Clinical Experiences at a clinic in Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala

Experiences at Puesto de Salud (so far)
Within my first couple days of volunteering at Puesto de Salud [Place of Health], I was taking vitals (blood pressure, weight, height, etc.) and even received permission to administer a few medications. I highly doubt that if I was not able to speak and understand as much Spanish as I do now, the staff would have allowed me to assume as many responsibilities.

When I first arrived it was kind of awkward because I wasn't sure what to do, where to go, or what they wanted or expected of me. But I was told that that's normal. Volunteers should expect a lack of structure because we are thrown into a busy, Spanish speaking environment that isn’t highly funded, so we have to be patient, positive, and cheerful. I ask a couple of the nurses a lot of questions, because I want to understand more about Guatemala's health system and medical conventions, and I would like to deepen my involvement as much as I can.

I try my best to be meticulous and careful in everything I've been asked to do, whether it’s reading as accurately as possible the height of the patients when they stand against the wall or on the office scale, or washing my hands every single time I’m asked to administer some medication in the mouths of the children (latex gloves are not available). But I hadn’t realized that on my first day I’d been measuring the height of the babies incorrectly. Once they were laid down on a measuring table, I instructed the mothers to have their heads placed in the opposite direction of which they should have been. Once one of the nurses saw this, he told me sternly, “Noo, es al revés!” (It’s the other way!) I. was. so. embarrassed. I’d measured the past 10 or so babies the wrong way. I was afraid the nurse was going to kick me out or something because I reported information that was off! (even though it wasn't by much --maybe about 2 cm--but it was still off!) I was about to suggest that we find the other babies in the waiting room for whom I reported incorrect information, but the nurse simply continued with the check up. No one said anything to me after that. No one scolded me. The mother simply turned her baby around the correct way and didn’t seem to mind at all that there was an incompetent American volunteering in the clinic.

In fact, the people respect my presence. On my second day, an elderly Mayan woman, after I’d taken her vitals, took my hand and asked me, “Y por qué está usted aquí?” (And why are you here?) I placed my other hand on her shoulder and said, “Soy voluntaría por unas semanas.” (I’m volunteering for a few weeks). She smiled at me and responded, “Me alegro mucho que esté aquí.” (I’m very happy that you’re here). I can’t explain how amazing it felt to hear such words of appreciation by this woman. My contributions to the community are minor; I’m not doing anything significant. I’m not healing wounds, curing sicknesses, or saving lives. But my just being there is meaningful to some of the people, and I am so happy that my mere presence makes such a difference.

Arriving at the clinic
I usually get to the clinic a little bit before the gates open at 8AM, and I wait alongside the long line of people who arrive early to get a number and wait to pass through triage (pre-consultation/vitals). When I walk to the clinic up a mini hill that leads from the main road where the chicken bus drops me off, I come face to face with a long line of Guatemalans, most of whom just stare at me. It’s kind of an intimidating site, having so many pairs of eyes watching you for a few moments. But I just smile at all of them. They must think of me as a weird foreigner.

Smile
Whenever I see an unfamiliar face, I smile, and often times, it’s returned. It’s inevitable that here in Antigua I get a lot of stares and interested glances because I’m an “extranjera” (foreigner). If you’re not used to seeing, for example, a random black girl roam your town's streets, you’ll start to stare, and you’ll wonder where she’s from and why she’s here. (Perhaps that’s not commonly the thought process now, because there are tons of foreigners roaming the streets of Antigua every day, so I’m sure Guatemalans have grown used to seeing so many of them.) But people still stare, some harder than others. And all I do is smile :) I smile at children who look up at me with curious eyes, at young adults my age, older men and women, and families. 

                                       

Chicken buses and economic challenges in Antigua, Guatemala

"Chicken" bus

I started volunteering at a free health clinic, Puesto de Salud [Place of Health], this past Thursday, December 27. It’s located in Ciudad Vieja (“Old City”), a small town right outside of Antigua, about 10 minutes away by bus. Ciudad Vieja was actually the capital of Guatemala before the volcanic eruption that wiped out much of the city. The capital then became Antigua, but soon became Guatemala City because a severe earthquake hit the colonial town. Guatemala City is still the capital today.

