EM Brigade

Today was our last day of work in Zaragoza.  We have been here three days and I know this will be something I remember as one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Today I have…

Treated patients in unique situations

            Laughed—more times than I can count

            Cried—three times

            Experienced my first earthquake

            Felt helpless

            Felt that I had the support of everyone around me

            Become closer to those with whom I am already close

            Felt that I helped someone

Reunited with old friends. 

Made friends that I know I will have forever

Re-learned a language, with much help from my friends

Most importantly, I have learned that people are the same wherever you go. 

They have the same basic needs, dreams, illnesses, and behaviors.  They laugh, they cry, they become ill, they need support and empathy. 

           

I have to say that I was super nervous prior to coming to El Salvador.  Not about the travel or the country. That was actually what I was initially most excited about.  Many people had worries about the food, the people, the environment, catching typhoid or dengue… I was not worried about these types of things.  New cultural experiences are exciting to me rather than being scary.    

My fear was that of being in an environment where I know no one, I don’t speak the language, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to help in an environment where I am expected to do so.  Today, I felt that I have been relieved of these fears.  

 For the past three days, I have been hugged, I have seen and shed tears, I have laughed with my patients and partners, have been told “gracias para todo,” and have said “como se dice ???” about a thousand times.   I received just as much empathy and understanding.

A la cuidad Zaragoza y mis amigos…gracias para todo.