The Next Time I Go to Latin America by Amy Nuismer

From my archives–

3.14.2012

Amy and I wrote  in our notebooks the other night at Hartford Coffee.  Here’s one of the pieces she penned…  

The Next Time I Go to Latin America It Will Be To…  

Practice.  Practice the art of being a place that makes my spirit feel at ease.  Practice patience within myself, with slowing down the pace.  Practice getting grounded, smelling the smells-the exhaust and the floras. To drink in the greeness, the rolling landscape & stars.  More stars than seem possible, sitting on that hill in El Sitio & gazing upward.  In good company & full of love, my life sprawling out before so much possibility…& now I choose to loosen my grip on the past.  Practice.   Next time I will be an MD.  Dr. Amy my family will squint their eyes, act strange for approximately 15 minutes until they place my face…a flicker or remembrance or so I can hope…I would put money on Bilma.  God I wonder if she ever went to nursing school, if Chepe still wears that bandana & a charming smile.  I will practice my skill, clinica Ana Manganaro & see patients. Maybe feel a place there again.  I will practice walking humbly.  Practice breathing every moment of awareness, slow down now you crazy loon.   Next time I will practice riding the bus with even greater authenticity-being so alone & unknown yet so content.  It wasn’t just the novelty…  

–Amy Nuismer will soon finish her third year at the SLU Medical School.

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