? Re My summer: between 1st and 2nd year -- abroad suggestions?

[NoSimpleHighway]

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Hello World,

I just scanned through a bunch of threads regarding the summer between 1st and 2nd year, and I did not find one addressing my question. If one does exist, please forgive me for a redundant question. I do not frequent this site.

Anyways, I am a 1st year MD medical student, trying to figure out what to do with my summer. I am doing well in school and I have no desire to do any sort of review for USMLE or even glance at a textbook. I want to travel. I want to have a kickass time. I want to do this without spending much money. And, if somehow I can do this all while doing something research oriented or learning spanish, I would be ecstatic.

As of now, I am looking into a program spending a few weeks in Guatamala doing Medical spanish and working in a clinic. But, a few weeks isn't enough, so I would prefer a different program. Know of any?

A friend of mine (not in medical school) is doing a WWOOF program: Willing Workers on Organic Farms -- where you work on a farm in exchange for housing/food. Does anyone know of a similarly structured medical program where I can work at a clinic or hospital in a needy population?

What about programs in Africa? I just want to get out of here and live a few months in S. America or Africa, spending half the time working and half the time chilling and meeting interesting people.

Help me out please!
Thanks

 

[thepoopologist]

www.ecela.com

I was there for six weeks. Highly recommend it

 

[Perrotfish]

www.ecela.com

I was there for six weeks. Highly recommend it

+1, I did the same program and thought it was great. Also I'd avoid clinics, organic farms, or any other attempt to put yourself to work. You don't know enough yet to do any skilled labor (personally I think first years practicing in poor countries is a little unethical) and the last thing the third world needs is more unskilled labor. Also housing and food are insanely cheap down there and paid employment pays almost nothing so $ shouldn't be a major motivating factor. Almost all of your cost will be the plane ticket and, if you take them, language classes and there's no good way to offset those costs other than working in the States before you go (or during the semester, or over Christmas break). Either focus on learning the language or just enjoy traveling and let the (surprisingly low) cost of your trip be a drop in the ocean that is your debt.

 

[crock1255]

Hello World,

I just scanned through a bunch of threads regarding the summer between 1st and 2nd year, and I did not find one addressing my question. If one does exist, please forgive me for a redundant question. I do not frequent this site.

Anyways, I am a 1st year MD medical student, trying to figure out what to do with my summer. I am doing well in school and I have no desire to do any sort of review for USMLE or even glance at a textbook. I want to travel. I want to have a kickass time. I want to do this without spending much money. And, if somehow I can do this all while doing something research oriented or learning spanish, I would be ecstatic.

As of now, I am looking into a program spending a few weeks in Guatamala doing Medical spanish and working in a clinic. But, a few weeks isn't enough, so I would prefer a different program. Know of any?

A friend of mine (not in medical school) is doing a WWOOF program: Willing Workers on Organic Farms -- where you work on a farm in exchange for housing/food. Does anyone know of a similarly structured medical program where I can work at a clinic or hospital in a needy population?

What about programs in Africa? I just want to get out of here and live a few months in S. America or Africa, spending half the time working and half the time chilling and meeting interesting people.

Help me out please!
Thanks

Try these: http://www.guatemala365.com/
and
http://www.spanishacademyantiguena.com/

Guatemala is known for its spanish programs. All lessons are 1 on 1. Guatemalan Spanish is slower than Argentinian, Colombian, etc. And the accent is more anglo (i.e. no "jo" for "yo"). I went to the Spanish Academy Antiguena. It was fun. Teachers are good. Antigua is a pretty quaint. There are a lot of spanish students so you need to want to use your Spanish. The town is small, and it's pretty easy to get set up with whatever you want. One kid I was rooming with was training to be a chiropractor in Germany and was volunteering with a chiropractor in Antigua. Pretty simple. Lots of fun. Really cheap. I wouldn't do the homestay. It's a business. It's very hit or miss whether the family would interact with you or just feed you and give you a place to stay. Stay in Yellow House (Casa Amarillo). Right next to the school. They have a single room. It's easily the best hostel I've ever been to. Wifi, great atmosphere, breakfast, fair prices for trips. (Been to Egypt, China, Israel, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Jordan, Bangladesh).
Also, don't pay in advance. Pay weekly. But if you do pay in advance, ask for a discount.

Also, I know everyone is gung-ho about wanting to be secluded and forced to use Spanish...until they're secluded and forced to use their Spanish. Not as easy as it seems.

High yield:
-Guatemalan Spanish = faster uptake for Americans.
-Antigua = fun
-Spanish School Antiguena = good
-No homestay
-Antiguena will help set you up with a clinic

PM if you have any Questions. Good luck!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

www.ecela.com

I was there for six weeks. Highly recommend it

Did it work?

 

[thepoopologist]

Did it work?

I went from knowing absolutely no Spanish to conversing for short periods of time, but I needed more time as far as becoming fluent went. There were people who had been there for 3+ months and were awesome in the language. The big improvement for me was the listening part and getting used to hearing people speak it naturally and not in a classroom.

Long story short, I ran out of money after six weeks of classes and country hopping and had to come back home.

 

[NoSimpleHighway]

Awesome, thanks for the advice peoples.

I am not putting down the down payment for Guatemala trip. If I do go, I very much like the idea of going on my own, so thanks "crock".

Please let me know if any other ideas float your way!