Next Stop... Belize!

Belize City, Belize

On this first day of the New Year, I set out on a medical adventure of a lifetime. 

For the next 4 weeks I will be working in a local clinic providing medical care to the people of Belize City, Belize. Unlike the people I am used to seeing in the tri-state area, those in Belize live a more rural, simple lifestyle. Thus, this rotation will allow me to see such a wide variety of diseases and illnesses as well as allowing me to interact with an entirely different patient population than I am normally comfortable with. 

One of my goals for this trip is to become more culturally aware of different countries medical practices. While one method may be 'the norm' in the US, it could be entirely different somewhere else. Learning from local cultures and working with different types of people will only make me a better clinician when I finally graduate and become a working PA. 

Day 1 started early in Newark Airport boarding the flight and preparing to make the journey down

Nothing beats a sunrise over NYC

Me and my friend and fellow PA student Karilyn on board ready to leave 

We arrived around noon to Belize International Airport. While I may have needed a down-coat and warm boots back in NYC, the weather in Belize was the polar opposite. Stepping off the plane into sunny, humid, 82º weather made me more than excited to miss the cold NY winter this year.

I wasn't expecting to step onto the tarmac in Belize, but life is full of surprises

We were picked up by the clinic's nurse manager, Keith, and he drove us to our "home" (hotel) for the next 28 days located in the heart of Belize City

The Easy Inn

As the first day of this New Year and our Belizean trip come to an end, already I am so thankful for all the opportunities that lay ahead of me and all the upcoming planned adventures. 

Stay tuned for more of this never ending journey