Back in 1956 I just
had finished my medicine studies in Mexico, my birthplace. I went to Chicago as
an exchange student to serve on a rotating internship at a small hospital
(South Shore); at this hospital I got better acquainted with the English
language, which is very different from what I learned back in my country. I
learned about a whole new world of medicine with lots of technology and
discipline. That was a year full of challenges and experiences, some good and
some bad; but I was lucky to have sympathetic colleagues and friendly patients
with the foreign doctors. Feeling like a child out of his natural environment
who was hardly speaking english; I still remember the patients who helped me
translate when I was on duty. I got marked that year in a positive way for all
my life because I realized that there is a side of medicine full of
opportunities and joyful people.
After that I became a
resident in a prestigious hospital (Michael Reese Medical Center), it was also
in Chicago “The Windy City”. With its open air concerts in Grant and Ravinia
parks, cultural events at the University of Chicago, Museums, the Loop and the Water
Tower, Berghoff’s, Bellini’s Café, Saturday nights at “Old town”, Uno’s and
Due’s pizza, and new Holydays for me like thanksgiving, the romantic evenings
at the lake shores and so on…
I had a real learning
experience in that hospital. The Professors shared with me all their knowledge,
experience, secrets, and the art in all disciplines of Anesthesiology. All of
this in exchange of hard work. They also honored
me with their friendship that will last forever.
Now I
can say those years were one of the happiest moments of my life. Nostalgia...
and memories still alive. As Robert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) said: are “Blowing in
the Wind”.
*Universidad de Guadalajara. Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. México.
gripstein19@hotmail.com
