Block II -- 8 2009

Block II - 8...I think that Shant came up with the name, and I like it. We were the second group of students in 2009 and there are 8 of us.

Here is our last picture together in Terrie's house as Block II - 8 :




Well, this morning is my last morning here on 24 Kufa Road, and I really cannot believe that the 6 weeks are over. Sorry for the lack of posts all week; I've been busy trying to soak up my last few days in Malawi and I just couldn't justify spending time sitting in front of the computer. The past 6 weeks seem to have flown by, and I am experiencing a wide range of emotions this morning. I had no idea what to expect on this trip, and looking back I know that I could never have imagined that this trip would be as amazing as it was. I loved my time here. I did not save any lives or cure AIDS, but I don't think that was what I was supposed to do here. Instead, I learned more about who I am and what I want to do with my life. I learned about 7 other individuals, that I did not know very well before this trip, but who I now really admire. I learned about people like Terrie, people that are so dedicated to life and medical research, people that I hope I can one day be half as motivated and hard working as. I learned about Malawians, sweet, honest, hard working Malawians. And I learned about people and a culture that are so different from what I am used to. People that get by on so little, and that taught me how I don't need so much. Over the past 6 weeks, both at the hospital and here at our home, I have witnessed joy and despair, hope and fear, laughter and misery, poverty and abundance. I miss my family and friends back in the US and around the world, and I am ready to get back to my old life, but I am not necessarily ready to leave. We have it so nice here, it is almost like we are living in a make-believe world. As students in a foreign country we have no real responsibilities, we can technically do as much or as little work in the hospital as we want, we live in a house where pretty much everything we need is at our fingertips and we get to enjoy the hot sun and beautiful scenery of Malawi. Who wouldn't love it here? It has been a true learning experience and a vacation all in one. It almost feels unfair that I got to round out my medical school career here and not everyone in my class got the same experience. I am ready to get back to having responsibility, and not feeling guilty for living such a comfortable life, but I know that I have to come back here someday.


Thank you all for reading this blog. It has been so much fun writing.

7 of us with Simoni:





Love you all!