AMPED Abroad

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: AMPED Abroad Date: Tue, August 24, 2010 11:13 pm To: latin@ampedabroad.com Hey Nikki, Well i definitely wont be looking forward to going home any time soon. Costa Rica has been amazing. Ill definitely miss it. -Ashley On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 9:41 PM, wrote: > Hi Ashley, > Well time is winding down. Is Costa Rica going to be as hard to leave for > you as it was for me? > Nikki > Latin America Program Manager > AMPED Abroad > P.O. Box 24865 > Fort Worth, TX 76124 > Phone: 214.736.7654 > Fax: 214.276.7727 -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: AMPED Abroad - How's it going? Date: Fri, August 06, 2010 5:07 pm To: latin@ampedabroad.com My first week has been amazing, I have been really enjoying my time in Costa Rica. Atenas is a cute small little town. Thanks for your concern though. Ill message you if anything comes up though in the future. -Ashley On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 4:54 PM, wrote: > Hi Ashley, > How was your first week? > If there is anything I can do, please let me know. > Nikki > Latin America Program Manager > AMPED Abroad > P.O. Box 24865 > Fort Worth, TX 76124 > Phone: 214.736.7654 > Fax: 214.276.7727

WERE YOU AMPED? Again, thank you for choosing AMPED. Because we care that our volunteers have a rewarding and memorable experience, we would really appreciate it if you would take just a few minutes to complete the following survey to let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve. And by all means, feel free to use the backside or additional paper should you need more space. Thank you for your time. For questions 1-5 please rank your experience as fair, good, or excellent and explain the reason for the assigned ranking. 1. How would you rate your experience overall? 5. I loved working in the clinics and I learned many new things. I am very pleased with the overall experience and feel that it was very beneficial for me. 2. How was your volunteer project? 5. The doctors and nurses that I worked with in the clinics really took the time to show me new things and to teach me how they work under those difficult circumstances. I was also grateful for the opportunity to lend my experience and an extra pair of hands to make the clinics run more smoothly and efficiently so that everyone got the care that they needed. 3. How was your host family? How were your meals and accommodation? 5. The host family was very kind and accommodating. They also took the time to help me get accustomed to life in a new country. The meals were very well prepared and the host family made sure that everything was well cooked and safe to eat. I loved almost every dish that was served. The accommodations were also very adequate with plenty of space to put my things and a secure lock on my door for security 4. How would you describe the level of service you received from AMPED? 5. I felt that they were very accommodating to my needs and schedule. AMPED did a great job helping to finding me a placement that was perfect for me. Nikki always took the time to check up on me and make sure that everything was going well. It was nice to know that I always had someone to turn to for support and help if needed. 5. How would you describe the level of service and support you received from our local partner organization? In-country coordinator? 3. I had a hard time contacting the local in-country coordinator when I needed to and I felt like oftentimes things were a little unorganized. In talking with the other volunteers in the house, they too felt the same way. I think that they have a good program but, as things often are in other counties, I feel that the communication and organization could have been better between the coordinator and the volunteers. 6. What did you enjoy most about your time abroad? Least? I think I loved everything about my time abroad. I especially like learning about the culture and traditions of Ecuador and looking forward to having new experiences every day. I don’t know if there is anything that I could say that I didn’t like. Obviously Ecuador lacked some of the basic comforts of home but I would say that it is a bad thing; it is just a different experience. 7. What could AMPED or its local partner do in the future to improve? As mentioned above, I feel that the local partner should have more communication with the volunteers and ask for their opinion from time to time. Even though I had a great experience and things went fairly smoothly for me, I felt that the in-country coordinator wasn’t aware of what I was doing or of any possible needs that I may have had. 8. Would you choose to volunteer abroad again? I would definitely volunteer abroad again. I loved the whole experience and I am currently planning on volunteering again next year. 9. Would you recommend AMPED? Yes, and actually I have already recommended AMPED to some of my friends and family. 10. Would you like to be an AMPED Ambassador (serve as a contact for prospective volunteers)? Yes, I wouldn’t mind talking to others about my excellent experience in Ecuador. This is an excellent program and they are doing a lot of good in the world and I think more people should participate.

