Since I recovered from my jetlag, I would sleep at about 7:30 PM and wake up around 7:30 AM the next morning. This is a HUGE relief to Mommy and Daddy because they can get a lot done between the hours of 7:30 PM and 11:00 PM at night while I am in slumber, whether it be work or pleasure.
Thanks to Aunt Ellie, Mommy was introduced to the world of on-demand movies on Netflix and has been addicted to watching her favorite genre of movies — documentaries. Yes, while most people in the world likes to escape daily life by reading romance novels, mysteries or whatever non-fiction genre of their choice, my Mommy likes documentaries and non-fiction books. Go figure.
After giving birth to me, she has essentially abandoned all movie-watching except for watching “Avatar” in 3D with Daddy one day while I was with the nanny. However, on this trip to and from Taiwan, Mommy had the opportunity to watch three (yes, three!) documentaries on the flights. The movies were “Freakonomics,” (just like the book) “Waiting for Superman,” (about the education system in the U.S.) and “Smash the Camera” (about the life of a paparazzi camera man). It re-ignited Mommy’s interest in documentaries and with Aunt Ellie’s Netflix influence, Mommy has been unstoppable! In the last week, Mommy has seen the following documentaries, most of them recommended by Aunt Ellie:
– “The Great Happiness Space.” A story about the host boys in Osaka, Japan. Very interesting perspective on this whole other world Mommy never knew existed. Geishas are still a far more interesting culture.
– “Independent Lens: Between the Folds.” A story about origami artists. Mommy never knew paper-folding could be so magnificent.
– “Helvetica.” A story about how the font, Helvetica, came to become so popular. It was interesting to see how people who design fonts see the world.
– “Babies.” A story about the lives of 4 babies, born in different parts of the world (Japan, Mongolia, San Fancisco and Africa) and their different upbringing. Very insightful and definitely sheds light on how lucky I am to be born and raised in the USA.
– “September Issue.” A story about Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and how she ran the magazine. Mommy has always been fascinated by her in an odd sort of way. Mommy fixates on her pristine appearance and clothing.
– “The Parking Lot Movie.” A story about a parking lot at “The Corner” in Charlottesville, VA, a place very dear to Mommy (and Aunt Ellie’s) hearts. Odd characters run the parking lot and discuss their philosophies on the people who park in the lots, the little shelter they have and their devotion to their job. As Daddy says, it’s a movie about nothing. Yes, it may be about “nothing,” but people can be passionate about things that may appear to be “nothing.”
But perhaps the best documentary so far has been…
– “A Walk to Beautiful.” A story about three Ethiopian women who have lived with fistulas due to traumatic childbirth and how they were cured.
The story was so inspirational that Mommy immediately sent the recommendation to her ob/gyn residency friends (Aunts Janifer, Shilpa and Marsha) who would all undoubtedly appreciate the movie.
This movie truly documents what being a doctor means — helping to improve the lives of others.
It is absolutely unreal to think that women can live for years and years with fistulas, whether they be bladder to vagina (vesicovaginal) or rectum to vagina (rectovaginal). They are constantly having urine and/or feces come down their legs since diapers are not readily available or used in Ethiopia. Because of this, they are shunned by their families and often live outside of the main house. They travel 17 + hours by bus to go to a “Fistula Hospital” for surgical repair and stay there for weeks for the repair and recovery. Then, they make the journey home to have their lives changed forever.
In light of this movie, Mommy thought about her decision to have an elective c-section even if I hadn’t been breech and still considers it a wise decision. Granted, fistulas are rare in the USA with traumatic vaginal deliveries, to Mommy, it is still not worth the risk.