Students for International Mission Service (SIMS)

Outlook 2001

Peru
James Hong
School of Medicine sophomore

Learning to speak the language

“Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah?” the flight attendant asked me. I didn’t understand a single word. “Pardon me?” I asked her in Spanish. “Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah?” She repeated. I was lost. After about the third time, I finally figured out that she was asking me if I wanted some ice with my apple juice or not. I looked around. People all around me were talking in what I knew was Spanish, but it sounded like they were talking gibberish.

So began my SIMS trip to Peru. It was tough being so immersed in a different culture. But as the weeks wore on, I slowly began to feel a little less ignorant. I lay in bed and instead of being homesick, I would think about what a good day I had. I got to know and love the people I was working with at the clinic. And the gibberish I had been hearing before slowly began to transform itself into words.

Without a doubt, going to Peru was one of the best experiences of my life. Being a medical student, I know all too well that it is easy to forget that there is more to life than just school. It was nice to leave the country and be reminded of the more important things in life. I hope that everyone, at some point in his or her life, gets the opportunity to experience a different culture. It is a life-changing experience you will never forget.

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