EAMSC08 in Thailand...sawadeeka!

EAMSC Overview
In January 2008, our group of enthusiastic AMSAHK executive committee members set off to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the 21st East Asian Medical Students’ Conference (EAMSC). This year’s EAMSC, themed “Alcoholism – Medical and Social Aspects”, gathered together more than 200 medical students from 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific Region. Each one of us was ready to embark in an academically, culturally and socially cultivating experience.

Welcome to Thailand

Upon arrival, the Hong Kong delegation separated into our respective groups where we were warmly welcomed by our group moderators from Thailand. Each group was a compilation of medical students from different countries – Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Australia etc. and these people were to be our main companions for the coming four days.

The welcoming party this year adopted a black and white theme to show respect for the late Princess Galyanai Vadhana. This was an excellent time delegates to gather together and get to know each other over a delicious buffet of Thai foods. The performances of traditional Thai dance, Thai boxing and modeling of traditional Thai costumes ended our first evening in Thailand with a perfect touch.

Academically stimulating…
Months prior to arriving in Thailand for the EAMSC, our academic team worked hard in preparing for the academic paper and poster presentations which were to be up for competition against seven other participating countries. Their hard work paid off when our paper presentation on “Alcoholism in Hong Kong” won 1st runner up and our poster booth presentation, “A Journey of Alcoholism”, was awarded 1st place.

During the conference we attended two keynote lectures on ‘Alcohol - effects on medicine’ and ‘Alcohol Situation and Control Measure: Thailand Experience.’ We also visited a rehabilitation centre where we attended a patient sharing session and discussed their experiences with therapy. These activities proved to be extremely helpful in providing us with an insight into Thailand’s prominent alcoholism problems and at the same time allowing us to better appreciate the relevant situations in other countries.

Culturally eye-opening
The cultural workshop was like a crash course on Thai culture: we learnt to play traditional Thai games, tried playing a mini-ensemble of Thai instruments, sampled delicious sweet Thai treats and mastered a set of basic Thai massaging techniques.

Another highlight of the conference was the city tour where we experienced the beauty of Bangkok. We admired in awe the grand sparkling gold palaces, emptied our wallets in the colourful Suan-Lum Night Bazaar, and took exhilarating rides on dangerously fast tuk-tuks. We were also taken on cruise along the river where we dined as a gentle night breeze blew and the beautiful Thai scenery of palaces and bridges glided by. The night was filled with laughter, music and many Kodak moments.

The ultimate pinnacle of the 21st EAMSC was Cultural Night, which took place in beautiful Pattaya. As well as experiencing the rich Thai cultural experience, all the participating countries provided the rest with a taste of their own unique cultural through performances of song, dance and even martial arts. Our Hong Kong delegation dazzled the crowd with the girls performing a delicate Chinese dance and the boys a medley of Tai Chi and Kung Fu.  It was an evening of stunning cultural costumes and heartwarming souvenir exchanges.

The 21st EAMSC was definitely a rewarding experience with perfect demonstration of AMSA International’s philosophy: Knowledge, Action and Friendship.  We are already looking forward to our next Conference!

 

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