Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Final thoughts on an amazing experience

In a blink of an eye, 4 weeks in Thailand has finally come to an end...

A bitter-sweet feeling as we are headed back home to reunite with family and loved ones, but also leaving behind a new learned culture, new friends, and new experiences.

We will all take different things away from the past 4 weeks we’ve been abroad, but these are some of the most meaningful to me.

Life is busy in Thailand. Normal hustle and bustle here is far busier than anything I’ve experienced before and the fast moving pace and busy streets are definitely a highlight of this country.

Hospitals and clinics follow the same pattern. Public hospitals are constantly packed and pharmacies are packed full of pharmacists and technicians with their own systems and processes that allow them to keep up with the high volume. It was remarkable to see the sheer number of waiting patients in their waiting area, and the ability of the pharmacy to produce the prescriptions quickly.

Probably my favorite experience of the trip was our days with the elephants. This was my first time seeing this beautiful animal in person, and it was truly an experience I️ will never forget. Being able to get up as close as I️ wanted and play with the elephants was an amazing experience, and it was nice to see how well taken care of they were.

As a fan of spicy food, my taste for Thai dishes quickly developed during the trip. We were fortunate enough to take a cooking class where I️ was able to learn how to prepare my favorite Thai dish: Khao soi. I’m happy to be able to take the ability to make this dish home with me so I️ can prepare it for my own family.

Through hot and humid climates, a lot of walking, learning and being in awe of temples, animals and beaches; it’s certainly disappointing to be going home and leaving behind such an amazing experience and place. These past 4 weeks were filled with so many good times that I️ will never forget, and I️ look forward to re-experience them through this blog and tons of photos that we’ve taken.

Thank you to the faculty, staff, and classmates who were a pleasure to be with, and helped to make the rotation so fun and educational.

A special thanks to Brittany, Chelsea, and Peter, the closest friends I️ had along the way-who without being with, the trip could not have been nearly as special.

Signing off one last time from Thailand

- Tom Spring

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