Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog. As some of you already know, I am busily preparing for a four-month long volunteer internship in La Plata, Argentina, beginning March 14. I'd like to take this opportunity to answer some basic FAQ's.
What will you do while you're there?
I have been placed with a non-profit organization called El Bohio. El Bohio is a therapeutic center that promotes physical and mental rehabilitation for drug addicts, alcoholics, and other socially marginalized individuals in need of support. During my time in the country, I will be collaborating with medical professionals to provide education, group therapy, and workshops to assist individuals with their transition to independent living. I will also be using my second language, Spanish, to communicate with others. For more detailed information, here's my offer letter: El Bohio
Where will you be living?
I will be placed with a host family that is required to provide a private room, three meals a day, purified water, and weekly washing of clothes.
Why are you doing this?
I love global health. I recently finished applying to eight different Masters programs in Global Health and Epidemiology. While I wait to hear back from schools, I decided I would use the time I have now to get practical global health experience. I chose an internship in Argentina for two major reasons: 1. It's an opportunity to become fluent in Spanish, a language I studied for four semesters in college but have not mastered. 2. Argentina, due largely to it's tumultuous economic and political history, has witnessed a spike in emotional disorders and substance-abuse problems in recent years. I believe mental disease is an overlooked aspect of global public health and I feel compelled to do something about it.
