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Julie Ma’s Intern Journal

 

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My first experience in Lima, Peru did not begin with the MEDLIFE internship, but with a study abroad program during the summer of 2013. After taking many of the Spanish classes offered at my university, I decided the next step was full immersion in a Spanish speaking culture to become fluent.

I experienced culture shock from the minute I landed at the airport Lima. Beginning with a sea of unfamiliar faces and swarming “taxistas” wanting to offer me their services, I had a feeling my time in Peru would be challenging, but interesting to say the least.

With freedom to explore Lima and Peruvian culture as I studied, it soon became apparent how much poverty truly exists and how much of a need there is for help. With this realization, my perspective of Lima and my study abroad experience shifted from an opportunity for cultural exploration, to a desire to help combat social issues that came into my view.

When I searched for internships the following year, I came across MEDLIFE and knew I had to get involved in some way. The internship appealed to me for many reasons. The MEDIFE mission statement sealed the deal for me, as it resonated with my personal beliefs and the values: health is a basic human right, and it can be achieved through medicine, education, and development. The internship also allowed me to live abroad for a period much longer than the short term of my study abroad program, while also gaining relevant experience for my career. It was a no-brainer.

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Though my second trip to Peru with a completely different purpose, the arrival in August of 2014 was just as exhilarating as the first time in 2013. Although I had no prior experience with MEDLIFE before applying for the internship, I was eager to learn and experience everything MEDLIFE has to offer and do the same in return.

In my first four months here, I have collected many humbling experiences and learned a lot from being out in the field. My experiences meeting follow-up patients, building staircases, speaking with an entire community about potential projects and clinics, and communicating with student participants who are just as dedicated and passionate about the mission as I am has been incredibly uplifting.

One exceptional experience that has stood out to me was constructing a staircase with the group of MEDLIFE interns and the community members of 33B, located within Villa Maria del Trifuno. Staircase constructions do not generally emerge in peoples’ minds as useful projects that will benefit an entire community; I know it didn’t for me. However, when interns go into the field—whether it’s for a patient follow-up or to deliver Pap smear results from mobile clinics—Carlos and the nurses never fail to acknowledge the real danger of the steep hills many communities rest on. Carlos and the nurses point out the many red staircases MEDLIFE has built to combat this prevalent issue over the years, and it is a inspiring reminder of MEDLIFE’s progress working in these communities.

I never truly realized the importance of the staircases and the immense relief it provides in communities we work with until I heard testimonials of the people living there and the desperation in their voices during the nighttime meetings with them. People said they fear for the safety of the women, children and the elderly. Often times, the people of the community risk their lives many times a day just climbing up the hills to their homes. Women carry groceries or their children, and children face danger every day just in order to go to school. They do this in any and all weather conditions, health, and subject themselves to threatening falls in order to survive. They do this not because they want to, but because they do not have a choice, and they shouldn’t have to live their lives this way.

Having fallen a few times myself, I know my minor slips are nothing compared to the treacherous journey of the community members. It’s not an easy hike for many of the families in the hills and the dangerous conditions would not be suitable for anyone.

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Participating in my first MEDLIFE staircase project was a rewarding and unique experience. It was gratifying to see progress from the start of a path of stones to a finished, chiseled, newly-paved staircase. I was thoroughly impressed with the teamwork and the comradery between MEDLIFE and the community members. We worked hand in hand, helping each other carry buckets of cement to fill the stairs then tossing the empty buckets back up uniformly. Before we knew it, we were finished and enjoying each other’s company while we painted, planted trees, and enjoyed Inka Cola. All our hard work was celebrated in the inauguration of the staircase, the community and MEDLIFE full of smiles.

Although these staircase projects among many MEDLIFE projects and clinics do not provide complete healing and safety, it is a step forward and is a means of alleviating the transportation dangers that comes with living in the slums of Lima. It’s not a significant project but makes all the difference to the 300 habitants of 33B. As we left the hills that afternoon, we could see the vibrant red that shone through the slope, a sign of all our collaborative hard work, and we know there will be many more similar sights to come. This is only the beginning, and MEDLIFE’s work carries on.

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Hear it From MEDLIFErs

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Reya Seby
Western University

This trip motivated me more to pursue a career in the healthcare field so that I can use my resources to help those who need it the most, similar to MEDLIFE’s mission.

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Victoria DiCanio
University of Connecticut

It was most enjoyable to finish the hard work and see how big a difference a group of individuals can make. It was such an amazing experience.

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Anita Woo
University of Toronto

I enjoyed the mobile clinics the most, especially the dental and triage portions. I would definitely recommend a MEDLIFE trip, it was a great experience.

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David Saff
Maclay High School

The most enjoyable part of my trip was hanging out with the amazing group of kids I was with. I would highly recommend a MEDLIFE volunteer trip to others.

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Sydney Sansone
Nova Southeastern University

This trip made everything that I was learning in my public health courses come to life and immersed me in a new culture while also learning about medicine.

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Abygail Youmans
College of Charleston

Being involved with MEDLIFE is not like joining another club - its bigger than that. It is about joining a movement that seeks to help change people’s quality of life for forever.

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Emi Hofmann
University of Central Florida

Not only was I able to participate in a week long Mobile Clinic, shadowing doctors of all types of specialties including pharmacy, dentistry, gynecology, and more, but I was also able to learn about the culture and visit incredible places.

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Julian Takagi-Stewart
University of Toronto

One thing that I really loved about this trip was that MEDLIFE made sure that the volunteers got an understanding of the complexity of issues that lead to underprivileged people in communities outside of the main city

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Hannah Van Hofwegen
University of Ottawa

Whether it was basketball with the local kids, assisting the doctors, talking with families, building washrooms, holding babies, or spending time with the people who were on the SLT with me, this was an amazing opportunity that I would do over and over again.

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Isabelle Holt
Cornell University

I loved learning about the patients MEDLIFE has followed and how they offer real help to people with chronic/urgent conditions. It is amazing how the organization formed real connections with the communities.

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Valerie Lindeborg
Parent

Our family had the privilege of participating in multiple trips with Nick [founder] and his amazing staff. Their expertise made the trips unforgettable while instilling in my boys the fundamentals of good character: selflessness, compassion, and empathy.

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Harry Vildibill
University of Georgia

As an aspiring physician, MEDLIFE motivated me to further continue my goal of becoming a doctor. In fact, I enjoyed the Tanzania Service Learning Trip so much that I decided to go on another trip to Cusco, Peru.