Before going on my health science internship in Cusco, Peru, I questioned how well I would be able to communicate with those around me. After my time there, I realized that friendships are more than just words. On my very first day at my internship site, a residential facility for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, I was asked to mop the floors in some of the living quarters.

While it wasn’t the most exciting job, a small moment during that task opened my eyes in a big way. As I was working, I noticed a dog living at the site. She suddenly popped up in a window from outside, and I was instantly excited to greet her and give her some attention. While it may seem like a simple interaction, it was the moment that made me realize how deeply relationships can exist beyond conversation alone.

I carried this realization with me throughout my time at the site. Most of the women and men there spoke only Spanish or Quechua. Although I had an incredible interpreter, I had to share him with two other interns, so he couldn’t assist me all the time. Instead of relying solely on words, I focused on using a calm, gentle demeanor to build connections with those who did not speak the same language as me. While this approach was different from what I was used to, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to become more expressive and intentional with my body language. Even without a shared spoken language, I was able to form meaningful relationships with the residents. I also carried this mindset with me while walking around the city of Cusco. By the end of the trip, I began to recognize familiar faces near our hotel.

I found an amazing pizza place down the street, and by the end of my stay, the waiter there remembered my order. My travel group even gave ourselves the name “Mario’s Angels,” inspired by our tour guide, Mario.

I will also never forget the meaningful friendships I formed with fellow Mizzou students who faced and overcame these challenges alongside me. Compared to the United States, I noticed that people in Peru tend to be far more community-oriented rather than individualistic. As long as I treated those around me with care and respect, they offered the same in return. I can confidently say that I learned lessons at my site that I will carry into my own education and future career in healthcare. This experience showed me that relationships do not depend solely on speaking the same language; they can be built through expressions, gestures, shared experiences, genuine human connection and even just a simple smile or laugh.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Service and Health Science Internship in Peru