“In Summer 2017, I had the ultimate privelge to travel with MEDLIFE and experience the work that the organization performs on a daily basis across the world. The destination did not matter as the purpose of the trip was not to enjoy the luxuries that came along with travelling but rather to enhance my knowledge of communities in developing countries. Thus, the location that seemed to fit my schedule best was Cusco, Peru. In a matter of two weeks, I was able to experience the rich history of Peru, the flavoring food in various regions, the beautiful historical landscapes and mountain tops, the exuberant personalities and attires of the Peruvian population, but most importantly the lack of basic necessities in the rural areas. Toothbrush, clean water, sustainable homes, educational facilities, access to health care; these are a few of the things that I listed that I had access to back home but some of these communities had never even seen. Although I knew that developing countries tend to not have ideal living conditions, I was surprised to see that so little was being done about it. Although I have not been back to Peru since, those memories and the experience is one that has shaped me to contribute to communities that might not have the necessities that I am lucky to have access to.” – Asad