Ready or Not!

And just like that, the next adventure begins! I woke up today and realized I leave for Belize in 2 short days! I feel like I was just in Guatemala yesterday experiencing my first international medical trip. As many people know, Guatemala suffered from a severe volcano eruption just a few weeks after my departure. I remember staring at the volcano while standing only a mile or so away from its boarder. I am blessed more than ever to be alive and unharmed. Still, it hurt me to imagine the families of Antigua facing a natural disaster when their every day life felt like one of its own. But, I remembered their genuine smiles and sense of community and I knew they would support each other just like they always have. Plus, Hearts in Motion is doing everything they can to reach out to the communities in need... I am glad to have contributed even a little to their mission.

But now it's time to face my next adventure; BELIZE. The fact that this trip is a MONTH long is finally setting in. I have never gone to live in a new place completely by myself for a month before (never mind in another country!) I am full of nerves facing the unknown, but I am also full of excitement. Guatemala was an amazing "warm up" trip to introduce me to a new culture and their way of medicine, but this trip is 3X longer! That gives me 3X the opportunities to get engaged in the community and 3X the time to build relationships with foreign medical providers and patients of a different culture. Hillside Health care has been a long standing organization in Belize and I am excited to be a part of their practice. I know I have so much to learn both in medicine and in my character.

It has been so nice to spend some time at Penn Hospital in Orthopedic Surgery this last month. I learned a ton and got to meet some really wonderful Doctors and Physician Assistants. It's funny how just when I start to feel comfortable my life is moving on to the next thing. A piece of me feels tired and anxious about my ever changing life... but ready or not, the next adventure is almost here! And I am open, excited, and ready for anything.