Taking a "chicken" bus
I take what the locals and tourists call a “chicken bus” every weekday to the clinic. I believe they are hand-me-down school buses from the U.S. This name was coined by tourists who've seen many Guatemalans on the buses with chickens and other animals too).

There is nothing to pull or press to signal a stop, and the one aisle for people to pass through in the middle of the bus is very tight. If you want to get off, you better get up fast and move towards the front or you’ll miss the stop. I ended up missing my stop coming back from the clinic on my first day because I didn’t get up quickly enough. There are a lot of people riding these buses everyday, so it gets crowded and cramped.

I always feel like a giant when I board these buses; I have to duck when I sit down in a seat nearby a window or else I’ll hit my head on the overhead storage compartments. That happened to me once last summer. I hadn’t realized that my head was so close to the compartments, so when I carelessly moved through the aisle to sit down in a seat by the window, I was just met by a painful, clobbering sensation in my forehead.

The Plaza Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala

Employment and a brief look at the economy in Guatemala

Guatemala is the most populous nation in Central America, and about 75% of the population lives below the poverty line.

I take a bus from Antigua to Ciudad Vieja, which costs 3 quetzals (less than a dollar: about $0.40). 7.70 quetzales is equivalent to 1 U.S. dollar. My teacher at the school, who is a native Guatemalan, told me that many workers in Antigua (especially those who come from neighboring towns) make only about 50Q a day (~$7). In the town’s park, there are many Indigenous women with their beautiful, traditional garbs who walk around and ask people to buy scarves, jewelry, or other pieces of clothing that they put together with their own hands. You also see young boys walking around with shoe polishing equipment asking passerbys if they’d like to be serviced. There are also people who sell ice cream and popsicles from a mini-ice cream bar with wheels. Some sell newspapers and magazines. Others hand out fliers for a travel agency they’re trying to promote. A few men try to sell flutes that are decorated with Mayan designs. I bought one of those last summer. There are many ways that people here try to make money to support their families and I am humbled by both their creativity and perseverance in doing so.

Arrival in Guatemala

La Aurora International Airport

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Trapped at the airport

Well, I thought I would be. When I arrived in Guatemala City, I was tired, anxious, cold, and excited all at the same time. I stepped outside of the airport and stood face to face with streams of people waiting for family and friends. A few random men came up to me and asked loudly, “Taxi? Taxi?” or “Señorita, quiere hacer una llamada?” (Miss, do you want to make a call?) I said, “No, gracias” to all of them and searched anxiously for a representative from the school (Maximo Nivel) holding a sign with my name. 10 minutes passed, then 20, then 40. Soon it was 9:30PM local time, and I started to worry. I couldn’t get in contact with anyone from the school because it was closed, and I didn’t know yet who my homestay family was. Just when I was about to exit the airport to ask that a taxi drive me to a hotel in Antigua, a guy called out, “Hey, excuse me, are you Deborah?” He was also traveling with the school and had been waiting for about as long as I was for the same representative. Apparently, there was a ton of traffic because of the holiday, so that delayed the rep’s arrival.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

My ride from the city to Antigua and meeting my homestay family canceled out all of the negative events from earlier that day. On the way, I saw fireworks in a park that were being set off to celebrate Christmas (la Navidad), smelled the wonderful familiar smells of the country (not exactly sure how to describe the smells; they were a mix of pollution, food from the street vendors, and other things), saw the familiar sights of people walking about exchanging loud chats in Spanish, and spotting a motorbike every other car. I also forgot about the cobblestone streets of Antigua and how bumpy car rides had been. I arrived at my homestay around 10:30PM where I was warmly welcomed by Cecilia (Ceci for short), the helper of the house, and another volunteer from San Francisco, CA. My host mother, Olga, was visiting her family in the capital (Guatemala City) for the holiday.

Christmas in Guatemala
At 12AM it sounded as though the skies opened in anger; fireworks thundered throughout the small town. I was invited to go out to a fiesta to celebrate the holiday but I had no energy. I was very jetlagged. I plan to celebrate the New Year though (el año nuevo).

Christmas in Antigua, Guatemala

Christmas in Guatemala is celebrated the day before. It doesn’t mirror the US tradition of waking up early the next morning to open presents under the tree. Instead, here they exchange gifts and throw festivities on the 24th. The 25th is a day of rest. No shop, library, school, or anywhere else is open.

