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As occupational therapists, we must value and embrace diversity - diversity in race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, socioeconomic background and talents. Therefore, below you will find my reflection and documentation on diversity as I had this great opportunity to immerse in a very different culture for over a month long.
Here are a couple of videos for my visual and auditory learners! It will give a quick look at my experience in Merida. It also includes some of my awesome colleagues who helped make this experience unforgettable.
Introduction Video
Introduction Video
Recap Video
Recap Video
QUICK FACTS ABOUT MERIDA, MEXICO & THE PROGRAM:
Mérida is the vibrant capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán. It has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage.
According to the 2015 census, the population of Mérida was 892,363, ranking 13th among the most populous Mexican metropolitan areas. In addition, it is known for being one of the safest cities in Mexico.
While in Mérida, I studied Spanish medical terminology, healthcare topics, and worked in three different hospitals with children with disabilities. On the weekends we were able to explore the state and the culture. Three different excursions were included in the program. We visited one of the most famous Mayan Ruins (Chichen Itza), saw a few natural water sources created by sinkholes called cénotes, and their downtown area which offered abundant culture.
The University that I studied at was Anahuac Mayab University.
The three hospitals that I studied and practiced at were Módulo De Rehabilitatcíon Renacimiento, El CRIT Teleton Yucatan, & Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS).
The closing ceremony was a celebration for finishing a month long program that taught us many things. We learned a new language, how Mexico runs their medical system, common diagnoses within Mexico, traditions, beliefs, and so much more. It was a perfect experience, especially for OT students. As stated above occupational therapist are to embrace diversity and understand culture is a large part of our field. I believe the hosts of our program designed a program so rich, it allowed us to get the best experience possible and I am truly grateful. At the closing ceremony we reflected on our experience and some of the staff gave very incredible speeches. Myself and another student spoke on behalf of our cohort. It truly was an honor to be able to stand in front of them and give them the credit and appreciation they truly deserved. Here is my closing remarks to them...
"I cannot express how grateful I am to all of you here tonight and to everyone who has been apart of this amazing experience here in Mérida because you were all beyond amazing but I will try my very best. This experience was designed to fulfill a course that is part of our Occupational Therapy program at Dominican University in California, however it has fulfill much more than that. It has opened our eyes and our hearts to an amazing culture filled with beautiful people, tradition, and of course delicious food. We have learned Spanish, a different medical model/system, and how occupational therapy is practiced here in Mexico. Job well done to those who took part in creating such a rich & wonderful program. Finally, thank you all so much to everyone for the hospitality. We arrived here in Mérida feeling welcomed and excited and now it feels like we’re leaving home. Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”I’m a believer of this quote because not only did I see and hear kindness but I felt it. You truly made us feel special, we will miss you all very much and hope to see all again soon.
Thank you!"
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PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS OF MY EXPERIENCE:
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS OF MY EXPERIENCE:
(in chronological order by the weeks described above)
Opening Ceremony
This was my first patient. She was a bright and cheerful young girl with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Here I am building trust and rapport.
Another patient rests after working on some functional goals to help aide in the recovery from a recent knee arthroplasty.
This picture is of child with CP. Due to lack of knowledge and resources the child developed contractures that was causing pain and discomfort severely effecting his occupations.
We had the opportunity to make some simple adaptation and modifications to a wheelchair. Here all we did was fix the brakes but it drastically improved the confidence of the patient to easily perform transfers.
Chichen-Itza, one of the 7 wonders of the world was breath taking.
Ik Kil Ceńote was another amazing site. There are over 3,000 Cenotes in the Yucatan Penninsula. These are unique to the area and the Mayan culture.
The first week at CRIT I had the unique opportunity to work with athletes who were training for the paralympics.
Athlete with Cerebral Palsy training for her 200 meter race in August.
The second week at CRIT I worked with an occupational therapist who specialized in eating and feeding. We worked with different textures and flavors to maintain motivation and increase oral musculature.
In another section of the occupational therapy department, they had assistive technology that made it enjoyable for the children to engage in their sessions.
It is a beautiful thing when career and passion come together
Group photo at El CRIT
Jarana (traditional dancing class) taking place
Interview taking place in the city center
Final assignment complete!
Closing speeches
This is the wonderful staff of Anahuac Mayab and all the students.
That's a wrap!
A special thank you to all the faculty and staff at Anahuac Mayab Universidad, Renacimiento, and the CRIT. Thank you for enriching my time in Mérida and my life.
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