Age: 21

What work did you do while on the program?

I worked both in a clinic on a rotation and in a physical/sensorial therapy institute for children with cerebral lesions. My work was very challenging but extremely rewarding. The people I worked with loved having me around. We had so much fun together. I worked 7-8 hours a day, but it felt like nothing. Work there was so much fun.

What was your accommodation?

I lived in a homestay. It was a very nice little home very close to the ocean. I had my own room, which was very comfortable. The family I lived with was very accommodating. The homestay program is great because you really do get immersed into life there. You eat the food, you speak the language, and you socialize with people who live there.

Did you travel while you were there?

I spent a weekend up north on the shore in a city called Trujillo. It was great! We stayed in Huanchaco, which is a cute little beach town. We also toured many of the ruins. I also spent 10 days traveling through the Sierra, up to Cusco, and I did a 5 day trek to Machu Picchu through the Andes. It was amazing to walk to Machu Picchu. It blows you away to think you are doing the same things that people living there did hundreds of years ago.

What is your top tip for future participants?

Be patient. It can be scary at first, but you will get accustomed to life there. It is a great opportunity.

What do you miss about your host country?

Before I left for Peru I was very excited. I was finally going to be able to use my Spanish, which I had been studying for years. I was also very excited to be totally immersed in the culture there. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but after a few days I felt very comfortable. Everyone was very helpful. By the time a month had passed, I couldn’t believe it. It went by so quickly. I didn’t want to leave. I had made so many great friends, and had grown so much as a person.

What's your best story from your travelling?

My favorite memory is my last day at work at the neurological institute. I didn’t know it, but all the staff and Miguel’s mother had planned a surprise party for me. Miguel is the little boy with whom I worked the whole time I was there. So anyhow, the day started as usual, but when it was lunch time, they made me close my eyes as I went into the dining room. When I opened my eyes, everyone was there. There was a huge spread of food and a few different cakes. The institute director gave a little speech and presented me with a certificate. Then I had the pleasure of presenting the institute with $100 dollars American to help with their expenses. This money was part of the fee I paid for the program, and it felt so good to be able to give that to them, especially when I had learned first hand how much that little money could help them. So my last day at the Institute ended with a big party among some of the best people I’ve ever met. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.