Best Decision I Ever Made July 26, 2024

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I had a personal Spanish tutor, which was exceptionally valuable! She helped me learn grammar concepts one on one in a classroom, but she also offered me many opportunities for going into town and spending our class sessions in museums and at cultural sites. At times, I felt like these class outings didn't teach me as much Spanish as they taught me history and culture, but I appreciated the mental break of getting to learn something new, and of course I loved the chance to see the city without the risk of getting lost on my own!

On-site administration of your program

The people helping me in Peru were very kind and helpful, but sometimes they delayed giving me information that I would have liked to know sooner––for example––I only learned the names of my host family and the address of their home a day before I boarded the plane to leave. I also did not know the details of my class or volunteering schedule until the day I started. I completely trusted IPSL, so this did work out for me in the end. I'm comfortable with working on little information and figuring out the rest as I go, so this was only a small drawback for me. If this sounds like the kind of thing that would stress you out, I encourage you to strongly communicate that you would like to have as much information about the details of your trip as soon as possible. They are wonderful people, and the last thing they want is to upset you. Keep in mind: plans may change quickly! You will have to accept a measure of unpredictability with studying abroad. Even though communication was sometimes a little slow, I never felt like I had been forgotten or abandoned. Something that was EXTREMELY helpful is that I was told beforehand to only bring USD into Peru, because there are multiple money changing shops in Cusco that don't charge a cent for converting your cash. To get Peruvian soles in the U.S. would have cost me extra money just for the conversion, so it saved me a lot just to bring my USD with me.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My home in Peru was wonderful, and leaving it felt like leaving my own home behind. It was very cold indoors, but my host family had wool blankets and hot water bottles whenever I needed them.

I always had plenty of absolutely delicious food, and a lot of it was home cooked by my host family! If you want to try the local fare, there's plenty of spots where you can get a great meal for a low price. I once got a great lunch with a drink for 15 soles––about 5 USD. If you're coming from the U.S. the conversion rate is absolutely in your favor. However, cusqueñian food is heavy on meat and starch. It's delicious, but if you're vegetarian or vegan, be aware that you will likely have to do a little extra work to get the food you need. I love vegetables, and there was a little greengrocer a block or two away from my host family's apartment. I stopped there many times to pick up some good broccoli, tomatoes, kale, etc. for a very nice cost in USD. My host family was also very sweet about bringing my favorites to the table, and they knew how much I loved my ensaladas!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I knocked off a star because I think there's only so much a tourist can do to integrate with a culture that they only have exposure to for a month. No matter what I know or what I do, I will always stand out in Cusco because I am obviously a white woman with an intermediate understanding of Castellano/Español. Every local that I met or saw had darker skin color and hair color than I, and I was quickly recognized as a tourist everywhere I went. This was a good experience. I immediately had to reckon with the fact that I was going to stand out, and I was going to be noticed for it. I come from a part of Salt Lake City that just doesn't have a lot of diversity. I was used to being the local, the one who was obviously "supposed" to be there, and I welcomed the experience of knowing that I didn't blend in with this crowd. This being said, I still learned a lot about Peruvian and Cusqueñian culture, and every day I practiced the saying: "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Overwhelmingly, Cusqueñians are remarkably patient and generous. Though I stood out, and made mistakes, I never felt particularly judged for it. Once or twice I knew I was being observed, but I felt that it was largely out of a sense of curiosity. And on one of the occasions when I knew I was being watched, I'm half convinced that the old men watching me were seeing if I knew how to use the bus system correctly. After I turned down a couple of lines that weren't going to the right station, I heard one of them say to the other "she's trying to get to San Pedro..." I wouldn't have been at all surprised if one of them would have eventually helped me out by telling me to take the yellow and black line––but I found my bus within a few minutes and they each went back to their newspapers. (I think most tourists use taxis, and they weren't sure if I knew what I was doing). If you want to study abroad, I suggest learning a bit about your host country beforehand, but don't start your trip with any big expectations on what its going to be "like" before you get there. Most of what I know about Peruvian culture is what I learned on the fly or in the moment. The most helpful thing for me to know about Peru beforehand was common hand gestures. For example: to signal someone over, you keep you palm facing the earth and make a sweeping motion with all your fingers. This is also the gesture used to call taxis and busses. Beckoning with one finger and your palm facing upwards is either really weird or inappropriate––I'm not sure, but either way, I was told not to do it before I got to the country. Little details like that are helpful to know before getting on the plane, but beyond that––keep your heart and your senses open, and learn through observation and polite questions. There's only so much culture you can learn from a travel guide. Oh, I have one more thing to share. Because I volunteered at an open air market, I can tell you a bit about bartering. It's not uncommon in Peru, and I was told before getting to Cusco that I should do it at markets to make sure I don't get overcharged––but I have some alternative advice to offer you. If you're looking for the best price on a snack or souvenir, talk to your host family and Peruvian contacts––ask THEM where you can find good alpaca sweaters and silver jewelry. Sometimes a good deal just comes down to the location of the market. Additionally, you can ask your local friends what a reasonable price is for [x]. If, at a market, you ever get told a price that's WAY off the mark, just say "no thank you" and walk away. The same is true for taxis. Just don't tell a local artist or vendor that the price they're asking you to pay is "too much," because how could you possibly know that? You don't know what they have to pay to feed their families or afford their rent. You don't know how much time it took them to collect or create their art. You can also wander around one market and ask about the prices of their sweaters (for example). If 5 different people tell you that a medium sweater is 35 soles, there's no way they're all lying to you. Once, I bought a very nice painting from a wandering vendor, and he was encouraging me to barter with him even when I didn't want to. He gave me the initial number, and then told me to barter for something lower––he wouldn't be offended at what I said. Instead of telling him a number, I extended him my trust and honesty––I said: "I'm no painter, but I trust your judgement. What is the best price you can give me that is fair to both of us?" He clearly thought about what I said, and was silent for a while before suggesting another number. The price he asked is the price I paid, and I'm very confident that it was the right decision.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Ohh yeah, I went to a Cusco emergency clinic for altitude sickness. It was very easy and calm, and Lucas from IPSL stayed with me the whole time, both serving as a guide and translator and also just helping me along and keeping me company. I just had an oxygen mask and an IV for a couple hours, it was alright. I went to a traveling abroad health consultation before leaving the U.S. and found out that I didn't need the yellow fever vaccine for Peru because I wasn't staying in any jungle climates. Cusco is so high, dry, and cold that there are no mosquitoes. And on the one day I went to Macchu Picchu, there were no mosquitoes either. I would recommend bringing a little bug repellent just in-case, but you DON'T need any crazy clothing sprays or treatments for bugs. One thing I didn't know before getting there was that Cusco is at 11,152 ft (3,399 meters) above sea level. I know, it sounds silly, but I actually didn't find that out before getting there, and as such, I was underprepared. I should have googled the elevation directly, but instead I got distracted by the information in my surface level searches on Cusco. When I searched up the city, so many travel sites hailed it as the "gateway to Macchu Picchu," and really hammered in that I NEEDED altitude medication for visiting the ancient ruins. When I googled Macchu Picchu, I saw that it was at 7,972 ft (2,430m). My home in Utah is at about 4,000 ft, and I'm used to hiking and skiing at elevations between 8,000 and 10,000 ft. I assumed I would be fine (and I also assumed that Macchu Picchu was the highest elevation, not Cusco). Altitude affects everyone differently, and I know Utahns who can start hiking in Cusco right after landing and not even blink. Obviously, I wasn't so lucky, and after about a day and a half of feeling miserable, I wound up in the hospital for a couple hours. I ended up missing my chance to tour the Sacred Valley, but I don't hold any regrets or grudges over it. Others have died from altitude sickness because they didn't let themselves rest or ask for help, and I've always considered myself a lucky person. It was fine in the long run, but it would have been a lot nicer to just avoid that whole experience. Remember to rest, and make sure you have some altitude meds.

