I left India about a week ago, and I’ve truly taken the past 7 days to reflect on what an incredible experience I had. Words and photos won’t quite do anything justice, and I can only hope that I carry the memories I made and the people I met with me forever.

I went into this program not quite knowing what to expect. I knew where we were going and the classes we were going to take, but other than that, I left the rest of what the program would be come as I experienced it. My days were filled with classes, but just as importantly they were filled with hiking and exploring. Going with the flow became a common mentality for me on this trip, something that I’m certainly not used to. We were able to engage with local culture and truly immerse ourselves in the lives of the people who live on the hillside. Mussoorie is a breathtaking place, and I never once took the beautiful mountains that surrounded us for granted.

The classes we took were incredible. The first two weeks were filled with guest speakers who shared their knowledge and experiences about their respective fields. To hear people talk so passionately about work they’re inspired by encouraged me to find what I truly cared about. The later weeks were filled with lectures and scenarios for the WFR class. Those days were truly such a joy, being able to learn the aspects of emergency medicine that tied into my love for the outdoors. The scenarios were an opportunity to not only practice those skills, but it allowed a lot of us to become closer and have a good laugh. We additionally had the opportunity to visit the local hospital , something that broadened my knowledge and opened my eyes to what other hospital and medical systems could look like.

I grew not only academically, learning about aspects of Indian culture and seeing those aspects for myself and additionally becoming WFR certified, but I also grew personally. I challenged myself to really make the most of my time in India, and I think I can confidently say that I did. Whether it was going on trail runs, hiking on the weekends, or exploring town and walking all the way through, I truly took advantage of every opportunity I had to explore. I think that’s one of the best ways to learn and gain new experiences, and I’m additionally grateful that I met people just as excited to explore as I was. There’s a lot from this experience that I’ll carry with me for a long time. This trip furthered my interests in the medical field, and it opened up an array of new doors for potential things in the future. I came back to the United States with a newfound interest and care in what aspects of culture and community make hospital systems run the way they do, The mindset of taking every single opportunity and taking advantage of everything around you is something I’m hoping I can continue. There’s truly so much you can gain from sort of throwing yourself into the deep end of things, and I’ve come out of these past 6 weeks with so much knowledge and so many experiences. Even if things don’t work according to plan, there’s always something you can take away. I left India feeling accomplished about what I did, inspired by those around me, and endlessly grateful for the experience of a lifetime.