Posted 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011
[caption id="attachment_8245" align="alignright" width="450" caption="A group of UW-L students traveled to India and Nepal three years ago. Here the group is shown expressing a little spirit in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India."]
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Buddhist monks and nuns in India and Nepal will be living a little healthier thanks to UW-L students and faculty.
A group of 15 pre-healthcare professional students, a graduate student and one staff member will travel to the countries Dec. 28 – Jan. 20 to establish medical records for the monks and nuns and teach about preventative healthcare such as dental care and hand washing.
They hope to raise $3,000 before their departure to donate equipment, medical supplies and educational materials to the monks and nuns. So far the group has raised $200.
While students will earn three credits for the trip during winter session, they expect to return with much more than a letter grade. UW-L Junior Kristyn Emmer says she is “excited to have culture shock.”
[caption id="attachment_8248" align="alignright" width="450" caption="In preparation to bring UW-L students to the countries, Scott Stine, the group’s adviser, participated in a medical camp with volunteers from the Karmapa Health Care Project in Bodhgaya, India last year. The monks pictured are part of the same group UW-L students will visit during this year’s service-learning trip. Here the monks line up to receive treatment for fungal infections. "]
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“It’s probably uncomfortable for awhile, but that’s usually a good thing,” she says. “I’m excited to see how much I’ll change.”
The group won’t have conveniences like potable drinking water from the faucet, cell phones, computers or — coffee.
“I would not consider myself a coffee addict, but that’s probably debatable,” says Joe Kaisersatt, a senior majoring in biology who wants to one day be a physician assistant.
But he says it is well worth missing his daily caffeine fix to get hands-on experience working with patients — particularly people from a completely different background.
“It’s so easy to talk to someone with the same background as you,” he admits. “The true test is to see if you can connect with someone you have virtually nothing in common with.”
[caption id="attachment_8251" align="alignright" width="450" caption="Monks line up to receive treatment for fungal infections. "]
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Scott Stine, a UW-L staff member and adviser for the trip who has visited the countries multiple times, says American students may be surprised to learn how much they have in common with people across the world. Stine also took a group of UW-L students to India and Nepal in 2007. He looks forward to watching students grow not only in their medical preparation, but also in their cultural awareness.
“My goal is to go over there and experience as much as I can and take back as much as I can,” says Kaisersatt.
Emmer anticipates one way she’ll change is her ability to be compassionate.
“It’s one thing to have pity on people and it’s another thing to go and help them,” she explains.
[/caption]
Buddhist monks and nuns in India and Nepal will be living a little healthier thanks to UW-L students and faculty.
A group of 15 pre-healthcare professional students, a graduate student and one staff member will travel to the countries Dec. 28 – Jan. 20 to establish medical records for the monks and nuns and teach about preventative healthcare such as dental care and hand washing.
They hope to raise $3,000 before their departure to donate equipment, medical supplies and educational materials to the monks and nuns. So far the group has raised $200.
While students will earn three credits for the trip during winter session, they expect to return with much more than a letter grade. UW-L Junior Kristyn Emmer says she is “excited to have culture shock.”
[caption id="attachment_8248" align="alignright" width="450" caption="In preparation to bring UW-L students to the countries, Scott Stine, the group’s adviser, participated in a medical camp with volunteers from the Karmapa Health Care Project in Bodhgaya, India last year. The monks pictured are part of the same group UW-L students will visit during this year’s service-learning trip. Here the monks line up to receive treatment for fungal infections. "][/caption]
“It’s probably uncomfortable for awhile, but that’s usually a good thing,” she says. “I’m excited to see how much I’ll change.”
The group won’t have conveniences like potable drinking water from the faucet, cell phones, computers or — coffee.
“I would not consider myself a coffee addict, but that’s probably debatable,” says Joe Kaisersatt, a senior majoring in biology who wants to one day be a physician assistant.
But he says it is well worth missing his daily caffeine fix to get hands-on experience working with patients — particularly people from a completely different background.
“It’s so easy to talk to someone with the same background as you,” he admits. “The true test is to see if you can connect with someone you have virtually nothing in common with.”
[caption id="attachment_8251" align="alignright" width="450" caption="Monks line up to receive treatment for fungal infections. "][/caption]
Scott Stine, a UW-L staff member and adviser for the trip who has visited the countries multiple times, says American students may be surprised to learn how much they have in common with people across the world. Stine also took a group of UW-L students to India and Nepal in 2007. He looks forward to watching students grow not only in their medical preparation, but also in their cultural awareness.
“My goal is to go over there and experience as much as I can and take back as much as I can,” says Kaisersatt.
Emmer anticipates one way she’ll change is her ability to be compassionate.
“It’s one thing to have pity on people and it’s another thing to go and help them,” she explains.