Study Abroad in Peru! Past Review
By Rachel B (Spanish, Religion, Luther College) for
ISA Study Abroad in Lima, Peru
I studied abroad to learn Spanish, and my semester in Lima gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in Spanish by living with a host family and taking classes in Spanish. I came away with a lot more confidence in my Spanish-speaking ability. It was so rewarding to be able to make connections with people and communicate in Spanish. It was also an opportunity to growth, as I had to learn quickly and adjust to a different culture. Sometimes I felt lost or confused, but I learned how to continue forward in these instances. I now feel so much more independent. In my last month, I traveled to Calafate, Argentina (Patagonia) alone, something I never would have considered doing before my experience. I encourage everyone to study abroad, and Peru is a great place to do it.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were all in Spanish and met twice a week for 1 1/2-2 hours. The style was lecture, so at times it was boring or difficult to follow, but the experience overall was good. I was able to get good grades and talk with my professors when needed. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff was incredible - so friendly and helpful. They exceeded my expectations. I felt very taken care of in Peru by ISA. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived with an amazing host family. My host mom and empleada, Magda, treated me like family, taking me around the city and throwing me a birthday party. I lived in a great neighborhood, about a 25 minute walk to the university and close to public transportation and a grocery store. I especially liked that I lived close to the ocean and popular running paths. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trips were fantastic and some of my best memories of the time abroad. The most memorable trips were to Cusco/Machu Picchu and Nazca/Ica/Paracas. These trips were very well-planned and organized! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had no problem with safety. I was in an area where I could walk home from class at night and never had a frightening incident. It is important, however, to always be aware of your surroundings and keep track of your personal items. There is a lot of sexual harassment, which is mostly harmless. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I could practice my language with my host family, in classes, around Lima, and when I traveled. I rarely spoke English with Peruvians and needed to use Spanish in my daily interactions. |
| 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?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Peru is a wonderful place to study abroad, and I encourage it as a destination for anyone considering studying in a Spanish-speaking country. Lima is a wonderful city, and the people are welcoming and gracious. I had a wonderful experience living with a host-family and learned a lot from my experiences and classes. There is also a lot to see in Peru - a lot of history. I can also wholeheartedly recommend ISA as a study abroad program; they exceeded my expectations. |
