It seems like just yesterday I was packing for an amazing study abroad experience, eager to learn more about the Himalayan region I would be calling home for the next six weeks. Those weeks have now flown by, and I have finally returned home, ready to start a new year at Pitt. From stunning hikes to delicious foods and new things, I have truly had such an incredible experience learning about the world around me in India.
While taking courses to learn more about wilderness emergency medicine, I had so many exciting experiences both during instruction and within the local community hospital that showed me how medical practices are both similar and different in India compared to the United States. It opened my eyes to how geography, culture, religion, and more can influence so many small aspects of medical care.
I have gotten to learn so much about the world around me and grow as a person in my understanding of different cultures and landscapes. As I head back to Pittsburgh, I know this will benefit me in my own academic pursuits, especially in pursuing medicine, due to the exposure to how medical care and ideas can differ between individuals and how we can work together to provide the best possible care to all patients.
Outside of class time, I had so many opportunities to go on day trips with friends, try new foods, and even see the snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the distance. At the end of our trip, we even got the chance to visit the Taj Mahal, the culmination of our incredible experience in India. Leaving behind all the amazing people I have gotten to meet, the incredible experiences I have had, and of course the daily chai breaks, I know that I’m going to miss it.
