Klemm Fellowship-Delving into the Medicine and Culture of Mongolia: The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

During the month of December, I traveled on a Klemm medical internship to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Immersing myself in this unique Asian country, I learned a lot about its medical system and culture. As a developing country, Mongolia has a much different health care system than the one seen in the U.S. It was amazing to learn about it while also making an impact. My favorite part was the community outreach: I delivered free medical care (taking vital signs and providing medications) to homeless individuals in Ulaanbaatar. The cultural experience is one that I will never forget. Living with a host family for three weeks and learning the Mongolian language, I truly felt like a "Mongolian" during my stay. My host family (mom, dad, and sister) were very welcoming and taught me a lot about their customs, traditions, and lifestyle. In addition, my Mongolian language teacher was supportive and encouraging, and her lessons were pivotal to my success in navigating the public transportation system, ordering food, and having conversations with the local people. Lastly, traveling to the countryside, I enjoyed living the life of a nomad: riding a horse and staying in a ger. This trip was a magical one, and I will forever cherish the memories I made.