Orientation day!

So! Second day. It was good because I got a full, restful night of sleep (except those couple times some of the other volunteers were up and louding. You do you guys) and we did some walking after breakfast. We walked and bought things with money at a market that was about 10 minutes away from where we're staying. I met more people! People are basically in and out a bunch here as this is a base site for Máximo Nivel for them to send volunteers to the Andes or Jungle or....places (how ominous huh?). But in all seriousness I will gush forever about how awesome Máximo Nivel is, they are legit and responsible and great and I love them. Also major props and gushing to IVHQ for organizing this and keeping in touch with me too. LOVE ALL OF YOU!

Gushing/product placement aside I do feel really excited to be here with all these different people-it's also nice because it reaffirms the idea that yeah, people are good and interesting and lovely.  Not just the other volunteers and staff but also people in general. Of course there have been some creepers but they seem to know to no me jobas. Have fun translating that and famfam I learned that from Máximo Nivel so I can use it. Hopefully I won't have to use it!

The orientation was Awesome. Yeah. Because not only did they tell us basic info about Perú, IVHQ, Máximo Nivel and the general expectations we can have for our programs they talked about sexual assault and how it can happen to men. Yeah, men and women who believe rape isn't something that happens to men, men CAN get raped. The presentation also included the fact that the people who sexually assault others are close to their victims and we were told to be wary of our "friends." Of course there are ways the sexual assault part could've been better but my expectations aren't that high. Because 'merica.

There were also general safety rules, like the best way not to get robbed and how you can stow away your belongings at Máximo Nivel for safe keeping if necessary. The presentation was about an hour long total but there was an extra 20 minutes for medical volunteers like moi. And then I took the Spanish placement test so I will hopefully be starting that soon like....next week! There was also a building tour and a little tour of the area surrounding Máximo Nivel's office. It was awesome, questions are encouraged and I feel like I will always have a ton of them.

After orientation I was so tired I had to go back "home." But I may go out tonight before my 7 a.m. site visit tomorrow, hopefully I'll get to bed by midnight. Anyways....

Until next time!

-Syd

Some things I wish I had known: bring scrubs that aren't white, maroon, turqoise or some other color. I think blue are okay, there's a color system where the colors indicate what kind of practitioner you are. But also, they have scrubs here sooooooo you could potentially wait to get scrubs.