Enora Borgnon is a journalism student from the University of Brest in France, currently working as an intern with the Bega District News.
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She has been reaching out to friends and fellow students who are also interning in various locations around the world, and all caught up in the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of their stories.
While some countries like Australia are easing their COVID-19 lockdown, some are on the other hand expanding theirs, as is the case in Peru.
Nolwenn Drapeau and Eléonore Dehaye are students at the University of Western Brittany in France doing an internship in Cuzco, Peru as part of their last year degree program. They decided to stay in the country rather than head home as others did.
The situation in the country is not improving as it is now the second country with the most positive cases in South America, after Brazil. On Friday, May 22, the President of Peru announced that the lockdown will continue until June 30 at least.
"It makes you crazy. It is now really long," said Ms Drapeau and Dehaye.
As they are living together now, it helps a lot during these hard times.
In the region of Cuzco they have around 800 confirmed positive cases - relatively few in comparison to other regions in the country - there are more than 80,000 in the capital Lima. However, as the restrictions are nationwide, they do have the same restrictions as everyone else.
Even though they are still in lockdown, local shops are starting to open again, with restrictions. The markets are now working again, with hand sanitiser given to every possible buyer.
Life is starting again, but with a lot of precaution and a lot of control.
"When I went to visit the community I am helping, the police checked everything that I had and sanitised my hands, my face, etc," said Ms Drapeau, who is working in an organisation to help those in need.
On June 11, restaurants will reopen with takeaway services, but Ms Drapeau said there has been little in the way of specific information given about their reopening.
The police are everywhere, checking everyone in the streets. They have to wear masks whenever they are on the street. Thankfully, Ms Drapeau and Dehaye are living with an artist called 'Dollyclona' who makes her own masks for her and her roommates, and everyone who needs any.
In the country, or at least in Cuzco, everyone is taking care of everyone, helping each other out.
At the beginning of the pandemic Ms Drapeau and Dehaye were victims of racism and discrimination as locals thought they were the one who brought the virus in. The situation eased and they aren't accused of that as often now.
"In the street people might call upon us as 'Corona', as we are European," said Ms Drapeau.
"We discovered a form of discrimination that we had never seen before when we were in France and it is really hard," said Ms Dehaye.
The Peruvians adapt quickly, as Ms Drapeau said, they are strong.
"We learn a lot of a country and its people when you are living there during a health crisis," said Ms Dehaye.
Ms Drapeau and Dehaye do not regret that they stayed in the country to keep helping those in need. They are trying to help the small businesses and their owners by buying at their place.
They are being rather philosophical about it all - "Everything happens for a reason."
