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Pre Med / Pre Professional Program This is a structured preclincial (Undergrad, Pre Med or MS1 or MS 2) summer language program for Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced Spanish speakers who want to learn Medical Spanish, Cultural Health and International Medicine in San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City.
MARTIN PETERS (May 7 - June 1, 2007) Although he's not even in medical school yet, Martin has a lot of clinical experience under his belt. From Newberg OR, Martin is a member of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, where he and his team are responsible for emergency first response on the mountain. He also volunteers in a clinic for the homeless, does HIV counselling and testing in the gay community, and works with homeless, at risk and disabled youth in Adventures Without Limits, an outdoor education/therapy program in Portland. He fits right in as a third rider with the Cruz Roja ambulance team here in San Miguel, on their calls to motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies. He and his girlfriend, Crystal, are serious Spanish students, and are making great progress with Blanca and Lilia. Martin plans to work with the homeless in Peru next month, where his medical Spanish should come in handy! He'll be applying to medical school this year. Martin Peters, Pre-Medical Student Jr. PACE Corps 11 May 2007 First Impressions of San Miguel and La Cruz Roja My first week with the Red Cross in San Miguel has been a humbling experience. My university Spanish education is no match for the slang and the speed of communications which the locals speak. Radio communications are incomprehensible at this point. I only know that it is time to go when the paramedic commands me to “corre”! We load up in the ambulance. I learned two things my first day with the Red Cross. (1) When the sirens are turned on in the ambulance I prepare myself for a thrilling ride through town. (2) That the Red Cross, and perhaps Mexican culture in general, uses nicknames frequently. “Shrek” is behind the wheel speeding down the bumpy streets while “Pinguino” sits shot gun. American pop music is blaring on the radio. If I had a nickname it would be “Mande”, because through the blare on the radio, the slang, the bumpy roads, and the uncommon names it is hard to understand what is going on. Pinguino says, “You want to learn Spanish, then take the patient history”. I can ask in Spanish what someone’s name is, but I am unprepared for the unfamiliar names that are given in response. Not to mention that it is hard for the people to speak because they are injured or their head is braced to the back board. I get a little panicky my first day, but Pinguino tells me not to stress and he eventually helps out. By the end of the first week I have begun to understand the flow of things at the Red Cross, and I feel like I am becoming more of a help than a burden. After the Red Cross I go to my 2-hour tutoring session. It is a tremendous help, and I have learned that proper pronunciation is my biggest hurdle to communicating effectively. I feel that one-on-one tutoring will best help my pronunciation. I have really enjoyed the sessions. Each day though I return home exhausted from the 6-8 hour medical Spanish experience. This means that I am learning a lot and pushing my limits. Perfect. This is exactly where I want to be, and I feel that I will learn a lot during my month in San Miguel. This is a beautiful town and there is plenty to do. I am sharing a flat with my girlfriend and two friends who are serious about learning Spanish. This is a great place to bring a significant other, and I imagine that it would be great for families too. I did not know exactly what to expect when I arrived at San Miguel, but I feel that my expectations have been exceeded and I look forward to the next three weeks.
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