Gratitude
One very important thing I have realized upon entering my humble home for the next month (and that we all have realized at some point but should ruminate more on it) is that we take a lot of things for granted. I remember it was just a few days ago that I was complaining at home and mindlessly chattering about how I wished my family had a more privileged background, lived in a better house, came from a nicer neighborhood, etc… But even though we don’t live in the best of the best conditions, we’re still better off than many others, including millions of those from developing nations. So we need to be grateful for everything that we have – our education, our iPhones and preppy technological gadgets, our fashionable, comfortable clothes, and the thousands of opportunities available to us as citizens of the United States – because there are millions who don’t have even half of the things that we do.

Pre-departure to Guatemala - Stressful Events

Antigua, Guatemala

I made it to Guatemala! I’m so excited I’m trembling (that could actually just be shivers from the cold. It's freezing at night!) I had two lay overs in Miami and Panama; I boarded three planes from Newark to Miami to Panama to Guatemala. It was an exhausting trip.

Stressful things that happened before my flight

I was originally going to fly out on Sunday, December 16th and stay for five weeks until January 18th. I went back home to NJ from Ithaca on the Thursday before the 16th and realized later that evening that I’d left my passport in my dorm room. I was four hours away by car from Cornell. I froze in the middle of a conversation I was having with my brother when I’d suddenly realized in horror that I didn’t have my passport with me. If it weren’t for my roommate I wouldn’t be able to leave the country, so I thank her so much for mailing me my passport. I call this one of the stupidest mistakes I’ve made because it cost me a lot of money: to cancel the flight and to rebook.

Here's another stressful event I encountered before boarding my flight: I thought I was going to have a heart attack at the Newark International airport. My first flight was at 9:12AM to Miami, and I’d just gotten on the long line to have my bag checked at 8. (Tip to everyone: NEVER arrive only an hour before your flight! Always two!) It was already about 8:25 by the time I got to the front. Once I had everything checked, my boarding passes printed, my carry-on backpack on my back, and ready to look for the gate to board the plane after the next checking point, the agent suddenly stopped me and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, your bag is 6 pounds overweight. We’re going to have to charge you $200.” I screamed internally, glancing at the time on my phone. It glared 8:35, 2 minutes from boarding time. “I don’t have that money,” I said outright. The agent shrugged his shoulders, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t board the flight unless you pay the fee or take out the 6 pounds.”

I had no choice but to drop to the floor in the middle of the airport and remove some clothes, my flat iron, a few shoes, and anything else I thought might’ve weighed a lot. I stuffed these things into my carry-on bag. If I hadn’t been so flustered and worried that I was going to miss my flight I would’ve been embarrassed. I didn’t take out a full 6 pounds but they accepted it at 52. I then sprinted for my flight, managing to make it before they shut the doors.

Pictures of Miami and Panama City
I’d taken a couple of pictures of Miami upon flying out, and Panama City upon arriving. I believe we flew over Cuba as well. It would’ve been awesome to spend at least a day in each city. Notice the blatant differences in infrastructure. Even the skies look different. That could just be a slight difference in weather and time of day.

Miami, FL

Panama City, Panama

End of semester bliss and blues

Doubts about pursuing a medical career
This Monday I took my last final for Organic Chemistry. My concentration was broken a few times by the girl sitting next to me who constantly sighed in exasperation and discouragement throughout the exam. Last year during the General Chemistry final, another girl had burst out in tears and was anxiously told to calm down by one of the TAs.

I've considered reevaluating my life. It’s easy to give up on a medical career. It’s so easy to kiss those future years of education goodbye and aim for something that’s 'easier' to attain. I can already feel how much more stress-free, happy and liberated I’ll be if I shut out medical school from my future plans.

I often complain about how difficult this process is - particularly my coursework - mostly to myself, but sometimes to friends. One of my close friends keeps me in check, reprimanding me every time another complaint leaves my mouth. She reminds me that there are people who are in way worse situations and experiencing deeper troubles, so I need to hush up and push forward. She tells me that lovingly, of course. I appreciate her candor.

 

Many have encouraged me to persevere, including my family, my advising dean, my mentors, friends, and my professors.

