a su corazón

I did it. I joined the millions of folks posting their thoughts and experiences on the internet and got a blog. I’m a little surprised at myself, but I want to be able to share my experience working in Roatan with all of the people that are supporting me. So… here goes nothin’!

I thought I would take this first post to explain the title of my blog and quote above. Nelson Mandela is reported to have said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart” during negotiations with the Apartheid. 

I absolutely agree with his statement.

I spent the last four years studying Spanish and Portuguese. I studied in Brazil and in Chile and in the USA with professors from all over the world. One of the most profound things that I have learned is that language is fundamental to who we are. It is not only formed by grammar structures and vocabulary (and believe me, I’ve taken plenty of classes that covered those areas), but it is composed of our culture, our social and economic background, our age.

When I think about going to work in health care in the future, I believe that my background in language is going to be absolutely essential to providing care.  I want to connect with individuals and communities in their language, which not only varies around the world, but also varies in the United States. It varies depending on culture, social and economic background, and age. Sally Okun, an RN who started a health-oriented social network, recently discussed the importance of learning the language of patients (what she calls the “patients’ lexicon”) in a wonderful Ted Talk at TedMed this year. Check it out:

I am excited to go to Roatan to better my Spanish, to bridge the language barrier between volunteer physicians in the clinic and patients, and to ultimately help provide better care for patients and their families. While I’m there, I think I’ll get a better idea of what Nelson Mandela said and that I will truly learn what it means in health care to speak with someone in a way that goes a su corazón.