T-Minus 7 Days!!!

I just took my first anti-malaria pill this morning … which means I LEAVE IN ONE WEEK! Ay dios mio!!! I am pretty much all packed and revved up to go.

For the benefit of those who may not know, I am participating in a Global Health Undergraduate Semester Abroad with Duke University – “Tropical Medicine and Public Health in Costa Rica.” Here is some info from my orientation packet, which explains what I’ll be doing down there: “You are part of a new and unique opportunity for students considering careers in the health sciences and health policy. We are confident that this semester will be one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences of your college career. In Costa Rica, you will become immersed in the scientific and social aspects of tropical medicine. You’ll visit both urban and rural medical facilities operating within Costa Rica’s world-renowned public health system. You will visit several indigenous communities in Costa Rica, and learn about their culture and challenges they face, particularly those related to health. You will work in some of the world’s premier tropical research sites, experiencing nature intimately. You’ll also be visiting museums, national parks, market places, and agricultural farms in order to immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture. You will also have the opportunity to plan, develop, present, and write your own research project. You should expect to work hard, learn a lot, and also have fun! … Your group consists of up to 25 students plus the OTS staff (including physicians, microbiologists, and ethnobiologists.)”

So I am pretty jazzed for all the amazing things I am sure to learn about tropical medicine and global health this semester. I am really excited about the program, the people and absolutely everything!!!

I am also really looking forward to the awesome life-changing experiences I am sure to have in Costa Rica. As my good friend Italo Calvino says in Invisible Cities, ”the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer posses lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places.” I know that this semester abroad will open my eyes to new perspectives, new people and new ideas. I can’t wait to jump in!

I am going to miss everyone terribly though! So PLEASE keep in touch these next few months. I will not be bringing my cell phone down, but I should have fairly reliable internet access the whole time. So Skype, email and facebook are all excellent means of communication. J

Please stay tuned for (hopefully) frequent updates about my romp in the rainforest! And feel free to pass this blog along to anyone I may have forgotten to include!