Pressing forward

I was in a fit of blues at the end of this semester because I felt beaten by Organic Chemistry. I worried that I was aiming too high by choosing to pursue a medical career. But my bliss comes from the encouragement of my family and friends, and my mindset and optimism that it’s not the end of the world and I will make it through.

I want to encourage every single student to FOLLOW HER DREAM until she achieves it. If you really want what you’re working towards, do NOT give up. Keep going. You are capable of attaining your goals if you truly put your mind to it. Maybe you won’t achieve it in the same way as others, and perhaps you'll have to change the course of your journey, wait longer, or encounter different barriers along the way, but you WILL get there if you keep pushing through.

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." -Colin Powell

Most importantly, “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me". Philippians 4:13. I would not have made it as far as I have in my life if it weren't for the strength God has given me to achieve what I had achieved.

Start of Sophomore Year

Getting back into the grind

Second year of college is off to a good start! It took me a while to adjust to the workload and get back into my study routine because my mind was still in “summer mode” for the first couple weeks of classes. My motivation was… dormant, let’s say. 

I wanted to continue chatting with my international friends on Skype, hang out with others, plan my life, chill, and focus entirely on anything else that had nothing to do with my classes. Once reality set in and I had a ton of work due day after day, and the Organic Chemistry prelim approached rapidly, I got it together. Thankfully, I was able to balance out the time I spent studying, interacting with my friends abroad and here on campus, and continuing to fervently plan my life day by day, month by month, semester by semester, and year by year.

Living on campus
Last semester I lived on North campus with the rest of Cornell's first year undergrads. I was housed in Ujamaa ("Family hood" in Swahili). This dorm “celebrates the rich and diverse heritage of Black people in the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, and other regions of the world.”

I enjoyed living here. Aside from connecting with Cornell’s African American community and forming strong bonds with many who are now some of my closest friends, I then felt that I could branch out to the rest of Cornell’s community and diversify my friend groups.

My Dad didn't want me to live in Ujamaa because he felt that it would make me “ethnocentric” and hinder me from branching out. It most certainly didn't.

Libe Slope, West Campus, Cornell University

Now I’m living on West Campus in what is called a "Gothic" building. Pros? Beautiful scenery, wonderful people, the delicious food (better than the food on North), dorm events happening basically every day, and my closest friends are nearby. Cons? The slope (which creates strenuous walks on our way to classes) and the outmoded interior layout of the gothics (the dorm I'm living in doesn't compare to the modernity of Ujamaa). Overall, though, I love it. The cons can simply be turned into pros, because walking up the slope will get you into shape, and the "oldness" of the gothics is humbling.


I'm currently living in Boldt Hall, the "Language House" on campus. It's a language-learning residence where students practice their targeted language by agreeing to participate in certain activities and events. There are seven sections within this house, including Spanish (which I'm in), Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, French, Arabic, and German. The primary activity we're expected to participate in are the dinners, where we get together with our section to practice speaking the language. There's a no English rule! I enjoy living in this intimate community and connecting with others who also are interested in the Spanish language and Latino culture :)

Spanish: my obsession and one of the best things that's ever happened to me

When I realize that I have a knack for something, I tend to pursue that 'something' more. For example, I love singing and found I was pretty good, so I joined the choir in high school and an acappella group in college, took voice lessons, and auditioned for a couple of vocal music programs in high school. I also enjoy writing, and although it's not my forte, I think I'm pretty decent. I've been journaling since I was about six and one of the main reasons why I started this blog was to hone my writing skills.

During my freshman year of high school, I realized that I was also decent at Spanish. I started at the basic level, Spanish I. The only words and phrases I knew were what every American should know:

• Hola
• Gracias
• De nada
• Buenos días
• Buenas tardes
• Buenas noches
• Cómo está
• Uno, dos, tres
• Por favor
• Sí, no
• Agua

I remember my writing and comprehension being awful. For the first few quizzes I was completely misspelling a few of the question words. I'd been spelling "Cuál" [Which], "Cuándo" [When], and "Cuántos" [How many] as "Qual", "Quando," and "Quantos." It was terrible. I'm sure my teacher cringed when she saw it. I got a 0 on one of these quizzes, but by the middle of the year I improved tremendously and found that I was actually decent at the language, verbally speaking. I was conversing ok and my accent wasn't too bad.

