Projects Abroad Volunteer Programs in Mexico

Why did you pick this program?

The medical internship provided by Projects Abroad was a great way for me to gain some experience working in the medical industry while at the same time learning about the Mexican culture. Being from San Diego, I feel it is necessary for myself to not only speak Spanish, but to understand the cultural differences between persons who are primarily American versus those who are primarily Latin American.

In addition, working in hospitals in Mexico allowed me to receive more hands-on experience than I would have received in the United States. I was able to work with patients and participate in medical treatments with trained professionals.

What was the hardest part about going abroad?

The anticipation of living in a foreign country was frightening to me and made me question my decision to go abroad. However, Projects Abroad maintained contact with me prior to my trip and ensured that I knew what to expect and that any questions I had were answered.

It was difficult for me in the beginning (when I first signed up to live in Mexico) because I truly did not know what I had gotten myself into. I did not speak Spanish, I had never worked in a hospital, and I had never lived in another country. I was scared for the unknown and worried that I was in way over my head.

Yet as soon as Projects Abroad starting talking to me (which was right after I had signed up) I was assured by them that they would adequately prepare me for my trip and make sure that I was well taken care of.

The culture shock upon arriving in the country was difficult to deal with, yet I found that I was able to get over the initial shock once I started making friends with other volunteers and I started working in the hospital. I kept myself busy and established a life for myself in Mexico which made everything seem normal, even though I was very far from home.

What made this experience unique and special?

Working in a different culture and living among the locals was incredibly valuable to me. I learned so much about the Mexican culture that I could not have learned in America and I was able to interact with the Mexican people in a unique way. Because I was working in a hospital in Guadalajara, where regulations within the medical industry are more relaxed than in America, I was able to assist doctors by providing hands-on services and even work with patients on my own.

I was subjected to many different issues that would arise in the emergency room of a hospital and after some time, I was allowed to make my own decisions and take care of patients without having to refer to a professional.

It was incredibly valuable to me that I was able to learn by doing in the hospital and I truly felt like I was able to help people when they were in need. I was able to meet many different people on a daily basis and learn about their background and their families while I treated them as a patient. This allowed me to learn a lot about the culture and practice my Spanish.

Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.

While in Mexico, I took a trip to the coast with Projects Abroad where we would be working at a sea turtle reservation called Turtle Camp, near the city of Tecomán. While there, volunteers and I spent a day planting Mangroves near the coast and interacting with the employees who live at the sea turtle reservation.

One of the mornings we were there, I was allowed the opportunity to search for sea turtle eggs with one of the employees of the camp. At five in the morning, under a dark sky, he and I boarded an ATV and set out across the beach searching for turtle tracks that would designate a nearby nest. After finding a couple nests and collecting the eggs, we were riding into the darkness when I looked into the sky and saw the Milky Way galaxy for the very first time. There was absolutely no light pollution to hide the distant stars of the galaxy and it was an incredibly beautiful site.

Later that morning, we released some newly hatched sea turtles onto the beach and watched with elation as they worked their way towards the ocean. This was one of the greatest moments of my life, and certainly something that I would have never expected to experience.

My favorite travel memory was having the chance to visit the coffee farmers in the central jungle in Peru. I got to see the entire process of coffee farming and the realities and life stories of the families working there.

I was able to grow both personally and professionally by traveling abroad and experiencing different ways of life. I was taught the importance of working as a part of a team and getting to know the different staff members, personally or via email or Skype.