This is week four and I have loved every minute here. Coming to Peru I had expectations, as everyone does going to a new place, and I can honestly say that it is very different than what I thought Peru to be like. Everything from the people, food, and culture is a new experience. Growing up my grandmother (my mom’s mother) took care of my siblings and me and with her I was able to learn Spanish as at young age. As I got older I (obviously) learned more and I always had a desire to travel to South America. With my mom being Ecuadorian and my father being Puerto Rican, I am able to adapt well to similar cultures and be thought of as one of their own. So my time in Peru has been eye opening, educational, and fun!
While in Peru, I have had many opportunities to give birth control immunizations to mothers by working with the obstetrician, Dr. Jorge; as well as work with kids with the pediatrician, Dr. Juan. Working with Dr. Juan I have continued to be able to listen to kids heart beats and lungs, examine their mouths, ears, and noses. My passion is helping and serving others and one day with my use of my medical degree, my focus being in pediatrics. I consider myself a kid at heart on that is care free, fun, and always filled with joy. Being able to work with kids has been amazing and one of my fortees! I am thankful and blessed to have such a gift, because kids are definitely not the easiest to handle at times. Working at the clinic in Moche with my roommate Sonam has been an experience I would have never been able to get in the states. Everyone at the clinic is so friendly and open/willing to teach and help us. It makes for a very comfortable learning – fun environment to come to and work in.
While living in Trujillo, I am living with a host family. The family consists of the following: Maria (mom), Fautso (aka Nelson, dad), and Nelson (son/ my new brother). The best thing about living with my Peruvian family is that Maria reminds me so much of my Ecuadorian grandma that I cannot help but love it here. Maria has been nothing loving, caring, and fun! She is my Peruvian mother, which is such a joy and blessing. As for as my host dad, he is something else. He likes to joke around all the time which is great because it keeps us laughing. They love to spoil their new daughter and it feels good. Getting to know both my Peruvian parents has been a great. The time I have gotten to spend with them gets better and better. I am going to be very sad when I have to leave. Peruvians care deeply about those who are family, and with only being with my family for only 4 weeks, I am like their daughter; always have been and always will be.
Trujillo, as if it is not beautiful enough, I have been able to travel to other places in Peru. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Huaraz. I was super excited to go and see how wonderful it is and everyone has said it is. When we arrived in Huaraz, I got pretty sick from the altitude. I got better as the trip went on, which was a blessing. On Saturday we went up to the black mountains. There we saw where the Inca culture people live, how they make purses, carpets, their day to day products that they sale for a living. The process is so awesome and unremarkable. We continued our day riding horseback up a trial to just hike to a wonderful waterfall. We then saw some ruins that are made out of stone where village people use to live. After sightseeing we stopped for lunch and then headed straight over to the hot springs. I shared a coza (a small private bath). The water was super hot but felt so good. Being in there for only five minutes I was already sweating. The weekend continued to be filled with fun. On Sunday we did the six hour hike. The view was so incredible. The hike up was exhausting mostly because I got altitude sickness. But it turned out to be a great day!!
My time here in Peru has been quite amazing!! I only have two weeks left here and it has gone by too fast.
SOMOS PERU!!! <3
Kristi Jamison
No comments:
Post a Comment