Lima: It's own world. Past Review
By Emily E (Business Administration, Trinity University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Lima, Peru
I'm so grateful for the strides that I made in learning Spanish and about what I learned about myself and the world from going abroad. It's definitely affecting how I plan what I do with my life and has opened a lot of doors for me.
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. |
See above. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program when I went was small--about 20 students in our group. But I know that the next semester after I left was going to be over twice that size. The ISA staff is wonderful. They are very kind, caring, helpful, fun people, and easy to get to know. The only complaint I have is that we spoke English too much. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family was by far the greatest part of my experience. They treated me as an "hija," a true part of the family. I formed very close relationships with all of them. They made sure I was totally comfortable and had everything I could need. I was close to a relative busy street so it was easy to find a bus and navigate the system when I needed to get downtown or to school. The neighborhood was as safe as one can expect. It wasn't the wealthiest neighborhood, but I never felt any more unsafe than I do here in the States. And I actually liked it better than the more affluent neighborhoods which are always more touristy. Other neighborhoods might be closer to downtown and have easier access to supermarkets and restaurants and such, but I didn't feel like a tourist in my neighborhood. I felt like I was really getting to know what it would be like to call Lima "home." |
| * Food: |
The food wasn't fantastic, but I always had plenty to eat, I could eat something other than what the family was eating if I wanted to, they always took my likes and dislikes into consideration, and when the doctor put me on dietary restrictions, they were very good about catering to those needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was all great. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I got sick at one point and the ISA staff worked very hard to find me a reputable, affordable health care option and even accompanied me to the doctor's appointments. As far as safety goes, I felt as safe as I would have living in a large city in the United States, like New York for example. There were a couple of incidents of robbery with other students in my program, but for the most part if you're smart and aware of your surroundings, it won't be a problem. |
| 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 spent very little on the typical week. I ate almost every meal at home and most of my expenses were transportation-related. I would estimate that I spent maybe $10 per week. Maybe. However, when we traveled I spent more for food and souvenirs. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | No. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I lived with a host family who only spoke Spanish so I had to use it every day. They were very helpful and patient and I learned so much by living with them. Most young people spoke English, especially at the University, so knowing Spanish isn't totally necessary, but it definitely enriches the experience. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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