Máximo Nivel - Valuable Experiences and Lasting Memories

I interned as a medical student with Máximo Nivel during the summer of 2017. It was honestly one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, and prepared me professionally for my career in the future.
I lived in Cusco for 6 weeks and during that time I took Spanish classes and interned at a health clinic in Oropesa, about an hour outside of Cusco. At the clinic I was very hands-on with patients which allowed me to physically interact with the patients and provide healthcare in a form that would not be possible in the USA. My main duties included triage, helping doctors with pre-operative care, recording vitals, and assisting in medical emergencies.
My most cherished experience was when I was able to provide medical care during an emergency. A man came in with a big laceration across his chest from an accident with an electrical saw. When I was observing the doctors and assisting with the gauze, one of the doctors called me to the side of the patient's bed and handed me a suture and told me he was going to teach me how to sew stitches. I was shaky at first but after a couple knots my confidence grew and I was closing up a patients chest all by myself! All in all I performed about 15-20 sutures across his wound.
Máximo Nivel also provided Spanish classes that greatly improved my fluency and confidence while talking to locals in the community. The teacher's were energetic, student-oriented, and seemed to love their jobs! You can even choose to leave the classroom and have your Spanish class with your teacher in different places around Cusco. This allows you to practice your conversational skills outside the classroom, where it really matters, such as at a museum, a restaurant, a local market, or any other place!
The homestay that I lived at for 6 weeks was wonderful. The family was so loving and genuinely nice. They prepared meals for us twice a day and invited us to their personal activities such as mass and family reunions. The food was delicious, the sleeping and showering accommodations were super comfortable and my housemates became family to me after just a short time.
During the weekends I was able to visit different cities and landmarks around Cusco. Macchu Pichu was, of course, awesome in the truest sense of the word. The experience on Lake Titicaca was extraordinary and introduced new cultures. The salt mines were mesmerizing and the Amazon Jungle was a wonderland for animal-lovers like me.

Overall, this experience was jam packed with new experiences and educational opportunities. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone who is looking for an experience that will develop professional skills, reinforce your love for world cultures, and make you a more-rounded and better human being.