Adventure | Mexican Memories

Fernanda, aged 2.

So as you already know, last summer I was given the opportunity to go on an Operation Smile medical mission to Ecatepec, Mexico. I've decided to add an "adventure" segment to my blog. I've already spoke about going on adventures and encountering new experiences, so I thought I might as well have a segment on this blog dedicated to adventure. Why not?

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Mexico was an adventure for me, that much I have already written about in previous posts. But something I never truly touched on, were the significant memories and stories I have of this trip. I met some sincerely wonderful people, and my trip would have been incomplete without them. From my team to the patients and their families, the people I met were all so different, yet we all had one goal: sharing a smile. Smiles are contagious, and one of the best gits anyone could give another person on a daily basis.

You know when you identify a certain smell with a place, trip, or memory? Well I have that with my mission. For me, the smell of my hand sanitiser reminds me of being in Mexico. I was using the HAND MAID™ hand cleansing gel by Soap & Glory™ from Boots. If anyone has ever tried it, you'll know that it has a rather fruity scent, so it sticks quite easily in your mind. That smell makes me just want to travel back in time to my mission in Mexico, and every time I smell it, memories flash by like a video reel.

Lately I have been thinking A LOT about the mission, and Operation Smile and their youth conferences. It makes me wish I could go this year, and the more I think  about it, the more I want to do mission training again to become a U-Voice volunteer (a university student who acts as a sort of journalist on a mission, blogging, taking photographs and writing down patient stories- my kind of thing!).

Team Ecatepec, México in front of the hospital.

Anyway, back to the memories, enough straying off topic! One memory that sticks clearly in my mind is when a grandmother, who's grandchild was going into surgery, was in buckets of tears. She came over to me, I think I might have led her to the flag where the parents could write to the team to thank them (although it's possible I was just standing around there when she came to me). We were standing in that hallway, when she approached me. She was in a state of anxiety, crying. She was speaking so fast I could barely understand, as it was in Spanish, but I could at least understand her anguish. I think I put my arms around her, while trying to comfort her, attempting to reassure her that everything would be alright. I felt so sympathetic towards her. She was worried, and it was just such a touching moment. She chose to confide in me, to tell me whatever she was trying to say to me (about which I was upset that I could not truly understand her), and I was honoured that she saw me in that way. It is moments like this that were the most moving. Amongst the smiles, the children and the tears, this is one of those memories that I will never forget.

Karina, aged 9, dressed up as a doctor.

I loved every bit of my mission, even the harder parts, and I will carry the memories with me for evermore. You know that saying "you don't always know/appreciate what you've got until it's gone" (amongst many different variations)? Well for me, the mission was a little like that. It went so fast it was hard to take it all in, and before I knew it, it was over and all that was left were memories, photos and lots and lots of stories. It really is something that I will treasure in my life, and looking back at every photo and video brings so many memories of joy and smiles.

So, in honour of all those wonderful people I met on my mission and through Operation Smile, I am sharing one great, BIG smile with all of you :) Pass it on, and I guarantee it will brighten someone else's day (as well as yours)!

Sarah :)