Hi, Thanks for your email. I am having a very rewarding experience. Everything has gone very smoothly and you were right Xela is very safe. I could have taken the bus safely to the rural medical clinic. Maybe next time! Have a nice day, Madhu

How would you rate your experience overall? It has been one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had How was your volunteer project? My volunteer project was such a fun project 3. How was your host family? How were your meals and accommodation?Our host family were the most sweetest, nicest, and loveable host family ever! Teres (Host mom) cooking was delicious and everything she made I loved. She feed us so much and we were always so full which is a good thing. 4. How would you describe the level of service you received from AMPED?AMPED was very helpful from the beginning. They emailed and called us when things needed to be done. AMPED was very helpful and concern of our well being and were asking us all the time if we were having fun or doing okay. How would you describe the level of service and support you received from our local partner organization? In-country coordinator? The level of service and support I received from our local partner organization was very basic. What did you enjoy most about your time abroad? Least? I enjoyed a lot of things during our time abroad. What I enjoyed was meeting new friends from all over the world, which I have been really close to. I enjoy getting to know my host family, which will be a part of my life. I enjoyed how beautiful and nice people were in Atenas. The least enjoyable moment was the mosquito bites! What could AMPED or its local partner do in the future to improve? I wish there was a list of what volunteers could do during the weekend or suggestions of cool places to do, as well as information on where not to go and dangerous places provided by the local partner of AMPED. Would you choose to volunteer abroad again? I would love to volunteer abroad again What advice would you give to others that want to travel abroad? My advice to give to others that want to travel abroad are: Prepared for a cultural shock (good thing), have a good time and meet a lot of people because some of these people will be one of your closest friends, and have the time of your life because its super fun. Would you recommend AMPED? Yes Would you like to be an AMPED Ambassador (serve as a contact for prospective volunteers)? No

1. How would you rate your experience overall? Excellent, I loved staying at Atenas and I gained a lot of hands-on experience at my placement. 2. How was your volunteer project? Excellent, I gained hands-on experiences and improved my spanish speaking skills in the physical therapy field. 3. How was your host family? How were your meals and accommodation? Excellent, I improved my spanish speaking skills by living with Tere. Tere cooked amazing food. She was always making sure we were safe and comfortable at her place. 4. How would you describe the level of service you received from AMPED? Excellent, they were always quick and responsive with their emails. They were always willing to help answer any unanswered questions 5. How would you describe the level of service and support you received from our local partner organization In-country coordinator? Fair, Tina was there to help give advices for traveling, however I wish she didnt tell us to invite other people on our trip because some trips I would like to do with my friends or my sister only. There were people who I did not want to go on trips with and whenever they are invited, it ruins my trip that I planned. 6. What did you enjoy most about your time abroad? Least? I enjoyed staying in Atenas and living with my host family. Atenas had nice and welcoming people. They were always patient with me when I use Spanish to communicate with them when I am lost somewhere or confused with something. I also love my placement. My goal before going to Costa Rica was to improve my Spanish speaking skills and terms in a Physical Therapy (PT) atmosphere. My placement has helped me accomplish that goal. The physical therapist, Karol, taught me PT terms in Spanish and new techniques to help patients recover. I had an amazing experience working with the elders because they were always so happy and welcoming as well. The elders love to talk, which also helped me practice my Spanish. Overall the experience was helpful and fun. I have also learned a lot of new PT techniques to help patients gain their bodys full potential. 7.What could AMPED or its local partner do in the future to improve? Local partner: Have social events for volunteers to sign up and bond with other volunteers or have a group tour where volunteers to sign up to travel with other volunteers on the weekend. 8. Would you choose to volunteer abroad again? Yes 9. What advice would you give to others that want to travel abroad? You have to be independent and self-motivated to get the most experience at the nursing home. The therapists are always willing to let the volunteers do what they know. 10. Would you recommend AMPED? Yes, especially for my placement 11. Would you like to be an AMPED Ambassador (serve as a contact for prospective volunteers)? No