I have already passed the one-week mark and quickly approaching the end of my second. For almost 2 more weeks I will be living in Lima, which is located on the coast and home to nearly 1/3 of the population of Peru. It goes without saying that it’s a busy place. While my plans remain quite open ended, I have found a volunteer opportunity at a hostel in the Miraflores neighborhood. In the mornings I help prepare the breakfast while also helping with various housekeeping duties (although I’m not sure how much help I am since almost every bed I make gets remade. I’ve also become even less helpful since I had to get 4 stitches on my finger after cutting it on a glass).
Miraflores is one of the most well-known neighborhoods. It’s filled with beautiful homes, parks, lots of shops, and a nice coastal view. It’s also one of the safest neighborhoods for anyone reading this who might be worried about that (ahem Mom :-D). Just blocks from my hostel is a wonderful park that follows the coast. Most of my mornings have begun with an early morning run with the waves crashing below. Got to stay in shape to prepare for the altitude and mountain hikes ahead! I have met so many wonderful people in Lima from all over the world…Germany, Venezuela, Holland, Canada, Uruguay, the States, the list goes on. Being able to converse with people from various cultures and share our experiences, opinions and of course some laughs has been unforgettable. I’m very much looking forward to what else this country has in store for me. So having already been here a week one would hope I’ve done more than wash dishes and chat with foreigners. Let's see…explored the historic old center with a local walking tour, tried Pisco (national drink of Peru made from grapes), visited a museum explaining the history of the Shining Path (communist terrorist group that carried out various atrocities against the people of Peru, predominantly between 1980-2000), eaten 4 of the 4,000 different types of potatoes in Peru, got an insiders perspective of the medical care system (wasn’t exactly on my to-do list), put together a puzzle with some local children at an after-school program, eaten ceviche and of course the memories will only continue to grow.
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Since my last entry quite a bit has changed…instead of dreading the question “So what do you do?”, I look forward to sharing my new identity: a master’s in public health student. Typically, that’s followed by explaining exactly what it is that I’m studying but that’s a response I look forward to giving. My focus is in global health and health disparities which means my love of travel can be an integral part of my future career. I’m not quite sure what led me down this path nor was I aware of what I was getting myself into when applying to go back to school, but I have been pleasantly surprised.
So why exactly have I started up my blog again? As I’m sure you can surmise, I’m heading to Peru! This adventure is unrelated to my studies but an opportunity to improve my Spanish, a chance to explore a novel land and an experience to open my eyes to a new culture. After spending almost a solid year and a half in the same state, it was time to get out of my routine and my comfort zone. When I purchased my flight back in April, I had envisioned an internship or volunteer opportunity. While it may not have worked out that way, I know the next months of my life will be a wonderful learning experience. Since I’ll still be enrolled in an online course, I can’t stray too far from civilization or at least a WiFi connection. My departure is scheduled for August 21st and even though my schedule may be blank now, I have no doubt my trip will be filled with memorable moments and unforgettable experiences. While I may not have a formal volunteer opportunity lined up in Peru, three months of adventures will be followed up by a 7-month internship…back to South America! From the end of November until the end of June I’ll be in Ecuador. I am not only utilizing this to fulfill academic credits, but more importantly as an opportunity to contribute. FIMRC (Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children) emphasizes the importance of integrating volunteers into the community and working towards creating sustainable change. I’m extremely grateful for the upcoming opportunity to be involved with such an incredible organization and cannot wait to volunteering my time. FIMRC has provided me with a link that directly contributes to my fees if you would like to support my time there. If you have any interest, I have included a link below. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and follow my adventures across the globe! FIMRC Alyssa Valentine Fundraising Page |
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