We ended our last day in Bangkok with a presentation to our hospital about our experiences in Thailand. We talked about the prominent healthcare issues that we saw such as poor dental health, obesity, diabetes, stroke, and motorcycle accidents. We thanked our worksite for being so generous and taking care us throughout our entire trip. Our worksite gave us a true, authentic Thai experience that many people do not get when they travel to Bangkok. We learned a great deal about their culture and healthcare system. It was a pleasure to learn about the pros and cons about their healthcare system and compare it to how the US healthcare system operates. As the trip comes to an end, I am eternally grateful for having the opportunity to travel to another country that I never thought I would travel to before. I made a decision to do something out of my comfort zone, and it became one of the best experiences in my entire life! Thank you to Bangragum health promotion hospital, Nat, Pimsuda, Dr. Robson, and my classmates for making this program such an amazing experience. This trip was truly a humbling and touching experience because we interacted with so many people who were willing to teach us about their culture with so much pride. The pride that the Thai people possess for their culture and history is infectious. We met people who lived in very rural and poor places, but still managed to keep a smile on their face, and because of this, Thailand truly lives up to its nickname, “Land of Smiles.” I am going to try to adopt the Thai lifestyle by going with the flow more, to not stress about the little things, and most importantly, to be grateful for all of the things that I have in my life.
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