Antes y Despues

Before I left for elective, I told my friends I was going to have a defining moment, a tremendous epiphany that would change my life forever. I also told them that whatever it was (a jungle creature, the wise words of a shaman), I was going to immortalise it with a tattoo.

Except nothing happened. I don't have anything symbolic to get inked as a reminder of my 4th year elective. There was no moment where I witnessed the chains of poverty, or the gravity of life. And maybe that's a good thing because now I don't have some cliche tattoo of a jaguar prowling across my back.

But that's not to say I haven't changed. I feel and act the same, but something's different. It's just been such a slight and gradual adjustment that I've hardly noticed it. The only way I can identify it is by doing a before and after, comparing the beginning of the trip to the present, waiting for the last leg of my flights home.




Before, my favorite words were cool, dude, and awesome. 
After, my favorite words are que linda, claro, y buena onda.

Before, I flushed with a clear conscious.
After, I think before I flush, just in case the sewage system can't handle it.

Before, I was listening to the Twelves, Munchi, and Afrojack.
After, I'm listening to reggaeton, electronic tango and a crazy jungle song which loosely translates into I Won't Be Your Handkerchief Anymore.

Before, my Spanish sucked.
After, my cab ride to the airport was about the upcoming elections, lack of democracy, and failings of the Argentinean health system.

Before, I refused to eat an empanada because it looks like a curry puff. 
After, it's no Old Chang Kee, but a freshly baked empanada de lomo picante is pretty damn delicious (Daddy, I'm talking to you).

Before, I hated dancing with a guy.
After, doesn't matter if he's got a pot belly, grey hair, and smells of stale cigarettes - if he marks with clarity and is a creative dancer, I'm going to tango with him all night.

Before, I was excited for a South American romance. 
After, the women are a million times better than the men <3

Before, I could tell the difference between a Peruvian and an Argentinean.
After, I can't tell the difference between a Peruvian, Argentinean, Spaniard, Portuguese, German, Mexican, Haitian, or Indonesian.

Before, I wasn't sure if I'd like South America. 
After, in some parts of Peru I felt like I was back in South East Asia, and I felt more at home with Argentineans than I have with any other culture.

Before, I thought if you gave a villager anti-parasites, they would be grateful.
After, I know some will lie about their symptoms to get more pills and free soap.

Before, I supported NGOs and Western aid. 
After, I realise that without an intimate understanding of the local socioeconomic climate, it's a waste of time, effort and resources.

Before, I thought medicine could save the world.
After, I think clinical medicine on its own hardly changes anything.



So even if I haven't had that defining moment or come back a changed person, these past 10 weeks have been unreal. I know for a fact that never again in my life will I ever have a chance to explore the Amazon like I did in Peru (thank you Amazon Promise). And that I'm going straight back to Argentina the moment I have a chance to because I simply haven't had enough.

Thanks to everyone for following me on my elective. For those of you who care to continue, my next trip is MBBS 5, the last year of medical school. It promises to be complete with the fascinating drama of job application stress, placements in the the middle of nowhere England, and finding ways to make this final year of university (read: freedom) absolutely unforgettable.

But for now - suerte mis amigos, chau sudamerica, and for your listening pleasure... "Ya No Sere Mas Tu Pañuelito"!