Youth Voices: Heartstrings in Lima - Finding Home

Time here dances curiously, blending each day into a rhythm that feels remarkably like home. Just recently, I checked in with a friend from Dubuque who remarked, "You're settling in," noting how I refer to my host family's house as "home."

So where has this beautiful internship brought me? Let's retrace the steps.

I am seventeen.

Living alone.

In a foreign country.

For the first time in my life.

Life needs to be a series of risks, but this is my biggest one yet. Oddly, fear and nerves never knocked on my door. I've asked myself why countless times, and I think the answer lies in a quiet anticipation that has been bubbling up through my high school years. The longing for an adventure, a chance to step beyond the familiar and make a mark somewhere, anywhere. When this all-expenses-paid internship popped up on my radar, I threw my name into the ring with a really hopeful shrug. And now, here I am, navigating this new world, finding out what it means to call a place home, even if it's just for now.

This week, I discovered new friendships in the most delightful ways - a kind girl in her early 20s and my mentors, with whom I've grown closer. Despite my Duolingo vocabulary hovering around 200 essential Spanish words, I've found that friendship can connect through language barriers. Here, Google Translate has to be my most-used app. Conversations outside my work team unfold through translation, often at lunch, where we exchange messages while sharing real-time expressions. Communication becomes a dance of digital words and heartfelt smiles, proving that genuine connections need no perfect language.

In the lab, each day brings new challenges and discoveries. This week, I received a fresh batch of Potato Leafroll Virus plasmids, setting the stage for a series of intricate gel electrophoresis experiments. Working with these plasmids required a meticulous approach and a steady hand. The initial steps involved preparing the samples by centrifuging the plasmids to ensure a uniform solution, followed by carefully measuring and mixing the appropriate reagents for the gel. The process demanded precision and patience...[CONTINUE READING]