Today provided a form of rest after the two village clinics and traveling the team did yesterday. Our team provided a medical clinic to one village community. By this point any time we heard our plans to travel to a village we expected an hour long ride in our trusty van. However, this trip we discovered our driver’s interest in indian music and blasted Indian techno as we sped down the busy streets “Indian” style.

Upon arriving to the village, we were happily greeted by village natives with beautiful rose garlands. The church where we were to hold the medical clinic had scriptures in their native language painting all over the walls and bright colored streamers lining the ceiling. I had the opportunity to work first hand with many patients taking blood pressures and viewing medical evaluations and treatments. By this point our team discovered how best to setup and run the clinic, which drastically improved the efficiency and number of patients we could treat. Most patients came with body aches and pains caused from the heavy labor that they perform every day. We also saw many dental and vision problems due from the lack of routine access to annual physical evaluations. It was amazing to see how eager the village natives were to receive basic medical care, something that many Americans and those of developed nations dread each year. They were truly grateful for our work and service. It is evident that Indian people find value in medical care as well as education, but they do not have the means to provide ready access to it. As a soon to be medical student, I left with the desire to return to America and work hard to finish my eduation so that I could bring medical care to these people or others like them.

After the clinic the team arrived back at the hotel to enjoy a late lunch and rest before going out on the town in the evening. We rode two “rickshaws” to a local French bakery called Caramel that we were told had the most american like food in Ongole. We all tried some of their desserts and shared some Indian veggie pizza as we listened to country and American top hits. This bakery was definitely a taste of American culture!

After our meal, the team enjoyed some shopping and site seeing. It seems as though the streets get even busier as the sun goes down and we had too many times of dodge oncoming motorcycles and other vehicles in the street. By now the team has become comfortable with many of the distinctions between American and Indian culture such as the loud honking, staring, and keeping our balance while riding a rickshaw. It is hard to believe that we only have a few days left before we head back to the states. I know that I will miss all of the people we have met and will hopefully be returning to India very soon!