Individual Growth While Abroad
Our interview this week focuses on SUNY Cortland senior, Rachel Cangero, who interned in Belize! Unfortunately, Rachel faced unforeseen circumstances that ended her time in Belize sooner than expected, but she learned a lot during her one month working there and has plenty to share! Some advice she shared with us was, "It will be an experience that will never be forgotten, but it is to be remembered as well that not all students will have the same experience. Sometimes there are things that may happen that weren’t planned to. Anything could happen anywhere you are in the world. The most important part is that this abroad experience is what you make of it!"
I was definitely warned before going that the work ethic was far different from “New Yorkers.” It is entirely much more laid back and the work pace is slower. There are no “work-through-lunches.” When it hits 12 o’clock, all the workers vanish for lunch. In Belize, lunch is considered their dinner, so it is the biggest meal of the day. It is definitely important to understand this concept, and it takes some getting used to as well! Many Belizeans are hardworking. The city is the most densely populated, so people come from all over the country to work there. Some travel 20-30 miles by bus to work every day. Not only is this time consuming, but very expensive as well. Within the clinic where I worked, there were nurses who would travel to the islands on the coast of Belize and help out the clinics there or go for study leave. So yes, the pace is much slower, but that does not mean that Belizeans are not hardworking, because it is quite the opposite.
Describe the role you think your higher education has brought to your job.
When working in a clinical setting, certain classes have definitely helped me with interpreting vitals and a majority of my every day healthcare work. Although my higher education has helped me with my job, the clinic taught me a lot as well. Healthcare is free in Belize, so there are a lot of concepts that are different than in America. Nurses get angry at patients when they don’t follow up with their care such as getting exams or medications, because it is free! When here in America, nurses or doctors may not be following up as much with patients. It is mainly the patient’s responsibility to follow up, or come back if they have more concerns. Everyone knows everyone in Belize, so it is a very close network. Thinking about it, people in other countries would love to have free healthcare. Having compassion, respect, and empathy towards patients and the staff really helped me assimilate into the culture and learn a lot especially once it comes to my job.
What has it meant to you to be an American interning abroad?
Being an American interning abroad is definitely different. It has taught me what it feels like to feel like a minority in an unfamiliar country. It could definitely be intimidating at times, but luckily, I was in a country and environment where they didn’t treat me any different. Everyone I was surrounded by was very nice and wanted to know all about America. Not many students have the opportunity to go abroad, so being brave and taking the opportunity to go abroad in the first place makes me feel proud. One thing I would say to watch out for is talking about politics. Many Belizeans want to talk about Trump or their own politics, and I would refrain from talking about any views in a workplace because conversations could definitely escalate. Belizeans are very very protective of their country and take great pride in it.
What is one thing you’ve learned that you hope to bring home to the United States and apply to future jobs/situations?
One thing I have learned from this internship is to empathize and care for patients on a whole different level. Some doctors in America just look at patients as a number, and not as a person. The nurses are so close to the patients and are on a first name basis with them in Belize. Obviously, this can happen anywhere, but the nurses take time to know their patients and know their story. Hypertension is a major problem in Belize. It causes poor blood flow to many abscesses that patients have. Some patients have wounds that haven’t healed for years. Another problem is the high glucose issue. This also causes wounds not to heal. Many patients have to face the hard truth of possible amputations if they don’t start taking care of themselves. There is an abundance of the population that is at the clinic everyday and wait hours just to see a doctor. Every country has their pros and cons within their own healthcare systems. I am now volunteering at a hospital on Long Island at home to complete my internship. Now, I have learned to empathize even more and really help the patients who are struggling with provider communication during their stay. Volunteers provide that extra support which many patients need while going through difficult times.
Rachel Cangero
SUNY Cortland, Senior
Community Health Major
Originally from Hicksville, NY
What was your driving factor for interning in Belize? Why did you choose this country to work in?
Within the community health major, it is a requirement to complete fieldwork. We can either do fieldwork at Cortland, at home, or abroad. I chose to go abroad simply because I have always wanted to, but never got the chance. What really drove me to choose Belize was knowing many people who have been to Belize and had a great experience. It is definitely reassuring when people who have gone can give you some advice, but then you shape your own experience from it. Also, the study abroad program and the program coordinator in Belize work very closely together, so you have full support when traveling to an unfamiliar place. Within the health field, Belize struggles with poverty and healthcare which made me really want to get myself involved to help.
Did you go into the internship with certain expectations? Ex: what your responsibilities would be, style of work/environment (fast paced, hardworking, relaxed, etc.) communication between you and native employees.
When working in a clinical setting, certain classes have definitely helped me with interpreting vitals and a majority of my every day healthcare work. Although my higher education has helped me with my job, the clinic taught me a lot as well. Healthcare is free in Belize, so there are a lot of concepts that are different than in America. Nurses get angry at patients when they don’t follow up with their care such as getting exams or medications, because it is free! When here in America, nurses or doctors may not be following up as much with patients. It is mainly the patient’s responsibility to follow up, or come back if they have more concerns. Everyone knows everyone in Belize, so it is a very close network. Thinking about it, people in other countries would love to have free healthcare. Having compassion, respect, and empathy towards patients and the staff really helped me assimilate into the culture and learn a lot especially once it comes to my job.
What has it meant to you to be an American interning abroad?
Being an American interning abroad is definitely different. It has taught me what it feels like to feel like a minority in an unfamiliar country. It could definitely be intimidating at times, but luckily, I was in a country and environment where they didn’t treat me any different. Everyone I was surrounded by was very nice and wanted to know all about America. Not many students have the opportunity to go abroad, so being brave and taking the opportunity to go abroad in the first place makes me feel proud. One thing I would say to watch out for is talking about politics. Many Belizeans want to talk about Trump or their own politics, and I would refrain from talking about any views in a workplace because conversations could definitely escalate. Belizeans are very very protective of their country and take great pride in it.
What is one thing you’ve learned that you hope to bring home to the United States and apply to future jobs/situations?
One thing I have learned from this internship is to empathize and care for patients on a whole different level. Some doctors in America just look at patients as a number, and not as a person. The nurses are so close to the patients and are on a first name basis with them in Belize. Obviously, this can happen anywhere, but the nurses take time to know their patients and know their story. Hypertension is a major problem in Belize. It causes poor blood flow to many abscesses that patients have. Some patients have wounds that haven’t healed for years. Another problem is the high glucose issue. This also causes wounds not to heal. Many patients have to face the hard truth of possible amputations if they don’t start taking care of themselves. There is an abundance of the population that is at the clinic everyday and wait hours just to see a doctor. Every country has their pros and cons within their own healthcare systems. I am now volunteering at a hospital on Long Island at home to complete my internship. Now, I have learned to empathize even more and really help the patients who are struggling with provider communication during their stay. Volunteers provide that extra support which many patients need while going through difficult times.
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