A few thoughts on El Salvador ...

It's only been 4 weeks since I returned home from El Salvador ... but it feels like years ago that I was actually there. It's just such a world away from where I am now - both in distance and experiences - so it doesn't even feel like I was actually there a mere month ago. I find that my mind still drifts back to my time spent there often, so I thought that I would try and share a few more pictures and thoughts before even more time goes by.

El Salvador was a very different overseas experience for me, primarily because I was going to "work" (minus the actually being paid part!) and had a very defined purpose in being there. I had a set place that I had to go to everyday, a job that I had to do, and requirements that I had to meet for my school. Most of my other trips, while they included a lot of hard work and purpose as well, were a lot more flexible. Not that El Salvador wasn't flexible - it was just different. I still had the opportunity to meet lots of great people, and see a lot of the country - but I also had a very specific job to accomplish while I was there. And I LOVED it! I loved going to work everyday, and seeing a ton of patients and doing what I could to help them. I loved the atmosphere I was working in, and the people I was working with. I loved the work I was doing and felt so content the entire 7 weeks that I was there. If my time there accomplished nothing else (although it did!), I left there having reaffirmed my desire to do work in a developing country - eye care work, but also development work in general. Working in a clinic like that in a developing country is so me - far more so than any clinic in Canada. I felt fulfilled, loved what I was doing, and got to explore a new country on my days off - what more could I ask for? It was everything that I had hoped for in an overseas placement.

One of the best things about El Salvador was the people that I worked with at FUDEM. They are some of my new favourite people ever. After working alongside these people for nearly two months, I had developed some good friendships, and in many ways, they became my "family". I've found with travelling on my own that any new relationships are often forged very quickly and deeply, primarily because you are outside of your comfort zone, and no longer can rely on familiarity. So, people quickly become like family, which helps you to feel more comfortable in a new, unfamiliar place. I hope this is making sense. Anyways, all of this to say that I so enjoyed all of their company - and was very sad to have to say goodbye after my seven weeks were over.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to return to FUDEM again, but I know I'll be back someday. Maybe just to visit, maybe to spend some more time working there. Either way, I can't wait to go back, walk through FUDEM's doors again, and visit all my new friends!