Peru Medical Spanish : Testimonials (Cusco)
The following program testimonial responses have been selected for publication by UGA StudyAway
Final Reflection Questions
What were the most significant take-aways from your experience?
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I thoroughly enjoyed being able to experienced the Peruvian culture through the wonderful home stay. The hospital internship was also great experience and allowed me insight into the Peruvian healthcare system.
— Catriona Geddes, Maymester 2016 |
What were the most significant take-aways from your experience?
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One of the most significant take-aways from my experience in Peru was just being able to see and live in a culture that is significantly different than ours. It was a great experience getting to talk and immerse myself in the Peruvian culture and experiences all aspects from it ranging from mannerisms to cuisine to customs. It was also a great experience learning about the health care system in the country and being able to travel to all the different clinics and hospitals around Trujillo; it gave a great perspective about how people in the United States are more fortunate than they believe in terms of having access to good health care.
— Raman Shrestha, Maymester 2016 |
What were the most significant take-aways from your experience?
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Prior to this trip, I did not really know anything about South America in general, and I definitely did not really know anything about Peru. During the trip I learned about the politics of Peru, their healthcare system, and just their general lifestyle as well as how the interact and view the other South American countries. It was a wonderful experience in that it truly expanded my world view, and it improved my Spanish my leaps and bounds.
— Sophia Watkins, Maymester 2016 |
What were the most significant take-aways from your experience?
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I think I took away the ability to help bridge the gap between Spanish-speaking patients and the American health care system. I have learned so much about Latin American culture. I have improved my Spanish speaking ability so that I feel comfortable having conversations with Spanish speakers about medical issues, which I know will be a huge asset in med school and my career. I also feel that I have become more open-minded as a result of being immersed in this other culture that is so different than ours and have been able to observe things the Peruvian health care system does exceptionally well, even though it is much different than ours.
— Virginia Olivier, Maymester 2017 |
What are your words of advice to students considering this program?
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Make the most of every experience in the hospitals, even if it seems like not much is going on. You can learn a lot from seemingly simple cases. Pack more pants than shorts because Trujillo gets windy even when it seems warm. Spend as much time as possible talking to your host family; this will really help you improve your Spanish speaking skills. Be prepared to feel sick at some point during the trip (it's bound to happen) and bring all the medications you need. Really try your best when writing reflections because these will be useful not just for writing the final paper but for looking back on your experience when you need to talk about it in applications or interviews.
— Virginia Olivier, Maymester 2017 |
How did the experience impact you and your future educational/career/personal goals?
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This experience has definitely encouraged me to travel to more Spanish speaking countries and spend more time there. I am especially interested in working or volunteering again in a Spanish speaking country. I feel that my knowledge of Spanish terms will be very helpful to me in my medical career, and I am excited to be able to communicate more effectively with Spanish speaking patients. The trip also helped me make the decision to apply to medical school rather than PA or nursing. It has helped me to have clarity and confidence about my career decision.
— Virginia Olivier, Maymester 2017 |