It’s been about a month since we left for Honduras, yet I still have trouble finding words to adequately describe the week we spent working with CARE. My experience on this ASB trip was without a doubt, however, life-changing for me: it completely reshaped how I view active citizenship, the state of rural healthcare in Central American countries, and the commonalities among all people, no matter what our geographic differences may be. I loved every minute I spent in Honduras with my ASB team, and it was an absolute honor to be able to participate in this experience with them.
Through working in the clinics taking blood pressure, pulling teeth, and filling prescriptions, we were able to learn firsthand the conditions and limitations surrounding healthcare standards in rural Honduras. Items that many Americans take for granted like antibacterial soap and antibiotics are rare commodities in Honduras, and healthcare professionals are limited in the care they could provide rural Hondurans because of supply restrictions like these. It was really humbling to learn that such healthcare standards are not unique just to Honduras or to Central America but are present in many areas of America as well.
One of my favorite days of our trip to Honduras was the cultural day, in which we traveled to a remote village in rural Honduras and participated in traditional Honduran games and rituals with the villagers. Despite the language barrier, I’ve never felt so welcomed by a community. Each and every Honduran we met during our trip showed us the utmost warmth and hospitality, and this is an aspect of Honduran culture I will never forget.
Overall, my ASB trip to Honduras is definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life so far: the immersion into Honduran culture, the amount I learned about myself as both a person and a volunteer, and the amazing new friendships I made set this trip apart from anything else I could’ve been doing over interim. I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity and can’t wait to delve into the social issue of rural healthcare even further through our upcoming reorientation project!