Nancy A.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps, specifically the Response program?

I am of Salvadoran descent, and ever since I was in college, I was looking for ways that I could use my engineering skills to support the Latin American community and the environment. During my last year of college, I met with a Peace Corps recruiter and considered the two-year program, but I felt like I could be of greater service if I had more experience. The Response program was a great opportunity for me to use my background in water resources for a specific need. When I saw the opportunity to work with a national institute for research on glaciers and mountain ecosystems in Peru, it felt like a great opportunity to finally be able to give back to my community.

2. What projects are you working on with your community?

I am currently involved in a few projects with my host organization.

• Characterization of the eco-hydrological parameter of the bofedales (high altitude wetlands), providing language support for the submission of scientific articles, and supporting the development of workplans for future research projects related to natural infrastructures.
• Revision, systematization, and summary of information (articles, theses, reports, etc.) related to acid rock drainage, which includes the development of a relevance criteria and a master database.
• Help with preparation of samples to be submitted to laboratories to determine the amount of heavy metals in plants that are being studied for their phytoremediation properties.
• Help with the installation of a pluviometer station in the Queñual Forest and development of a database for sensors installed in study areas.

3. How have you leveraged your previous professional experience and skills in your service?

My experience at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection gave me a background in the development of databases, which has been helpful in supporting the systematization of information. My experience with Gannett Fleming provided me with a well-rounded background in water resources and stormwater management, which has been of great help in breaching the learning curve that comes with working in a different ecosystem. While my background was not in mountain ecosystems, my general knowledge of water resources has been helpful as I get more familiar with the needs and processes of the mountain ecosystem.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

One of my biggest highlights has been working on the bofedales, an ecosystem I had never seen before. I have learned so much about these wetlands and their properties and just how important they are for the environment. Supporting during a vertical electrical soil testing in the bofedales was an amazing learning experience.

5. What strategies have you used to meet the challenges of a Response Volunteer experience?

While I am completely fluent in Spanish, work culture differs from place to place. Learning to understand some of the work processes was a bit of a challenge at first. Asking questions and observation have been a great asset in trying to meet some of those challenges.

6. How will the skills you are developing help you in the future?

My speaking and reading comprehension in Spanish are very advanced; however, writing in Spanish was not a skill I used much until now. My Spanish writing skills have definitely improved and will be a great asset as I continue my career. I would love to continue doing international work in the future so sharpening my language skills will help me in this goal. I have also learned so much about subsurface water resources, which has expanded my engineering background and will make me a more well-rounded engineer.