I tried to be daring and make very small talk with our Ecuadorian neighbors every time I saw them. "Hola, cómo está usted?" I'd ask the mother, who was always so open and friendly. Sometimes she'd try to ask or tell me something else, assuming I could speak the language fluently, but I'd have no idea what she was saying, so from them on (until I became more confident), I tried to avoid her.

From freshman through senior year of high school I really enjoyed my Spanish classes, and I loved all of the teachers. What made my learning experience even better was that I knew....well, believed that Spanish was more useful and meaningful than any of my other classes. Biology, History, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, etc. are all important subjects, no doubt, and we all to some extent will be using them in the future, but I can come up with a plethora of reasons why Spanish is a more useful, worthwhile, and advantageous subject to learn, especially in this day and age.

Ready? Here a just a few:

· Speaking a second language, especially Spanish, can put you ahead on the job market. There are many employers nowadays looking for people who can speak another language.


· Latinos are the largest racial minority in the U.S., and growing.


· Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world (with over 400 million speakers), and the 2nd in the U.S. (1st in some states).


· There are more than 25 countries where Spanish is the dominating language.


· Bilinguals are smarter than unilinguals! Studies show that speaking a second language improves cognitive skills and works against dementia as you grow older.


· It’s a great way to meet new people.


· It will improve your cultural understanding and sensitivity


· It’s one of the easiest to learn of the most spoken languages in the world


· Spanish paves the way to learning other languages, especially the Romance languages, such as French, Italian, and Portuguese


· It’s a beautiful language!
Why did I choose to study Spanish in college?

One of my close friends from high school who is currently an undergrad here too (she’s also my mentor, confidant, and amazing person I know who has been there for me since I was in 9th grade) encouraged me to major in something that I’m truly interested in while taking the required pre-medical classes. Most pre-meds go for Biology, Chemistry, or other science-related majors, but medical schools actually now prefer students who diverge from this trend. I mean, if someone is genuinely interested in Biology, for example, then by all means, they should major in just that. When I applied to Cornell I applied to the College of Human Ecology and chose to major in Human Biology, Health, and Society (HBHS). I was accepted into this major, but it was about a month later that I decided to change it to Spanish. The more I spoke with my friend the more I realized how much I wanted to immerse myself in the Spanish curriculum at Cornell.


Pursuing my interest in Spanish

My one-on-one classroom in Antigua, Guatemala

I furthered my interests in the language and culture by going abroad to Guatemala last summer and Costa Rica three years ago (2009), joining clubs and organizations on campus (I checked out the Spanish Debate Club, but that was intimidating because everyone else was a native speaker), watching telenovelas on YouTube and movies on Netflix, skyping with a few close friends from Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico, getting a penpal from Argentina, applying to live in the Spanish language house on campus, and more. My desire to improve my fluency in the language and understanding of Hispanic culture was unquenchable.

I plan to go back abroad over winter break to Guatemala, next summer perhaps to Bolivia, and study in Peru my junior year for the spring semester. This could all change or maybe not even happen, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming :)

Highlights of Summer 2012

My cozy apartment in Ithaca, NY

I subletted my sister's apartment this summer, and her four roommates became mine when she took off for her new job in DC. They all graduated this past May.

This summer was different from the last couple of semesters when I lived in the dorm, more so because I had no meal plan and I lived off-campus. No meal plan = come up with the means to feed yourself. I didn’t know how to cook. You wouldn’t count Raman noodles, canned tuna, and warming up already made hamburgers in the microwave as cooking. But by the end of the summer I was cooking my own barbecued chicken and making pancakes from scratch. This was a huge accomplishment for me, especially because I never wanted to help my mother in the kitchen (which I really regret), so I had to learn how to cook on my own.

Other great aspects of the summer included having a 4th of July get together with friends, watching Spiderman 4, becoming obsessed with "The Office" thanks to Netflix and one of my housemates, visiting Buttermilk Falls here in Ithaca, and meeting Bill Nye during Cornell Reunion Weekend!

