(6/19) Visiting an NGO Clinic
Woke up a little earlier to grab breakfast at Mandarina with Mitchka. I clearly don’t have an obsession with this place. I got one of the breakfast bowls, and Mitchka got an avocado bagel topped with an egg. You already know how I feel about the food here.
After a good meal, we got onto a chicken bus to go to a NGO clinic. It was quite a ride. We got a tour of the clinic, and heard one of the employees talk about some things she’s learned from her experience here, including the problem of volunteerism. Before this trip, I never really thought about the possible negative consequences of serving abroad. Even though someone might have good intentions, it doesn’t always mean that it’s going to beneficial for that community. She also said how important it is to know our place in whatever foreign community we go to, and simply observe how things are run, because it’s bound to be different from home. I really appreciate how much we’re learning about cultural differences and how to approach them respectfully and thoughtfully.




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