My name is Ana Hunter-Nickels (she/they), and I am living in Cajamarca, Peru! I was born in El Salvador, a small country in Central America, before moving to the U.S. when I was almost 4. I grew up in Virginia, and then moved out to California to work and get my Master's in Social Work.
I wanted to follow my dreams of developing my language skills in Spanish, living in another country for an extended period of time (like my parents did in El Salvador), and build new lifelong friendships! The U.S. Peace Corps was a great way to do that, and I ended up being placed in the region of Cajamarca, Peru! It is a beautiful place known for its cheeses, beautiful mountains, the place where the last Inka (king) was killed, and Carnaval!
I am nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range, about 1.5 hours from the city of Cajamarca. My job focuses mostly on youth development activities, including: being a teacher's aid and co-facilitating classes, training teachers, working on projects with students, co-teaching summer classes, and doing other engaging activities like starting a mental health program for youth!
My other focus or goal as a PC volunteer is to learn about the cultures, traditions, and the 'way of life' of Peruvians. It has been an honor and roller coaster of a journey getting settled into my community, my work, and balancing my free time! Plus, I get to share my own culture and customs around holidays, foods, dance, language, etc. There are many stereotypes about people in the world; so, the more we can connect with each other, the more bridges of peace and friendship we can build!
I can't wait to share with you all about this journey of living in another country for two years, building relationships, and getting to experience the vastness of life!
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