With 5 of the interns at Viva Taqueria in the Commons

Ithaca, NY

The biggest highlight of the summer, without a doubt, was getting to know and bonding with the seven other interns through the Cornell Farmworker Program. I’m sure they now all think of me as the giggling idiot, because I would laugh at everything. I don't think I’d laughed harder than when Hannah started singing Destiny’s Child out of the blue when we passed a three-legged dog on the street, “I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it!” or than when Elsa had remarked that the eagles in México were “going down” (decreasing in number). "Going down" has more than one meaning in English.

I originally had other plans for this summer but I’m glad they didn’t work out because I would’ve never been able to meet and work with the other interns. We were a diverse group, with 4 Cornell undergrads, 1 Cornell grad student, 1 from Ithaca College, 1 graduate from Michigan State, and another who’s husband is a Cornell grad student. Everyone has been incredible and contributed something valuable to the team. Being able to bond with them coupled with the meaningful work we were doing made the experience an amazing one.

Farmworkers play a large role in U.S. society - Cornell Farmworker Program Summer 2012 Internship

I will not have another meal again without stopping to think about where it came from. This summer, I interned through the Cornell Farmworker Program (CFP) for 9 weeks. Every time someone asked me last semester, “What are you doing this summer?” and I’ve responded with “I’m working for the Cornell Farmworker Program,” I often got blank stares, awkward silences, confused or uninterested looks, and sometimes even chuckles. I think they thought that I would be out in the fields, planting crops, milking cows, or picking berries. But my experience was so much more than that. As an intern through CFP, I worked with 7 other students to address farmworker needs and improve the living and working conditions of these workers and their families.

Why should we care about farmworkers?
Farm labor is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. Workers are at an increased risk for injury and illness, and they face low pay for long hours, poor housing and working conditions, exposure to pesticides, discrimination, and a decline of mental health. They make significant contributions to U.S. agriculture by cultivating foods that many of us are eating every day, but are unaware both of where it comes from and the intense physical demands and dangers the laborers inevitably face.

Aside from the unsafe environment of their work, most farmworkers live in fear of the migration authorities. The majority are undocumented immigrants from México, Guatemala, and other Central American countries who have come here to find jobs to support their families back at home. There is better economic opportunity here. I have been exposed to and become more aware of the xenophobic sentiments of many Americans (through the Mexican movies I watch, the "Latinos in the U.S." course I took last semester, and my own conversations with these farmworkers). They are human beings, but have been dismissed and ignored by our society. It’s horrible to see that racialist attitudes are still rampant in this day and age. The term “Mexican”, for example, had become synonymous with “fence-hopper”, “illegal immigrant”, and “criminal", and though not as pervasively used as before, is still being perpetuated in some contexts, including the political arena. Fortunately, we find that more and more people (particularly the younger generations) are transitioning away from conservative, insensitive attitudes about our country's immigrants.

Cornell Farmworker Program Internship
I was lucky to be a part of a diverse team; there were 8 of us, but all from different levels of education, nationalities, backgrounds, and experiences. I’m so glad to have been able to work with the 7 others for the past eight weeks on this project of improving the farmworker condition throughout New York state.

As interns through CFP, we:

• completed many readings on the farmworker condition
• provided ESL instruction on farms
• conducted interviews in Spanish to assess the workers' needs (my favorite)
• transcribed and translated these interviews
• began to analyze and code the data
• lead Focus Groups to gain insight on their working conditions and improve workplace relations between them and their employers (the farmers)
• conducted Emergency Planning Workshops to inform them of their rights as workers in the U.S.
• complete weekly journal entries reflecting on our internship activities to track our learning progress

I chose to become an intern through CFP because of my initial experiences on the farm with Friends of Farmworkers (FoF) the last couple of semesters. The farmworkers’ knowledge of little to no English decreases their means for self-advocacy and involvement in the broader community. FoF addresses this issue by training volunteers to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) on local farms for an hour each week throughout Tompkins County and the state.

“Hace más de dos años desde que he visto a mi hija.” One worker once told me that he hadn’t seen his own daughter in over 2 years. Can you imagine that? Living in a country where the language and surroundings are unfamiliar, only being able to inconsistently contact your family from over 3,000 miles away by telephone, not knowing when you can return home after “saving up enough money” (which is being eaten up by taxes, paying back loans you borrowed from family/friends to get here, buying food and other necessities, etc.), not being there to see your own child grow up, and constantly living in fear of being caught by migration officials and sent back to your country where economic opportunities are not as readily available? Can you imagine this? These realizations, my sensitivity toward disadvantaged Latino communities, and my desire to promote social justice, bridge the socioeconomic inequity gap, and improve the health and education of these workers are what drove me to become a summer intern through the Cornell Farmworker Program.

