Perú, 2014
La Costa
Lima, Ica, Paracas
The capital of Peru known as "Lima La Gris" is a colorful haven of raucous traffic, wafting smells of anticucho vendors, and alpaca sweater shops. From 2014-2015, I had the pleasure of living in Lima and getting to know the city intimately as my home away from home.
Los Andes
Piura, Huancayo, Arequipa, Cusco
During my Master’s research practicum, I traveled to northern Peru with Peace Corps volunteers, Peruvian scientists from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, and researchers at Johns Hopkins University. I participated in an on-going epidemiological study that evaluated the risk factors of parasitic diseases in rural communities. Taenia solium, a tapeworm commonly transmitted through uncooked pork, is highly prevalent in these communities, causing nutritional deficiencies in children and late-onset seizures in adults. I also had the opportunity to travel throughout the Andean region, taking in the natural beauty of the country and participating in traditional festivals.
La Selva
Pulcallpa, San Fransisco
Like a copper serpent, the Ucayali River weaves it’s way down through the eastern part of Peru. This region of Pulcalpa is less frequented by tourists compared to Iquitos to the North. Nonetheless, it is a jewel of the Peruvian Amazon, glistening with natural beauty. The indigenous Shipibo communities living along the Ucayali have a profound spiritual connection with the earth. While living with a local family and volunteering with an environmental NGO to replant banana trees, I learned about the power of community and the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world.
