12/22/15
There are a lot of way to be charitable, and donations are usually the easiest and most popular. Whether it is to drop money into the charity boxes during Christmas shopping (which, I really wish they have an option for me to drop money and stop those volunteers from ringing the annoying bell all the time) to actually physical donation of goods and services; we all like to give during the holiday seasons. However, there is one donation that is extremely personal and requires a large prick (well, multiple if you have someone inexperience), a few sharp pains, a lot of laying down and a short recovery time (I guess that depends on individual fitness level), and best of all, the service is free. Giving blood is often consider a noble act: one that saves other lives. We are all encouraged to donate blood, and most of us give it up freely. However, and ale what unfortunately, these donated plasmas, blood and cells are often sold for a profit by the very agency that asked for donations.
The last day in Phnom Penh was a headache inducing one: I did all of the activities I had planned for Phnom Penh, and thus had no plan for today. In the end, I woke up late and wandered over to a cafe for lunch. Soon realizing I was actually near the Cambodian blood center, I decided to stop by once again to attempt another blood donation. I am actually not quite sure if Cambodia has a shortage on blood (that sounds a little glory; and a little like a vampire…), but I thought it would be a good idea to do something good before Christmas. Plus, it just sound like a cool thing to do while traveling. (I am leaving blood behind!) Walking into the center, I was processed within 5 minutes, and soon tested for iron level and blood type with a small prick to my finger. Another 2 minutes later, I was laying on a reclining chair along with some locals (who looked at me with some amusement), waiting for the big prick. I faced the tv, which was running a loop on some Cambodian ktv. It was surprisingly formal affair: no one said much to me, and with a sharp poke, my blood was being collected in a bag. I read my kindle for a while, squeezed the ball (an actual ball, not the human part) to pump the blood faster. Done within 15 minutes, I was told to visit the snack room, where they gave me a huge snack box (4 pastries), a soda (really? No juice??), and a bottled water, and a free tshirt. The snack lady was very friendly, and was happily watching some sort of drama in a palace with a lot of half naked men and scantily dressed ladies (I watched the scene where a female servant was being beaten by a man with huge stick, while the noble ladies snickered. She was eventually rescued by a noble male. I sense a very telenovela moment…).
I continued my way back to the river front to see Wat Phnom, one of the oldest temple in Cambodia. The site was uphill with lots of stairs, and I soon felt a little sweaty and woozy. I managed to take some photos, wandered around the area, but eventually had to retreat to another cafe for a coffee and a cup cake. Unfortunately, the weather also turned pretty nasty with sudden downpour, and I hostile retreated back to my hostel for the rest of the afternoon.
As I was sitting at dinner, I wondered a little about where my blood will go. In the United States, blood is a big business. While we donate blood, the supply is then controlled by a blood bank. When a hospital needs blood supply, they asked the blood bank for it, but also have to pay a price for these blood. If there is a shortage in the area, the hospitals will ask blood banks outside their area for supply: and may have to pay a higher price for it. It is actually a huge business that involves a lot of logistics, and is an international industry. Plus, blood is separated into plasma and platelets, which can be kept longer and does not cross match of blood types. When I donate blood in Seattle, part of it could end up on Ohio, the other in storage, or maybe another part of the country. The donors get free cookies and juices, but the blood bank actually gets payment from hospitals and even turn a profit. A industry built literally on blood, and the money from blood of everyday, altruistic people.
(Welcome to capitalism!)
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