Everything I Wanted- PACKED with Culture

As a pre-medical student, I went into this program and abroad experience with my mind set on one thing and one thing only: hands-on healthcare experience. I got ALL that I wanted from that along with a larger-than-life dose of rich culture that taught me so much about Peru, global perspectives and citizenship, and myself. I couldn't be happier with my experience.

Each day I had the opportunity to spend 6-8 hours in a rural clinic personally providing free or reduced fee healthcare services to the Peruvian population in need. Here, I administered vaccinations to all ages, took blood pressure, listened to breathing and other bodily functions through a stethoscope on a regular basis, and learned so much from communicating in Spanish with the doctors and nurses I worked with.

Following my daily intern hours, I went home to my beautiful host family who always greeted me with smiles, questions about my home, and lots and lots of traditional, delicious Peruvian dishes and treats. My host family (in addition to the other interns and ProWorld staff on-site) was my primary source in asking questions about the languages, fulfilling my curiosities about the culture or seeking a great place to dine, plaza to walk, or city to vacation. On days I received one-on-one Spanish lessons from a native speaker, I enjoyed spending time at the ProWorld office-house, where I was also welcomed with food, drink, and encouragement.

Yes. Vacation within a vacation, as I like to think of it. With the help of ProWorld staff and my host family, I was able to experience Peru in an even broader spectrum on the weekends when I was not interning in the clinic.

At no time throughout my experience did I feel as though I was not adequately supported, and I never felt unsafe. Peru has one of the most unique healthcare systems on the planet that I was fortunate to take part in, but the thriving culture and life outside of work is what will hopefully take me back in the future.