Alumni Spotlight: Meg Uplinger

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First, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Meg Uplinger, I spent 2 years in Guyana from July 2006 - July 2008. I am currently at Grant Writer at Jericho Road Ministries, a post-refugee resettlement organization in Buffalo, NY. In May 2012, I will begin Nursing School Full-Time. I am from a small town outside of Buffalo, NY, but have fallen in love with the city and plan to spend a significant amount of time living and working here. It is a beautiful place with amazing people!

Why did you decide to volunteer with Mercy Volunteer Corps in Guyana?

I remember being a part of the international exchange club in high school and being very interested and excited about meeting people from other places and wanting to "see the world." In college, I was able to study abroad in Spain and it confirmed my passion for learning about other places and meeting new people. As graduation came closer, I started to explore some post-graduate volunteer opportunities.

I looked into several organizations, but I felt like MVC was the best fit. Whether I went abroad or stayed domestically, I felt that this is the organization I would like to be a part of. Something funny is that after studying abroad in Spain, I decided to major in Spanish....and then after college I spent two years in the only English speaking country in South America! haha ...and I don't regret a single second of it!

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

My experience was somewhat atypical. There are three "sites" that volunteers are eligible to work at, Mercy Wings Vocational and Day Care Center, Saint John Bosco Boys Orphanage and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital. I had the pleasure of working in all of these locations.

My first year was spent working as the "Accountant" and "First Level Math Instructor" in the mornings and as an after-school homework assistant for 7-12-year-old boys at the orphanage in the afternoons. In my second year, I stayed at the orphanage in the afternoons and worked in an HIV clinic at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in the mornings.

The weekends were spent exploring the city, enjoying the Guyanese life, going to the market, taking the boys swimming at the public pool, and "liming on the seawall." Liming is what the Guyanese say when they want to "hang out". And, I learned to fall in love with "liming".

What made this experience unique and special?

One of the things that made this program unique was the instant support system we had in the country. The Sisters of Mercy were there for us, inviting us for dinner, taking us to parties, and helping us through the holidays without our "traditional" families. I also loved living with other Mercy Volunteers. I consider my old community-mates as some of my best friends. We experienced so many things and although community life is sometimes difficult, those are some of the friendships that I value the most.

How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

Upon returning from my experience, I immediately entered Graduate School for what I wanted to study prior to my experience in Guyana. As I began to re-enter into my community, I realized that this was not the path I wanted to take in my life. I really enjoyed being back in school, but my experience working at an HIV clinic motivated me to explore a career in Nursing.

I finished my grad program and have since enrolled in a Nursing Program to become a Registered Nurse. I attribute this career change to my time in Guyana. It has helped me to stay true to my values and explore things I would not have ordinarily looked into.