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In preparation for my upcoming internship
in Tabacundo, Ecuador, I spent weeks
planning my activities, communicating with the
director of the health care center,
and investigating the major problems
that plagued the rural town.
Therefore, I was completely stunned to find out
upon arrival to the health care center
that none of the medical staff knew who I was,
or why I was there.
After the intial confusion subsided,
the director assigned me to work with the nurse
and we headed directly to the vaccine department.
I walked briskly with excitement, completely unaware
of what I was about to experience.
Entering the vaccine department was like walking
directly into a raging tornado.
Within minutes I was engulfed in a whirlwind
of unfamiliar Spanish phrases and long, sharp needles.
Seemingly oblivious to my limited medical exposure
and less than mediocre Spanish skills,
the nurse immediately commanded me to,
"Find this patient's chart, and prepare that vaccine!"
I quickly became overwhelmed, and could sense
the nurse growing impatient.
My first instinct was to hide under the desk
until the storm passed. But I managed
to keep going while I tucked my fears and insecurities
saftely under the desk instead.
By the time things settled down, I felt quite confident
in performing the skills I had learned
and actually craved further training.
The following day, I learned to vaccinate children
and blindly followed commands, based on the color
of the vaccine bottle.
"Give him the blue vaccine."
"She gets the red and purple."
The idea of injecting substances unknown to me
into small, crying children
definitely caused some stressful moments, but to my relief,
everyone survived. Within days, I was working
in the vaccine department, completely unsupervised.
and had upgraged to vaccinating not only children,
but pregnant women as well.
Now, looking back, I could say that this was 'the' moment for me,
the experience with which I realized
that my capabilities lie far beyond anyplace I have ever been,
or even dreamed of being.
So... where to next?