Guatemala 2017

I did the medical program in Santa Lucia, Guatemala in January 2017. It was not my first time in America Latina, but it was my first volunteering, and I don't think that I could have found a better program and location. The staff at Maximo Nivel is simply amazing: they are bilingual (which is reassuring), they are enthusiastic and energetic. On my first day volunteering, a member of the staff came with me at my placement, showing me how to get there with public transportation. This was very appreciated since the "chicken buses" in Antigua can be pretty scary (very crowded). At my placement, I was doing the pre-consultations with another volunteer; I weighed them, measured their height, blood pressure, temperature and pulse. I really think that my volunteering was helpful to the medical staff, since we were more efficient and more patients could consult with the doctor in a single day. Maximo also organized free activities where you had the chance to meet people/volunteers from all around the world; an example is the guacamole (delicious) and salsa night. I personally think that one of the key elements that can definitely improve your experience abroad is learning the local language (at least the basics), since it will allow you to communicate more easily with locals, thereby making your trip even more amazing.