Fleeting Friends

A blog post by Adam. I've been volunteering at the clinic for eight weeks and in that time I've already seen twenty international volunteers come and go.

Most of the other volunteers are students from Columbia University, either from the medical or nursing schools. They've generally come to the clinic for about a month and work on various projects, from helping with various research studies to helping with promotional and educational materials. They also spend a good amount of time shadowing doctors and other clinic staff.  I've enjoyed meeting the students and they have generally impressed me with their strong work ethic and interest in the clinic.

This constant stream of students is somewhat overwhelming. I was just getting to know the first group of students when they left. And then there were the international camp volunteers who came and went. Now, just as I learned the names of a group of eight nursing students they too left. How strange this must be for the clinic staff, as so many groups have filtered through the clinic over the years. It seems like it might make the staff's work more difficult and the patient experience less comfortable but perhaps at this point the constant ebb and flow of students has just become another part of the clinic environment, like the clinic's intermittent Internet.

For me it's been a great opportunity to meet a wide range of interesting intelligent young adults (most of the students are in their mid twenties). Unfortunately, in such short time frames, it has been impossible to to really becoming friends with any of them.  For example, Charlie's exit, which was the first departure I experienced, feels like a missed opportunity. A Peace Corps Volunteer from the Northwest, he was funny, smart, and generous. He liked the outdoors and yucca, and actually recommended a rustic eco-lodge where we'll be staying during our upcoming trip with Jorge and Mina. Charlie also gave us a ton of things as he cleaned out his apartment, which we have thoroughly enjoyed (Thanks Charlie!):

A sampling of the loot from Charlie

I think Charlie and I could have become friends, but alas he left 10 days into my volunteer assignment. I was left with hopes for what might have been along with many of his belongings. It makes it hard to invest a lot in relationships with other students knowing that they too will soon leave (although my understanding is that several of the incoming students will be here for much longer stints). With our temporary stay in the DR quickly passing I can't help but wonder if Dominicans look at us like I now look at the other volunteers. And how will this impact our ability to make real friendships, with foreigners and Dominicans alike?