An unforgettable experience

I went to Ecuador in May as a part of the 18-day pre-med program. Although things didn't start out how I planned with my luggage getting delayed, Jose and the staff at the hostel in Quito were very helpful right off the bat. I was able to get my luggage from the airport the next day just in time for when we left for Pujili.

The 4 days that we spent in Pujili were eye-opening and full of a lot of positivity. On the first day, we visited the homes of the people in the community and witnessed their current living conditions. It was quite amazing to see how resourceful the people were and also to know that we were going to help change their lives. This night was truly unforgettable because we met the community for the first time and they welcomed us with balloons, hugs, and hellos from each and every person. They then served us a hearty meal and we danced the night away with the little kids. It was a night full of warmth and love even though we had just met.

The rest of the days in Pujili consisted of digging holes for the foundations of the houses and we worked together with members of the community to do so. In the afternoons, we would participate in activities with the community including playing soccer, volleyball, and taking the kids to a movie. Despite the language barrier for most of us, we were still able to bond and truly enjoy our time in Pujili.

After Pujili, we went on our "explore" portion of the trip. First we went to Cotopaxi where we rode horses around an active volcano, then we went to The Swing at the End of the World, a waterfall known as the Devil's Cauldron, spent a night and hiked in the Amazon, and finished off spending the night at a 24-hour hot springs. These days were jam-packed with activities, but everything was worth seeing. The scenery in Cotopaxi was breathtaking and the time spent in the Amazon was surreal. You could hear all the bugs at night and I fell asleep to the sound of pouring rain. After two days of medical rotations in Quito, we then headed to Quilotoa lake and Canoa beach to just relax and enjoy the sun. Our last two days were spent back in Quito for another round of medical rotations.

The medical rotations in the ER, internal medicine, and the OR were very informative and fascinating. My group got to witness a rhinoplasty, myomectomy, gall bladder removal, prostate removal, and a TVT surgery. I didn't think that I would be able to see these types of surgeries up close without being in med school, but HLD really made that possible.

Overall, this experience was so worth it. I had thought about doing this type of trip earlier in my degree, but didn't end up doing it until my final year. I'm glad that I finally decided to participate in this type of program, I just wish I didn't hesitate to do it sooner. It was not only a great way to meet new people from across Canada, but it was also an opportunity to get a reality check for how lucky I am to live the way that I do. It was a chance to learn, laugh and give back.

The people I met on this trip were truly wonderful and made the experience that much better. Even though I didn't know anyone, it wasn't too long before everyone got along. Being around Jose, Juan and Ruban was just an atmosphere full of positivity and laughs and I'm so glad that I chose HLD as the organization to go on this trip with. If I have the chance, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. If you're unsure about whether or not this is the trip for you, just take a leap of faith! I literally signed up the night before the deadline and I did not regret it at all.