From the green hillsides to the bright blue ocean, Jamaica is a luscious and beautiful country. However, interspersed throughout the island are impoverished communities set apart from the large homes and resorts. I took all of this in as I got the unique opportunity to travel to Jamaica to volunteer in a medicine and healthcare program.
Each morning, I looked out the window of the taxi to see people walking to work in their polo shirts and long pants in the 90 degree weather, or stray dogs wandering around. While I was staying in a large city, I got to travel out to rural areas to visit primary schools to teach kids about nutrition, exercise, and hygiene. Although it took a while to adjust to, I came to recognize the appreciation and wonder in all of the young childrens' eyes.
Aside from going to schools, I visited community centers to speak to elderly adults about hypertension and diabetes, and to take their vitals and blood glucose concentration. Many of them do not even have access to health clinics located in …show more content…
While there, my supervisor, Christina, ran into a friend of her's who was in the waiting room with her sickly mother. Christina, being very close to the two, crouched down next to the mother who was lying across the seats, and whispered something in her ear. The woman's face brightened as she smiled at whatever Christina had said. She did not think twice about cheering up that woman despite her being very sick. The work that the volunteers were doing, and the work that the program team was putting in was not blocked by things such as fear or self-interest but instead guided and prompted by compassion and open-mindedness. I spent a great amount of time touching the lives of Jamaican citizens through conversations and education so that their health could be in the best condition. Although it may not have been the largest contribution, every little step counts in helping
Each morning, I looked out the window of the taxi to see people walking to work in their polo shirts and long pants in the 90 degree weather, or stray dogs wandering around. While I was staying in a large city, I got to travel out to rural areas to visit primary schools to teach kids about nutrition, exercise, and hygiene. Although it took a while to adjust to, I came to recognize the appreciation and wonder in all of the young childrens' eyes.
Aside from going to schools, I visited community centers to speak to elderly adults about hypertension and diabetes, and to take their vitals and blood glucose concentration. Many of them do not even have access to health clinics located in …show more content…
While there, my supervisor, Christina, ran into a friend of her's who was in the waiting room with her sickly mother. Christina, being very close to the two, crouched down next to the mother who was lying across the seats, and whispered something in her ear. The woman's face brightened as she smiled at whatever Christina had said. She did not think twice about cheering up that woman despite her being very sick. The work that the volunteers were doing, and the work that the program team was putting in was not blocked by things such as fear or self-interest but instead guided and prompted by compassion and open-mindedness. I spent a great amount of time touching the lives of Jamaican citizens through conversations and education so that their health could be in the best condition. Although it may not have been the largest contribution, every little step counts in helping