Unforgettable experiences as a first year college student

Cornell University, North Campus 2011

I won't be able to capture every significant, unforgettable, and impactful moment during my first year of college in this entry, but I will sum up the experiences. I did not expect my first year as an undergraduate to be as rewarding as it was. Words can’t describe how excited I am to experience my three remaining years here at Cornell. Earlier this year I realized how lucky I am to be part of such a prestigious community. While I've enjoyed most of my classes, it was meeting and getting to know people that I appreciated best. People. Relationships. This is what makes one's college experiences. I felt that the academics, while important, weren't as rewarding as fostering life-long friendships, in my opinion. I personally think that networking, making connections, and life outside of the academic community are the best aspects of college, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.

Yes, this year had its low points, such as the walks up and down Ithaca's hilly terrain (and coming to class looking as though I'd finished running a marathron...yep, I was out of shape), the rigor of General Chemistry, and some ridiculous drama that cost me a couple of friendships that were shaky to begin with, but thank God these challenges are over (well... except for the walks). These situations have taught me valuable lessons. I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Highlights of the year
Ultimately, the good outweighed the bad. I formed many friendships and interests, and grew closer to my sister. My first year at Cornell overlapped with her final year (2012). If it weren't for her, I truly would not have made it as far as I had, so I thank her so much. She's the best sister anyone could ever have.

With my sister during BSU's (Black Students United) "Black Affair"

event to celebrate the graduating seniors in the class of 2012

Spanish
Spanish became a serious interest of mine. I'm not sure where exactly my passion for the language came from, but it began in my high school Spanish classes and has been growing stronger ever since. It may have to do with my next-door neighbors from Ecuador who we've known for the past seven years, or my Dad's constant reiterations of his philosophy on how useful it is to be multilingual... or maybe it was the catchy reggaeton and latin pop I often heard my Mexican neighbors blasting from their speakers every weekend. Ultimately, however, it was my trip to Guatemala last summer that deepened my love for the culture and Spanish language. Throughout the last couple of semesters I annoyed my friends and family with my obsession with Latin culture, but I’m glad I fostered this “obsession” throughout the year, otherwise I wouldn’t have met a lot of great people with the same interests through programs I joined or been motivated to excel in my Spanish courses. I soon could not get through the day without watching the Spanish show "Aqui No Hay Quien Viva" or the Mexican telenovela "La Fea Más Bella" on YouTube.

Joining an a cappella group
During my first semester, I made a life changing decision to audition for Baraka Kwa Wimbo (Swahili for "Blessings Through Song"), Cornell’s only all-female Gospel a cappella group, and I’m so glad I did. What we've fostered is much more than friendship; we have a sisterhood. I wouldn’t trade this for anything. We all (8 of us) share a love for music, singing, and sharing the Gospel through songs that we compose on our own. After spending four hours a week in rehearsal with the same eight people for an entire year, I inevitably feel a special bond to every single one of them.

Freshman year stress
The biggest stressor of the entire year, needless to say, was the academic rigor. I grew in my study skills, diligence, and tenacity. Never before had I been pushed so hard academically, and though it overwhelmed me, I appreciated that it forced me to develop an even stronger work ethic. General Chemistry was the most difficult course I've taken thus far, and apparently it's one of the hardest classes for a student to enroll in at Cornell. Regardless, I was determined to stick it out.

Quite frankly, I'd been having doubts about pursuing medicine as a career, especially when I think about the stress, the amount of time I'd have to commit to the training, the malpractice suits, the bureaucracy...Many college students come in as pre-med but eventually drop it after experiencing the rigor of the required classes and/or simply realizing that the career isn't for them. I began to think that I should instead delve into my other interests and pursue a career as a Translator, or as a teacher (perhaps either ESL* in U.S. schools or TEFL** abroad), or as the Director of a migrant worker health program somewhere in the U.S that is dedicated to the well-being of undocumented Latino farmworkers. Medicine isn't the only way to give back and serve humanity.

