If you want a Spanish-speaking America, Lima is the place for you! Past Review
By A student (Spanish, Trinity University) - abroad from 08/15/2013 to 12/15/2013 with
IFSA: Lima - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
I learned a lot about the history of Peru, which is probably history I wouldn't have learned otherwise. I learned a lot of different worldly perspectives on issues like race and gender and socialism vs. capitalism (to name a few). I also learned that I can adapt to new situations even if they're not ideal for me.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was only allowed to take up to a certain number of hours, and half of those were already consumed by two program-related/-required classes. I really enjoyed the other two classes I took -- my professors were very kind and understanding. But I wasn't really challenged all that much with the schoolwork. I'm not saying I should have been overwhelmed, but I feel like four hours of homework per week is not enough to feel like I really learned something from the school. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very sweet and considerate, always present when students needed help. Very accommodating for special circumstances. They sometimes ran on Peruvian time (AKA, it's okay if you're 45 minutes late), but were usually on time otherwise. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host mom was a pretty cold person. Her 12-year old son was the same way. My host dad was nice and easygoing, but he was hardly ever around the house when I was. I never felt "at home" like I think I should have. There were also three Japanese students living in the house at the same time, which the program hadn't warned me about. We all had our own space, but I wasn't prepared to live in a house of seven people. And because there were so many of us, the only thing we did "as a family" was eat dinner. |
| * Food: |
Host mom was a wonderful cook. (Although she never let me cook with her supplies... I had to buy my own butter, milk, etc.) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I got around alright. I'm a blond girl, so I stuck out and I could never be sure of guys'/men's intentions. Lima is pretty Americanized, to be honest, though, so the "local culture" wasn't that different from here. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I personally never got robbed, but about a third of the kids in my program did. You just have to be on your guard all the time. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
I had to buy my lunch every day or bring a lunch, which consisted of a peanut butter sandwich (I bought the bread and peanut butter myself). I couldn't really afford to travel anywhere, though, which could have made my experience more exciting and diverse. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $40 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Latin American Civilization (finished grammar class a year before abroad) |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Even if the people in your program speak English to you, speak Spanish to them. Hopefully they'll follow your lead, but even if they don't, do it anyway. It's not only good for practice, but it actually makes you look "less American" and therefore less likely to get robbed. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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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? | Some of it, yes. I wish I had just switched host families from the beginning -- that aspect really did have a pretty big effect on my experience. But the process of figuring things out in a foreign country and becoming fluent in another language is something I think you need to go abroad for. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
