Buenos Dias! My name is Brianna Ungaro. I am a junior at Arizona State University in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. I was raised in Houston, Texas by an Italian-American Family. I love to travel, attend music festivals, and attempt arts and crafts and painting.
Withered potted plants, pavement too hot for pets to walk on, air conditioning that seems to run nonstop. These are just a few of the things that are part of my new "normal" as I spend my second summer as a Phoenix transplant. I love it here in the Valley but I have certainly learned to change my habits during July and August. No more walking home from work, keeping oven mitts in my car in case I have to park in the sun for any length of time, and generally just cutting back on physical activities are just a few of the changes I've made this summer.
Working in the Umbasbama village was perhaps the most rewarding part of the study abroad experience.
Machu Picchu was astonishing! I could not believe that I actually got to see one of the seven wonders of the world!
We hiked Machu Picchu mountain, a hike that challenged us to climb 219 flights of stairs...it was definitely worth the time and effort!
During the tour, I learned that Incan medicine emphasizes holistic practices in which equilibrium of the mind, body, and soul is the most important aspect of health.
The first thing the villagers did upon our arrival was place flower lays on us, take our hands, and dance about their main plaza to music and song.
I was amazed at how they welcomed us like family. It didn’t matter that we were from different countries and spoke different languages. Smiling, dancing, and small exchanges of Spanish were enough to create multicultural bonds.
The mud stoves we constructed created another domain of compassion and vulnerability, as the Umbasbama people willingly let us enter their homes for service work.
During my first week in Lima, I ventured to Miraflores, The Museo Convento de San Francisco y Catacumbas, some temple ruins and a public health collaborative meeting covering National Peruvian health and illness.
¿Quien es Alana Herman?
Hola, I am Alana Herman, one of the bubbliest, nerdiest people you will ever meet. I’m a nursing major as well as a third generation Sun Devil taking pride in my family’s ASU legacy and my commitment to serve the community as a future nurse.
During my time visiting and serving in the village of Umasbamba, I have learned about the importance of weaving. Weaving is extremely important for the village culturally as well as financially. Many of the women have learned to weave beautiful pieces from the older women in their communities or from small schools. One of these handmade pieces can take more than a month to make. They start with cleaning the wool of a sheep. After cleaning the wool, they use natural dyes from flowers and plants to make different shades and hues.
My day in the clinic was extremely exciting because it was my first clinical experience in a hospital outside of the United States. My favorite part of this day was working in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department. I was able to assist with prenatal assessments and examinations with the help of the doctor. I believe that this experience will be valuable in my future as a Labor and Delivery nurse. My classmates and I also had the opportunity to work in the Emergency Area where we helped with assessments, wound care, and observed the doctor repair a laceration with stitches.
After hours cruising through the lake and stopping by to visit several islands, we docked on Amantani Island for the night. After eating lunch, relaxing, hiking, and watching the sun set over the lake, we had dinner with the members of our new family. Freddy, his wife Violeta, and their daughter Julissa welcomed us with their hospitality and warm faces. This dinner was definitely a highlight of the trip for me and many of my classmates. I will never forget sitting alongside these amazing people in the small, dark, kitchen area.