However, I realize the combination of my interests in the health sciences and the human body, my deep sensitivity towards the well-being of others, and ultimately knowing that I'll have a true purpose in life as a physician pushes me to stick it out. Yes, electrons, chemical bonds and the Krebs Cycle really don't have anything to do with patient care, but because this is the content within the courses we're required to take before medical school, we have no other choice but to master it.

My sister told me that as a student at Cornell, you have to choose to have only two of three things: sleep, a social life, or good grades. This year I was only able to carry out two (as expected), but in the future I will challenge this by aiming for all three. Of all three, though, and as I’d said before, I most value having a social life and fostering relationships. I appreciate this opportunity as an undergraduate to be away from home, become more independent, and make my own decisions in my early years as an adult.

*ESL = English as a Second Language

**TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Guatemala, Summer 2011

Me and Queren, my Guatemalan friend

Guatemala is a beautiful country. I didn't think I would miss it so much once I left last year (August 2011). There was so much to miss! My host family, my host mother's stories and delicious food, the engaging Spanish classes through Máximo Nivel, my amazing teacher at the school, the diversity of music you’d hear from people’s cars or shops on the street, the loud “Hola morena!” people (mainly men) would call out to me on my walks throughout Antigua, the cultural sensitivity of the people and their compassion towards “los gringos”, the adorable children and their liveliness at the school I volunteered at, and best of all, meeting Queren, my conversation partner through Máximo Nivel, because she is now one of my closest friends. 

“I don’t think I want you going there,” my Dad told me several weeks before I left. “I felt much better about Costa Rica. We hear too many bad things about Guatemala.”

I suppose that’s true. But don’t we hear many bad things about the United States, too? We hear “bad things” about every place on the globe. In fact, it’s statistically more dangerous to live in the state of New York, for example, than in the country of Guatemala alone. Crime rates, low or high, are inevitably present everywhere, and while no one place is perfect, we’ll find most people to be cordial and friendly, and your safety highly depends on how cautious you decide to be.

While in Antigua for six weeks, no one tried to shoot me or threaten to hurt me, which I'm sure were my parents' worst fears. The primary purposes of the trip were to immerse myself in the culture, hone my Spanish speaking and comprehension skills (before delving into the Spanish curriculum at Cornell), and volunteer for a couple of weeks at an elementary school nearby my homestay.

After a month and a half I came back in one piece, more culturally understanding, open-minded, and mature than before.

Las Vegas, Spring Break 2012

I spent a week in Las Vegas this year through a joint Alternative Spring Break with Teacher for America (TFA) and Zappos, a shoe company with incredible customer service that is headquartered in this city. TFA and Zappos partnered together to address the educational inequity in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is known for its gambling, sex and party scene, casinos…. This was pretty much what came to mind when I first considered applying to the program, but of course, this isn’t all there is to the city. There are many other wonderful things that people who have never been to Las Vegas may overlook (or are simply ignorant about).

There is an overwhelmingly large Latino population. I was a volunteer assistant to a TFA corps member who was taught a 3rd grade class, and I found that 95% of the students are Latino and the other 5% African American. All minorities. I was also taken aback by the tremendous work ethic and brilliance of these children. It shocked me because this same work ethic was not very articulated when I and other undergraduates from across the nation were recruited to present a potential solution to the achievement gap in the Las Vegas valley in front of the Superintendent of the schools.

Teach for American/Zappos 2012 Alternative Spring Break Crew

Las Vegas was an excellent location for us students to get to know each other and build strong bonds. In this program, I met undergraduates from all across the country who have brought with us different experiences, passions, and abilities. I felt unified with such a diverse group of open-minded individuals.

I love education. I genuinely enjoy teaching and addressing the achievement gap. Quality education is crucial for equipping children with the skills necessary to become our next generation of scholars and leaders.

My personal experiences with educational disruptions and challenges in my upbringing have deepened my sensitivity towards educational inequity, one of our nation’s greatest injustices. Children’s educational opportunities are largely determined by their socioeconomic status. The academic achievement gap affects families and communities, limits life options for students, and has significant economic and social implications for our country. I loved this opportunity to join with other avid proponents of the educational rights of disadvantaged and underrepresented children in our nation.