solo travel

Week 3: Persistence in Peru

Week 3: Persistence in Peru

The highlight of the workshop this week was learning about the electrical and digital sides of the turbine. This included setting up a circuit that made use of the current generated from the turbine mounted on the roof of the workshop. I gained hands-on experience as I connected the components together and asked about their purpose, learning useful technical information.

Week 1: Perspiring in Peru

Week 1: Perspiring in Peru

Over the weekend, I mingled with the other volunteers – Sofia, Harris and Danny, and climatized to the area. We had a great time, as we relaxed at the beach, played pick up football with locals and shared a large gladiator pizza in the evening. All of us were prepared and excited for the upcoming working week.

Preparing for Peru

Preparing for Peru

It will be rewarding and life-changing yet I am out abroad for the longest time I have been and first on my own with unfamiliar people - perhaps like first arriving at university! I am looking forward to being in a new culture and the challenges that will come with it.

Stay Calm and Don’t Panic

Stay Calm and Don’t Panic

In school, most students going into a medical profession will learn some "cardinal rules of medicine". These “rules” are there to help you when things get tough and also to make sure you can help patients as best you can. This week, one of these rules, Rule #2, was tested out as I helped deliver a set of twins to a sweet first time mother.

When a Picture Can't Capture an Experience

When a Picture Can't Capture an Experience

They say pictures are worth a thousand words, and I'm sure many people would argue that they're worth more, but for me, this experience, this memory, this moment, was worth a million, and that's far too many for one picture to show.

Getting Over Expectations

Getting Over Expectations

You might be wondering “Well, if things went so great, then why did you title this post “Getting Over Expectations?”. While Murchinson was awesome and I would recommend it to anyone, what we didn’t expect was where we stayed Friday night when we first got to the park.

Acclimation Awkwardness

Acclimation Awkwardness

The big difference with being in Uganda is that all of that awkwardness is multiplied by being in a new country, learning a new culture, and being around people that don’t always speak English well.

Jitters of Excitement

Jitters of Excitement

New adventures have always been one of my favorite things, especially when it involves traveling to a new country. Since starting PA school at MUSC 2 years ago, traveling and volunteering haven’t exactly been the easiest things to do. So when I found out that I could combine my love of traveling and volunteering with school, I jumped at the unique opportunity to go to Uganda.