Overlooking the Prettiest View in all of Ireland….and the Cliffs of Moher
Author: Alex Maldonado-Lopez | Major: Public Health
“Is traveling really for me?” During my lifetime, I’ve left the state of Arkansas only to ever venture to Barcelona, Texas, Missouri, and drove through Mississippi and Alabama to get to Florida. My first year of college, I went on a solo trip to Barcelona that was amazing, but truthfully, I didn’t think I ever wanted to travel again because of how homesick I found myself. When I was encouraged to attend Health Professions in Ireland, I funnily forgot about my fear of traveling while on the HogsAbroad webpage, but quickly rediscovered it the second we touched down in Dublin. Once again, I asked, “Is travelling really for me,” but I had already dived headfirst into a program!
Jet lag was a fun friend of no one. The sun insisting on setting only after 10:30 P.M. was quite the barrier, but one we found to enjoy as my cohort embraced the challenges of travelling that everyone faces. The anxiety of newness remained with me until our first dive into the History of Medicine lecture at the University of Limerick, where I found my comfort and cozy in my niche of academics again.
The initial appeal of the program itself was the advertisement of a dive into a complicated medical system facing both compliment and condemnation via critical analyses domestically and across borders, which guaranteed that I would be introduced to perspectives beyond the health system of the United States and its daily criticisms. Although we were only in a lecture setting twice during our trip, the mode of learning was similar to what can be found through service-learning opportunities at UARK, like visiting organizations and having discussions with their executives, members, and daily employees to truly grasp the reality of completing charitable missions, not just the pretty parts. Social work was the most heavily emphasized part of the trip, with all but one activity being social work based. Ireland had no shortage of need when it came to health care, but our focus was to evaluate their system of care before the doctor’s visit, like community resources and social welfare programs, including the lack of or inequal distribution of these resources. Our instructors were very hands off, which allowed us to really interact with our presenters and gave us a feel as if we are the ones truly leading the trip – inspiring questions we knew would help us answer crucial questions later without needing professors to guide our way.
Truthfully, social work is a very emotionally difficult line of work in Ireland. There, we were exposed to truths of discrimination, the internal bleeds of Ireland’s system set in place to protect and stop those most needy from getting the help they should, and the administrative nightmare it is to help move a can of food from a government office to the table where it is needed. As someone who hopes to be a physician, two impactful realities came to mind for me as we learned more and more about social work in Ireland. The burnout experienced by an overworked system is only fought there by an overwhelming compassion for helping someone that was once in your shoes, as most social work areas we visited were led by those who themselves understood the situation of the individuals and families they helped because they once stood were the needy do today – reemphasizing why medical schools truly look for the most compassionate and tenacious future doctors rather than simply the smartest. Secondly, I realized the impact I could have by simply asking a question like, “how is your home life? Are you getting enough sleep? How is your romantic relationship…” etc., and the keystone connection primary care physicians have to coordinate help to their patients. As a physician, identifying and treating problem X is a given, but diving deeper can change a life completely, as emphasized over and over by the organizations we visited.
The heavier emotional toll that academics took was not to make the trip nothing but somber, but it was just a reality that is faced in the world we live in. Ways to recharge were numerous, though. Ireland was filled with some of the most helpful people I have ever met. Scavenger hunts left many in my cohort completely lost, but not once was a complete stranger ever ignoring of our request for help in directing us. Strangers acted immediately as if you were as well known to them as a coworker. Aside from the lovely welcome, the architecture is easy to boast about and make you feel like you’re in a scene of a movie – it’s rich with history for all my history nerds out there. One of my favorite experiences was attending my first ever opera, which occurred in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick. The music left me in tears, and the beauty of the cathedral was something of a reverent, holy dream. In Dublin, I joined a friend and we tackled yet another classical concert for our first ever experience with contemporary classical music. I think I’ll let you experience that for yourself…
Now, I’m home. In my mind, that felt like the shortest span of a few weeks ever, as we were going and going. Physically, the strain of 15,000+ steps everyday balanced it out, making it feel like the longest few weeks ever. For future students, if you want to experience Ireland, I suggest this program. However, if you intend on making this a significant pre-professional health experience, I advise you consider other programs first, as this program didn’t include but one real medical experience. I wish I had known that before, but I’m still grateful for the experience! I also wish I had packed an umbrella. Although I’m writing this from home, the first thing I recommend you do upon your return is to DEFINITELY sleep plenty, avoid schoolwork, put on your favorite show, and turn the AC as low as you need it – you’ll be glad you have it again.