Best friends Michaela and Rachelle, both students at Boise State University, are going on a month long Quest to Peru this summer. Both Michaela and Rachelle are extremely passionate about volunteering, and have made giving back to their community a top priority. This will be their first time volunteering abroad, and we could not be more excited for them.
United Planet: How did you hear about United Planet?
Michaela: “After searching online and looking at the United Planet website, I checked out United Planet’s Instagram page. I loved seeing the stories and photos of the people who volunteered abroad with United Planet. In fact, through Instagram I connected with Melanie, a volunteer who is currently on a Quest in Peru. Talking to one of your volunteers really helped me make the decision, and we have been communicating ever since. Melanie has provided me with tips of what to do and eat, and it has definitely made me less nervous about the trip.”
UP: What originally motivated you to consider volunteering abroad?
M: “I have a passion for travel, but I have never been abroad, and want to be pushed outside of my comfort zone. However, I did not just want to travel, but do something meaningful.“
Rachelle: “My desire to travel and work with children, since my degree is general education/special education with a math endorsement. I feel it is very important for any student to get out and see the world and experience the different cultures and traditions.”
UP: What Quest are you doing? Why that specific Quest?
R: “We will be staying in Cusco and working at an orphanage a few miles away from where we will be living.”
M: “I always knew I wanted to be a social worker, and currently I work with a lot of Spanish speaking families. Therefore, I wanted to go on a Quest that would allow me to work with children and improve my Spanish.
UP: What are you most looking forward to?
M: “I want an authentic, immersive experience, so interacting with the locals and working with and learning from the children in the orphanage is what I am most excited about.”
R: “I am very excited to see and experience the culture of Peru! I cannot wait to interact with people and practice my Spanish. Machu Picchu will also be an amazing site as it is one of the wonders of the world. The pictures of it are astonishing; I cannot wait to experience it in real life. I am curious about all the llamas/alpacas that seem to almost wander the city in this area. I am just ecstatic to experience their culture!”
UP: If you could have one superhero power what would it be?
M: “To fly! Then I could travel without the cost.”
R: “I would want the ability to be able to make people believe anything.”
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
