Te Recuerdo

​

Thank you medical team and alumni for giving me the time to reflect on our time in the clinic at

Ciudad on the alumni trip. It always takes me a couple of weeks to digest and reflect on the

events and the feelings I experienced and then try to write those feelings down on paper.

Thinking about our week in Coban the phrase that kept replaying in my mind were “Te

Recuerdo - I remember you”

. I had the good fortune to be a part of the student trip in May as

well as the Alumni trip in June. When I introduced myself to the patients during medication

counseling the patients would say ‘I remember you’

. I heard that from several patients during

the week. The patients remembered me from the previous trip in May and even some

remembered me from my previous years as a member on this trip. For me, it wasn’t just the

facial recognition of “I remember you”

, but it was also the feeling I had when I saw that patient

at the clinic. It is the bond we have shared over the years of getting to know each other as

friends and family members.

“I remember you” also struck me when I reconnected with the student alumni of Regis

University. The alumni were undergraduate students when they were on their first trip to

Guatemala. The memories easily came back to me when we were once again in Coban, at the

clinic in la Ciudad de La Esperanza. This time the students were now alumni and working as

medical professionals. It was such an honor to see the level of growth, knowledge, compassion,

and professionalism that each alumnus showed each day in clinic.

We had a few new members on our alumni team - their first time in Coban, in the clinic. They

stepped up and really shared their talents as interpreter, medical professional, and wonderful

friend to our project.

“I remember you” is a great phrase to hear. I’m going to change the Spanish tense just a little

and say Te Recordaré - I WILL remember you. Thank you medical team, alumni and the

beautiful friends and family at Ciudad. I had a wonderful, fill-my-heart experience this week.

And…

Te Recordaré!

Eric Bertelsen

Medical Team Pharmacis