Well Child International (WCI) was a wonderful team to work with through the International Service Learning organization. I would like to express gratitude towards the WCI team, Saul, Yvonne, Yvette, and Brenda, for leading our team on such a successful and memorable learning adventure during my medical mission trip.
Personally, it was my first time outside of the country, so I was very nervous about going to a new place where I could not fluently speak the native language and was not sure what to expect. It was amazing to see the expertise and professionalism each team member held during the duration of the trip, while also making the medical mission trip fun and enjoyable.
Yvette and Yvonne were spectacular interpreters that assisted us with speaking with the natives as well as encouraging us to practice communicating in Spanish so we would learn more than just medicine on our trip. Saul and Brenda both did an amazing job introducing our team to Mexican culture and customs so that we would better understand the healthcare system and the daily lifestyle of a native.
In addition to the team, the healthcare professionals that we had the opportunity to work with were very knowledgeable and kind when sharing their passion for medicine with us. I had not realized how different the healthcare system was in Mexico until this opportunity with WCI. I have a passion for working in pediatrics and becoming a pediatrician myself in the future, so I believe the information and experiences that I gained from this trip will assist me in better understanding the different backgrounds my future patients will be coming from and how to better address their medical issues.
If I had the opportunity to go on a medical service learning trip with WCI again, I would certainly do so. If anyone has a passion for medicine, travel, and working with kind individuals, becoming part of a WCI team will justify those passions. They are an excellent option if you are seeking nursing volunteer opportunities too!
Sincerely,
Amanda Seawright