Visiting Teotihuacan outside of Mexico City!
Author: Madeline Crisp | Major: Biochemistry | Semester: Summer 2023
Upon learning about the U of A Faculty-Led Spanish Immersion & Service Learning in Puebla, Mexico during my first semester at the University of Arkansas, my heart was set on it. It was the perfect program for a pre-medical student, allowing me to shadow doctors and learn about medicine while also earning credit hours towards my Spanish minor. Most of my five weeks was spent at la Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), where I attended classes, labs, and shadowed physicians in the on campus clinics. Our classes were small and taught by UPAEP professors that were aided by medical students at the university. At the beginning of the program, classes were very lecture-based but became more hands-on as the weeks went by. Our final week of classes was spent doing fun activities like practicing bandaging techniques on each other, doing injections on oranges, and learning new suture techniques.
Even more exciting than the classes were the labs and rotations. Labs were often simulations where we got to practice valuable skills like triage, intubation, scrubbing into the ER, CPR, and more. Lab sizes were even smaller than the classes, which ensured that everyone was engaged and able to participate. Using UPAEP medical school’s facilities and equipment was a unique glimpse into the life of a medical student. Rotations provided us with an even more in depth look, allowing us to interact with patients, local medical students, and doctors as well as see a variety of cases and treatments. Throughout our five weeks, we rotated through UPAEP’s general medical clinic, emergency clinic, and physical therapy clinic. I saw patients treated for everything from stomach pain to anaphylaxis to torn ligaments. Through these experiences I was able to grow my Spanish medical vocabulary considerably, which will help me towards my goal of becoming certified to work as a medical translator for a year following my graduation from the UARK.
Off campus, we had plenty of time to adventure, especially during our weekend trips to other cities. Between Cholula, Oaxaca, Cuetzalan, and Mexico City, it would be impossible for me to pick a favorite weekend destination! Each city presented the opportunity to try regional dishes, learn about the unique culture of the area, and enjoy the local archaeological sites and museums. Seeing los voladores in Cuetzalan, watching la lucha libre in Puebla, trying different authentic Oaxacan moles– these experiences made while exploring with other students were a few of the highlights of my trip. No matter where we went, the people were so kind and were patient if we struggled to find the right words in Spanish.
The best advice I could give someone considering this program is not to be nervous and to just go for it! It may seem like an unoriginal tip, but going to a country that speaks your second language can be daunting. Practice, however, is the best way to learn and no one (locals or your fellow students) will judge you if you make a mistake while speaking. A tip for those already accepted to the program is to make sure to take the time to explore Puebla. Between classes, rotations, and the weekend excursions, it’s easy to get swept away in the program, but Puebla is such an exciting city with so many things to do that it deserves to be explored too! It’s important to set aside time to go out and take full advantage of the city so that you get the most out of your time abroad. I loved my time in Mexico and am so grateful to have had this opportunity with other UARK students!