Peru: The Greatest Experience I Have Had Past Review
By Tonisha A (Spanish Language and Literature., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) for
CIEE: Lima - Liberal Arts
I loved living with a family so that I could learn more about the culture. I took direct enrollment courses, so I wasn't just studying the language in school, I was taking regular classes in Spanish. I feel like I learned a lot that way. I learned more about relating to and understanding people from other cultures, and also how to handle situations in which cultural differences cause issues.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The university does testing mostly by "controls", where you will get assigned a reading and then have a written test on it. They are not impossible, and some are more challenging than others. The grading system goes from 0-20, so it's different from the U.S., but you can figure out approximately what letter grade you got that corresponds with the number. The workload in the courses I took was not too overwhelming; I kept busy but also had time to meet and spend time with Peruvian friends and also travel within Peru. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I thought that the directors were very helpful, and they were always available when any of the students needed them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Miraflores, which is a relatively safe district, but also the one where a lot of tourists can be found. There was a lot of night life within walking distance, and several parks as well, and also the beach. I didn't need to buy any items to settle-in; the family already had all of those things. My bus ride to school was between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day I went and which day of the week. The public buses go directly there, so it is very easy to get to the university. My host family treated me well. I do wish I would have had spent more time with them, but they did treat me as part of the family. I |
| * Food: |
I was served a lot of food in my homestay, but it was all very good. I suggest that if you don't eat a lot, to say so right away if you would like to be served less. Dining places depend on the district you are in. In the touristy districts, there are a lot of nice restaurants, but they can be very pricey. There are a lot of small places, though, where you can get a whole meal, (drink, soup, main dish) for 10 soles or less. I suggest looking for these kinds of places since the food is very good, typical of Peru, and cheap. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program planned two excursions for all of the students, Machu Picchu and Lunahuaná. Both trips were great. They also had a lot of workshop type things, for example, dancing, cooking, etc. and those are very fun and a good way to learn about the country you are in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Do not take valuable items on public transportation. Don't take street cabs if possible, but if you have to make sure you're not alone. I used the health center on campus, and they took care of me right there, and I could purchase the prescription at the pharmacy on campus. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I didn't have to spend much on food each week, since the host family provided this, but if I went out for a meal with a friend that would be what I had to spend on food. Food is very cheap in Peru for the most part, unless you buy things that were imported. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't buy anything right away. Wait until you learn where you can get the good deals, or get high quality items for a better price. Like I said before, some areas are more touristy and those areas always have higher prices. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 410 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
It was more difficult than I expected it would be to get practice speaking the language. I got the most practice with my host family and when I spent time with my Peruvian friends. It is very hard to get practice if you spend a lot of time with the other foreign students, as they often (always?) speak English. You really have to challenge yourself and put yourself in situations that will give you the opportunity to practice the language. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Try to be as outgoing as possible! Put yourself in new situations and challenge yourself. Lima is a huge city, so be ready, there are tons of people. |
