Home at Last!
I made it back to the USA. I’m safe and sound, but missing Peru terribly. By completely immersing myself into Peruvian culture, I learned so much about family, healthcare, and about myself. And now, I finally have some pictures to prove it!
This is a picture of my Peruvian family. There were a total of ten people living in my house- and this is not atypical! I had a Peruvian mom and dad, who were actually about the same age as my grandparents. Two of their three children also lived at home with their respective spouses. Finally, the housekeeper and her 15-year-old daughter lived in the back of the house. As if the house wasn’t crowded enough, the eldest son lived across the street with his wife and two children. Needless to say, they were always over. There was always somebody home and something going on at the house. This was great because there were plenty of opportunities for me to practice my Spanish and to pick their brains about life in Lima.
I went to Peru primarily to volunteer in a medical clinic. I took a forty-minute bus ride each day from my middle class neighborhood into the poorest district of Lima. The clinic was not a hospital, but rather, provided primary care, such as dentistry and check-ups, for adults and children alike. 
I worked primarily in triage, which is where the patients went after admission, but before seeing the doctors. We checked their vitals and ran simple tests such as weight, temperature and blood pressure. It was our responsibility also to make note of why the patients were visiting, and then to transfer the charts accordingly. Here, I am measuring a young boy who came in for his annual check-up.
Surprisingly, on this trip I learned a lot about myself. I’ve been living on my own for two years now, but I realized how much growing and maturing I still need to do. I guess that Vanderbilt dorm life is really plush (and I wouldn’t change it for anything!). At Vanderbilt, after the first week or so, I am constantly surrounded by familiar faces and I have a pretty rigid routine. All of my meals are provided, I always have hot water and I am NEVER forced to take public transportation. Naturally, when I got to Peru, my world was turned upside down. I suddenly became more easy-going and carefree. Life there was simpler, yet more challenging. My family lived and worked at a much slower pace, without using their iPhones at the dinner table, or recording their favorite HBO series. This was a difficult adjustment for me because I rely so heavily on technology at home. Obviously, my real family was not with me, and I missed them. But, when all was said and done, my experience was incredible and I am already looking into doing it again!