Carolyn from Louisville, Kentucky

Education Volunteer

A: What do you do back in the US?

C: I go to the University of Kentucky. I’m double majoring in Spanish and International Studies with a concentration in politics of the Middle East.

A: Has your Spanish improved here?

C: Teaching English has definitely improved my Spanish because I’m forced to speak Spanish all the time, there’s no getting around it. And my homestay family has helped a lot with comprehension; they’re pretty fast paced when they are speaking.

A: What did you enjoy most about living with a host family?

C: I really like hanging out with my little host sister, it was definitely interesting to hear about life from the point of view of a 12 year old Peruvian girl.

A: What is the most rewarding aspect of volunteering?

C: Definitely seeing the progress of the students. I’ll see them around town and they’ll speak English to me. It makes me so happy. It’s more than a student teacher relationship; I’m friends with some of the students.

A: What do you do in your free time?

C: I go running a lot. I ran in a marathon in Pacasmayo, close to Trujillo, in northern Peru. It was so beautiful running through the desert. And coming down from this altitude it was so easy to breathe there, I loved it.

A: What are your plans upon leaving Awamaki?

C: I will be studying abroad in Chile for the next couple of months. When I get back I still have a year and a half left in school. I really hope to find a part time job where I can use my Spanish skills. I’m thinking about working at a legal clinic that helps immigrants gain their citizenship.

A: What are you going to miss most about Ollanta?

C: I’m going to miss the constant surprises. You’re always learning here. I’ll miss the sense of adventure I’ve found in ziplining, hiking, and exploring ruins; there are so many things to do.