Cusco is a great and perfectly safe place to be as long as you're not overconfident. Act wise, and ask for advice. I was warned that the worst I would likely have to worry about is pickpockets, and those encounters are easy to avoid if you just make yourself a very difficult target. I used a fanny pack as a purse, worn diagonally over my shoulder and with the pack in front––over my chest. I would put that on and then throw a jacket on over top, so the strap of the pack wasn't even visible from behind. When I zipped up my jacket, you couldn't even tell that I had a bag (btw, leave your passport in a safe place with your host family, whenever possible. Don't carry it around for no reason). I usually rode the bus into town to go volunteer, and since bus fares are a set price, I would put 2 or 3 soles into a pocket before I left the house so I didn't have to fumble around with a coin purse or a wallet just to fish out 1 sol. I never lost anything or had something stolen. Additionally, if you choose to or need to have a backpack, wear it in the front, and don't worry about looking silly. Put your belongings in your lap if you stop to eat at a market––this was all advice told to me by market vendors and local friends. If you're riding solo on busses or trying to take a taxi, you can set up a contact in the city that you can share your live location with over WhatsApp until you get home. I never had any scary encounters, but I used the live location option multiple times just because it helped me feel more confident––and having the safety net was worth it for that reason alone. Again, Cusco is a beautiful and wonderful city, with many people happy to give you directions or otherwise help you out. Be alert, as always when traveling in a new city, but you don't have to be defensive. Strangers will not be out to get you.

I can't wait to go back to Peru someday, and hopefully I'll take my U.S. family with me. I still keep in contact with my host mom. We send each other Christmas wishes and family photos. She wants to meet my sister someday.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Most meals were provided for me, a day's worth of bus rides was less than a dollar in U.S. currency, and there's good places to get safe but cheap food around the city. Also, there's a lot of ways to sight-see without paying too much. There are multiple walking tours around Cusco that only ask you to tip your guide.

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

My host family only spoke Spanish, and Spanish is the main language in Cusco (followed by Quechuan, I think).

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment

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• Host Family

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• Other

• Cusco's history and architecture
• Host family
• Experiencing and participating in cusqueñian culture

• Home institution help on prepping for the trip
• Clearer communication with Peruvian team

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