR $50.00
EG $100.00
JC $100.00
AD $50.00

$1090.00

It's coming together

Gary Howe and I got together over the weekend and nailed down some teaching ideas and I was able to get a better Idea on what to expect while I'm there, It should be very demanding and busy and a lot of fun. The fund rasing is going great but I'm not quite done yet. Thanks to all that have helped out so much.

Andy

Cambodia funds 11/21/05

Wow the response for help getting me to Cambodia has been overwhelming, now I’m working on getting enough to get me back home as well. Currently I’m half way into a round trip ticket at $1400 Thanks so much. Rebecca has stopped panicking about how we were going to be able to budget for my ticket. Some of you have asked about how to donate and get a tax deduction at the same time. The OESP web site is set up for that. Go to http://www.oesp.net/index.html then click on “Particapate” and you’ll see “Andy G” click on Andy and follow the promps from there.

On Friday I’ll be getting the teaching outline that’s been translated into Kamare that we’ll be using. I’ll keep you up to date as things happen.

Thanks so much
Andy

Cambodia bound

Friends, Family, Kayakers, Rafters, Fellow Firefighters, EMTs, Medics, and anyone else interested.

I’m looking for some help. (Yes me Andy) I have been asked join Outreach Emergency Services Program (OESP) http://www.oesp.net/index.html and spend two weeks in Cambodia teaching an EMS course and some fire classes. I’ll be leaving 1/12/06 and returning 1/28/06. During my time in Cambodia I will be spending Mondays though Fridays in class teaching.

Since 1943 when the Japanese invaded, to the 60’s when US war planes dropped bombs, (this still is denied by the US government, but one of our members that is going was a bombardier that pushed the drop button) to the 70’s when the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot killed millions and millions, (in a country smaller than the state of Washington) to the 80’s with the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia, Cambodia has seen despair and hard times. Currently they have a democratic government (although there is still some corruption) and are working on developing infrastructure, including Fire and EMS. (ie things have been bad for a long time and now their trying to make things better)

It looks like the Cambodian government will be covering our hotel cost while we are teaching classes, but I have to pay for my own plane ticket and some other expenses.

That’s where I am in need of help! I’m trying raising some money to cover my round trip airfare, (and no I won’t be taking a kayak) most of my time in Cambodia will be spent teaching.

Helping teach EMS and Fire classes in a developing country has been one of my dreams for a long time. I really looking forward to the opportunity and think I’ll make an impact. 2006 will be the second year OESP has done this trip. Last year they felt as if they made a lot of real progress and have some good plans for this year.

So if you have a few spare dollars to help support my endeavor I would welcome them. Even $25 would help. Nearly all of our time and energy during the trip will be devoted to helping the people of this developing country improve their futures.

Donations can be sent to me at:

Andy Graham / Cambodia EMS
PO box 693
Belfair, WA 98528

360-731-1078

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you thing may be interested in helping. I’m planning on writing updates, while I’m there, when I can, on my internet Blog site http://www.kayakmedic.blogspot.com/ and list events and news of the trip. Our group in also looking for any usable medical of fire equipment expired or out of date medical supplies and drugs are welcome too.


Thanks for the help
Andy