And a few more words

Just another way to represent the SSWE! Group shot in Paso Robles, Calif.

Hard to believe it’s been three weeks since The Exchange wrapped up. Like we continuously say, this is just the beginning…and it truly is! We’ve spent the last few weeks since The Exchange ended, reaching out to our own individual communities sharing our personal experience on the trip, talking about ELAM and other ways we can work together on the road to universal health care.

From Alicia:

Alicia on an Native American Indian reservation near Tuba City, AZ.

We discovered love all over the land of the Southwest

The Salud Southwest Exchange solidified my belief in the importance of organizing, sharing and loving to make positive paradigm shifts. Throughout our adventure I was inspired by the actions and aspirations of the SSWE members and the people of the communities that we visited. How refreshing it was to be surrounded by people who are invested and active in improving people’s health, realizing that together we can make changes that we all need and deserve. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be learning at ELAM and from this SSWE to continuously build upon a strong foundation in ciencia y conciencia (science and consciousness). I’ve been longing to unite with people who value the health of everyone so that together we can act and make a strong impact. I feel like I’ve met these people and many of us are already organizing for returning to communities we visited. I’m thrilled to start and continue in the struggle for the healing of humanity. We are going to do it together with love, justice and happiness!

Southwest Sun rays showered the SSWE

Wonderful words of wisdom:

“You’ll all have a real chance at fixing these health disparities.” Stay vocal.” – Noha Aboelata, MD at Native American Health Center, Inc.

“Never act alone.” “Everyone is a VIP (very important person) that’s how we want to be.” – Andru Ziwasimon, MD at South Valley Clinic, Casa de Salud

“Your tongue has power. You have the power to make your own story, you are what you read, watch and say.” “Know your plan, your purpose and base your education and life on your purpose and your natural talent.”- Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, former Miss Navajo

“Love doesn’t quit.” – Reverend Lucius Walker, Founder and Executive Director of IFCO

Magical moments from The Exchange:

• The United American Indian Involvement was created from a big sticky note. The community started listing to what they wanted and needed and made it happen.
• UNM students were ecstatic about the opportunity to study at ELAM, we still are too!
• We were invited to the community meeting at Pajarito Mesa.
• Nizhoni passing out salt crystals and lavender to us, learning about the beautiful laughing ceremony.
• Community HUGS, rollero rollerskating, SUV/RV dancing, fire truck!, birthday tiaras, “can you feel it” dancing, Freestyle Fridays, climbing the huge Grand Canyon rock, shared meal time, zombie dolphins, catchphrase, camping, drinking from the stream, Gala dancing, Frisbee, relish, TIMMY!!! — the best pit bull, exploding rock, late night laugh fest at IHOP and all the time, sharing everything with everyone-we are a wonderful family!

-Alicia

From Medina:

Medina during a tour of La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland, Calif.

If I had to describe the SSWE experience in one word it would be awesome. But honestly SSWE is so much more than that. From the moment that I landed in California, I felt nothing but positive energy. The reunion with the rest of the group affirmed my intuition that we were about to head out for a wonderful Exchange. From the start we meshed well together and all came prepared to begin on our journey as one unit. We even shared a heated debate on the famous New York classic pizza versus the Chicago deep dish during our kick-off dinner. Now as a New Yorker it was a hard decision, but Chicago gave New York a run for its money.

Before we embarked on our journey we shared a loving group hug in front of Pasha’s house. To some it might be considered corny, but to me it is important to start off our trip with love and positive energy. Some of our best moments were spent in the RV or SUV taking in the amazing scenery that the Southwest had to offer. The different landscapes that we visited from Canyon de Chelly to the Grand Canyon, from deserts to the Pacific Ocean, it was all breath taking. Then to fill these beautiful spaces with the beautiful individuals that we met during the Exchange makes it even more awesome. I think that the excitement and the love that the health care providers had for people as well as medicine was mind blowing. Seeing doctors choosing to help people for all the right reasons is an inspiration for me. The experience that we shared together showed me that our decision to be physicians with a moral cause is the best choice that we could have made. I am so blessed to get to know this group of amazing young people. Go SSWE.

-Medina

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