Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A semester in Lima, Perú Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 03/04/2018 to 07/09/2018 with

IFSA: Lima - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I mostly learned about the incredibly interesting history of Lima, and Perú as a whole. This was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

This was a very hard question for me to answer. The reality is that while I was very supported by the program, got a lot better at Spanish, learned a *lot*, made Peruvian friends, and had some amazing experiences, I also was left with some frustrations. It was too easy to use English because so many people I was interacting with knew it, I did not feel integrated into the culture (I experienced more culture shock in Missouri than in Perú, and I'm from Kansas), and the Spring semester only has one long weekend. I had a great time, but I think I would have chosen a different experience had I known that my goals wouldn't have necessarily been met. It's important to note that none of my issues were the fault of the program.

Finances

* 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)

I made it a point to live on less than $50/week. After about 6 weeks of living in Lima, I had enough experience to be able to pull that off successfully. I went over every now and then, but then there were also weeks where I spent only $20-$40

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I had passed all of the Spanish language courses at my university already
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Get in the habit from the very beginning of speaking Spanish as often as possible and avoiding English expect to talk to your friends/family back home and for emergencies. It's very easy to speak English, because all of your classmates at PUCP will have a decent level of English ability (it's required for admission into the university). That said, the person in my program who made the most local friends was the girl who didn't say one word of English the whole semester.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The director
  • The incredible beauty of the country
* What could be improved?
  • Support in making friends and integration into the university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How little I would speak Spanish

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.