All Hands On Deck

I arrived at Midas and immediately fell in love with the area. As I was coming in, the last group of students were preparing to move on to a second course. Since I came on my own earlier than the rest of my group, I  had the privilege of meeting them and getting to bond with them for two days. They were an amazingly interesting and close knit group of students and let me in on what I was to expect during my stay here. Before arriving, I was unsure as to how hands on this course would actually be. Being here for only a few hours I  was thrown into the groove immediately. Back in the States I have worked as a part time vet tech for every summer since I came into Rutgers. I have done a lot of blood work and handling so I imagined things would be similar in this class. Wrong. The first day we practiced suturing on raw chicken legs from the grocer, my first time suturing. Thirty minutes later, we were in our professors clinic, needle in my hand suturing a dog to close up the spay incision.

On our second day  of class we were off to the Horse farm bright and early. We were shown how to take a chief complaint report, give a physical examination, and administer shots. Not a minute after we learned, we were doing it ourselves. Following the class session, the owner of the farm saddled up three of his horses to let us ride the mares through the pasture. Being that I never have ridden before, I was extremely enthused. I jumped up on my horse and took her out onto the pasture - one of the memories I will hold closely for a long tme. The pasture was beautiful and the scenery from the hill we rode up to was breathtaking.

I remember thinking to myself right after the ride that I have never witnessed such a peacefully enagaging atmosphere as in Belize. Everyone here is out to provide for their families and work hard to help others along the way. Every local from when I started in Punta Gorda to where I end in San Ignacio has been nothing but helpful and pleasant. Perhaps the most of which are my Professor and my T.A. My Professsor, Dr. Tesecum runs a small practice here where he provides his clients free spay and neuter surgeries solely because he believes in the effort and in bettering his community. My T.A, Gabby, is an amazingly smart, compassionate and driven individual who just graduated Vet School to continue schooling in hopes to specialize in public health and return to Belize to better the country.

I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The other students in the program are from all over the States and are all like minded individuals pursuing careers in medicine and biology. The nights are a blast as we lounge in the pool, go into town, or simply have a 20 person snuggle on the beds  to watch a movie together.

- Andrew Reicherter