Matthew Neumann, an undergrad student at CalPoly, attended our Spanish & Medicine program in Cusco to further his future career as a family doctor or general practitioner.
Matt has a very balanced, mature perspective on his time in South America, despite a few hang-ups (see the Beware! Notes below).
He speaks of his time in medical shadowing in volunteering, his adventures, and his connection with his homestay family.
Cuidado, after you listen you may just want to jump on the next flight out!
0:10 – A little about Matt, 2018 graduate
0:51 – Drawn to the combo with concerns about the program
2:13 – Totally comfortable in a foreign country
2:47 – Homestay Spanish practice
3:57 – Understanding doctors in medical shadowing
4:47 – Emergency Medicine Unit & notable differences
7:20 – Helping at Madre Teresa
7:58 – Most impactful experience
9:51 – Entering Spanish level & its implications
10:56 – Peaks and plateaus in Spanish
11:25 – Finding Spanish speaking opportunities back home
12:15 – Making mistakes in class instead of at the hospital
13:54 – Adventure in the jungle & Rainbow Mountain
15:30 – America night
16:25 – Communicating with friends and family at home
17:03 – Beware! Cell phone charges
17:59 – Chevere
18:30 – “I could travel anywhere and do anything…”
20:00 – Ecela takes care of you but teaches you to be independent
20:58 – Beware! Swindled by a taxi driver & stolen cell phone
23:03 – Despite bad eggs, Cusco is still safe and peaceful
23:27 – Gaining experiences and losing naivety