The Best Llama Filled, Spontaneous, Surprising Experience I Could Imagine Past Review
By Jessie A (Spanish Secondary Education, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 05/28/2012 to 06/28/2012 with
ISA Study Abroad in Cusco, Peru
So much. My confidence in speaking the language, not being afraid to put myself out there, communicating with locals and the list goes on and on. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were everyday, not too challenging but definitely had a lot of studying and reading involved. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Hands down, the directors of ISA are awesome. They are so helpful and supportive with everything. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing experience was very traditional with the parents, grandma, two older siblings, and lots of visits from other family members. The nice family, home cooked meals, and good housing arrangements made for a great living environment. |
| * Food: |
Bread, potatoes, rice, beans, various meats, and tea are all daily staples in Peru. Yum yum. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very much so. Often we would visit local hangouts and meets lots of locals that way. At the same time, Cusco is such a touristy city that a good part of the people you meet will also be tourists. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was sick for a good 10 days during the first couple weeks I was there. The ISA directors came and checked up on me, took me to the doctor, and overall were very supportive. My host mom also took really good care of us and would bring us soup and tea in bed if we wasn't feeling well that day. |
| * Safety: |
Cusco is an ancient city that has it's bustling share of traffic and craziness in general. Use your street smarts just like if you were back in the US: travel in groups, don't go down dark alleyways, take taxi rides together. We were always told that combis (public buses) were a good, cheap, and safe way to travel. Taxes are a more expensive but faster option. With taxis, the trick is to make sure you set a price and location with the driver before you get in so that there is no surprise at the end of your ride. Also only ride in taxis at night that have the official taxi sign posted on the car, others without that sign aren't always licensed or safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
All meals were included in my cost for the trip. We ate at home on most weekdays and weekends. We had to pay for meals during excursions. Basically you spend as much as you want to spend, going out isn't too expensive but racking up a bunch of souveniors sure is. I probably spent $500-$600 during my time there which if you average out is about $100 a week. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | DON'T buy a ton of souveniors the first day or even first week. However tempting it may be, you'll quickly learn where to get the best price, what other markets offer (there are a ton!) and you'll regret later if you blow all your money early on. Also, save some extra money for an emergency fund (ex: medical expenses, last minute weekend excursion, etc.) you'll thank yourself in the end. |
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? | 3000 level Spanish literature class |
| 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? | Falling back into English is very easy especially with all the other students being in your group. Initiate everything in Spanish and try to only to revert to English when need be. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known more about simple things such as taxi etiquette, being wary of street food, general do's and don'ts of the city. But as I mentioned before, it's something you can't really learn secondhand, it's better and more exciting to learn it yourself. |
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! |
