Brittany Volunteer in Cusco, Peru Volunteers Abroad Reviews and Feedbacks http://feedback.abroaderview.org
My Favorite Memory:
I have a lot of favorite memories, but one of them is the time I got to spend with my host sisters. We became really close and got to travel around a little bit together, and after working at the orphanage we would go into the Plaza de Armas and grab coffee and walk around town for a little bit. Don’t write off your host family, really get to know them and spend time with them, because you’ll most likely make life long friends.
I was surprised that….
Cusco really isn’t all that different from any other populated city. They have internet, Starbucks, buses that take you to class, and plenty of restaurants and supermarkets. Also, there’s a lot of police officers around as well, so I always felt really safe.
The most difficult thing I experienced was….
Homesickness. I was in Ireland for four months before coming to Peru, and I noticed relatively quickly how much I missed my family and wanted to go home. If you’re only here for a few weeks though, you can definitely push through it.
My best received lesson…
Was at the orphanage, where everyday I learned something new. It’s quite eye opening to see girls as young as nine living in a home with 50 other girls because their parents either couldn’t or wouldn’t take care of them. You really learn to appreciate and value the things you have in your life.
Tip for future volunteers… (Clothing, travel, personal items, donations, sightseeing etc)
Pack light, and pack a lot of variations! One day you can be walking around in a tshirt and the next day you could be wearing five sweatshirts. Also, bring an umbrella and a rain jacket. I came during the rainy season so naturally I got rained on…a lot. As for donations, go to your place of work first and see what it is they need. I brought a dictionary one day because I don’t speak Spanish hardly at all, and many of the girls asked me to bring more for them. So just got and see what it is that is needed. Also, I strongly encourage not to bring things down with you, but to get them here. I got dictionaries here for less than five dollars, which back in the states would have easily cost 20 dollars a book.
Personal Paragraph
(Testimonial):
There are going to be a lot of challenges and a lot of struggles while volunteering, but you just have to roll with the punches because I promise that it is absolutely worth it. Getting to spend time with the girls is one of the best experiences of my life. Some days were great, some days were really hard, but you just have to work your way through it. I also found while working at my particular orphanage, they don’t really tell you what to do, so you just have to kind of make your own way. Sit down next to a kid and start talking to them. Ask them about their life, what they want you to help them with, and do the best you can. I liked that it was a bit unstructured because then you really get to do what you think will make the most impact.
How would you rate your experience working
with the ABV staff, both in the USA, and in-country?
10! The ABV staff is absolutely wonderful. I started planning my trip almost a year in advance and Sarah was with me every step of the way to ensure that I had the greatest experience possible.
How would you describe your accommodation (ie: host family, on-site, shared housing etc)
Like I said earlier, my host family really became my family. We went on trips together on the weekends, and we talked constantly. We went out together and we had a great time. Really open up and get to know them, because my host sisters really became like a real family to me.
Are you willing to speak to other potential ABV volunteers?
Yes absolutely, as a matter of fact I encourage it! I didn’t beforehand, and I really wish I would have because I think I would have had a better idea of what to expect instead of going off the biases I had already formed in my mind. So please, don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d be more than willing to talk to you!
from Volunteers Abroad Reviews and Feedbacks http://feedback.abroaderview.org/2012/02/23/brittany-volunteer-in-cusco-peru/
