I first came with ABV to Xela in 2014 for two weeks to volunteer in the Centro de Salud and instantly fell in love. Two years later when I started PA school I came back with 10 of my classmates and faculty. This year we came back with 22 people! Everyone who comes to Xela wants to come back. I have so much love for this city and hope to come back again one day.
**1. How would you describe/rate the support provided by our in-country Coordinator?
**The coordinator is absolutely wonderful. This trip would not have run as smoothly as it did without her. I cannot say enough good things about her.
**2. What is your favorite memory of your trip?
**Volunteering at our Jornada Medica, taking blood sugars and checking blood pressures. We diagnosed a lot of patients with diabetes and provided them with medication. It felt wonderful to help these people.
**3. What was most personally challenging aspect of this program for you?
**The most challenging aspect of the trip was communicating in Spanish. Although I consider myself proficient, I wish I could be more fluent and interact more with the locals. Next time we will hire a couple of translators.
**4. Any tips for future healthcare volunteers… (clothing, supplies, packing etc)
**Definitely brush up on your Spanish before your trip!
5. Personal Paragraph (Volunteer Program Testimonial): I first came with ABV to Xela in 2014 for two weeks to volunteer in the Centro de Salud and instantly fell in love. Two years later when I started PA school I came back with 10 of my classmates and faculty. This year we came back with 22 people! Everyone who comes to Xela wants to come back. I have so much love for this city and hope to come back again one day.
**7. Would you recommend this program?
**Absolutely
**8. As an ABV alumni will you speak to others interested in volunteering in Xela?
**Yes.
