After returning from India about a week and a half ago, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my experiences. During my six weeks abroad, I had the opportunity to take an anthropology course centered around Himalayan healthcare and the natural environment, taught by many instructors familiar with the hillside. After that course’s conclusion, I then completed a Wilderness First Responder certification class, learning how to care for all sorts of patients in remote environments. Along the way, my peers and I had the opportunity to explore vibrant cities and stunning countrysides, learn from experts in the field and in a hospital setting, and spend time together practicing the new skills we learned in class.
I believe this trip changed me for the better. For one, living on the side of a mountain forces you to up your level of physical fitness – climbing over 200 stairs to get back home certainly helped. I also learned a lot about how to study well when I’m fatigued. I’ve certainly burned the midnight oil in the library at school before, but studying through a new kind of physical exhaustion that only comes at altitude taught me a lot about resilience. I am also proud to say I’ve grown as a prehospital medical provider. The WFR course allowed me to hone the skills I developed while getting certified as an EMT. It also taught me how to be creative as a provider in areas with limited resources.
The clinical rotations I completed in a local hospital also gave me tremendous insight to how different the Indian healthcare system is from the one I’m used to. This comparison allows me to think more critically about how both systems operate and will surely shape my academic experience as I progress through undergrad and into graduate school. My experiences there can help me bring a unique perspective to whatever class I’m in, changing how I learn the material in the classes I have left.
In short, I came back from India stronger – both physically and as a student and professional. I’m grateful to everyone that made this experience as meaningful as it was, and to all those that helped get me on that plane in the first place. To everyone I met in Mussoorie: I’ll be back again soon!
