Longing Anticipation

The view from our bus stop where we took a break to stretch, use the bathrooms, and get ice cream

We made it! It only took 6 years, an expired passport, two flights and a 6 hour bus ride to get here. I was 12 when I went on my first trip to Guatemala and I have been begging my mom, Dr. Lauri Pramuk, to come back ever since. After years and years of my relentless efforts, she finally gave in. The plan was for me to go on the 2021 alumni trip, but unfortunately life held a different path for me. The day before we were supposed to leave we realized my passport was expired. I could not go on the trip. At the time I was heartbroken. I was a senior in high school and I had been eagerly waiting for this trip for 6 years. 

Now, however, I am grateful. My passport being expired was a gift. I had an extra year to prepare with a wonderful team of students and mentors. I enjoyed my freshman year at Regis University while going to meetings every Sunday to learn about a variety of topics relating to Guatemala and health. I got to learn about the different stations we will work in during the week: triage, pediatrics, internal medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, and the glasses room. I do not intend to go into medicine in the future, so all of these stations seem somewhat foreign to me. However, despite my overwhelming anxieties, particularly relating to triage and speaking Spanish, I know that I have all the preparation I need from our weekly educational meetings. 

After a long day of traveling, I am very tired. I am currently laying in my relatively comfy bed, hoping no cockroaches come out to play in the night. I’m anxious for tomorrow as it is our first day of clinic, but I am even more excited to be working with Dr. Deb in physical therapy, and my mom, Dr. Pramuk in pediatrics.

Grace Pramuk

My roomies and I for the week, left to right: Avery, Mila, Me