Cusco, City of Gods and Gold Past Review
By Rebecca G (Spanish, Political Science, SUNY - College at Geneseo) for
SUNY Geneseo: Cusco - Spanish Language and Culture Studies
My experience was worthwhile. It taught me more about history and people in general. It helped me see how people from other countries view things. I met not only Peruvians, but people from all over the world, and I learned how people can bond no matter where they come from. This trip aborad made me much more culturally aware. I became more aware of who I am, as an American and as a person. It definitely makes me want to travel more in the future.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Academia Latinoamericana |
| 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. |
Workload was light-average. We generally had about 2 homework assignments each week. It generally was writing a full notebook page in Spanish about a certain topic we had to look up. We would hand in these reports and our teacher would grade them and give them back. Teaching methods were amazing. Very hands on, lots of informative field trips, and the teachers were all well-read and fully qualified on the subjects. Differences included a little more religious aspect in the classroom, especially at first, however it wasn't ever too big of a problem. The teachers were amazing, though. I could not have asked for any better. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My expectations were surpassed. Everything was amazing. I never felt inconvenienced in my time there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My neighborhood seemed very safe. The house I was in also had a tall gate around it and the doors were always locked, so I felt very safe at home. I was only about a 10 minute walking distance from class and about a 15 minute walking distance from nightlife which was very convenient. I did not need to buy any items other than personal items. My host family treated me very well, they were very friendly and helpful people. They gave me freedom yet still felt like I belonged. |
| * Food: |
I did not have any dietary restrictions. The food was amazing! I usually dined with my host family because the food was so good and I liked spending time with them, but Cusco is full of many restaurants so finding one isn't hard at all. Try and find one outside of the Plaza though, as those restaurants are aimed at tourists and can be expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I went to a festival in Paucartambo with my host family. It was my first weekend there and it was a great way to see Peruvian culture. Machu Picchu was also extremely memorable. This trip was arranged by my program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt safe in Cusco. I did hear about pick-pocketing, but you can find that in any city. I did not have any experience with healthcare while I was there. Before I went to Peru I was vaccinated for Yellow Fever, Hep A, and Typhoid. If you're heading to the rainforest, might want to get vaccinated for Malaria as well! |
| 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 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced Spanish everywhere! At home with my host family, with the other students staying with me, at school, and out in the city. I had to use Spanish everyday for the majority of the day. Only other students at the school spoke English (and not all of them, as some were from non-English speaking countries). |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you want an adventure, go to South America. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Peruvian History |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Cesar |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Very challenging, lots of information to memorize. We had many relevant field trips to various museums around Cusco. The teacher was extremely knowledgeable and extremely well-prepared. I learned more in three weeks in this class than I do in full semesters of other classes. My class was composed of only 2 people (plus the teacher) so I did participate a lot more than I do at my home institution. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I'm unsure of my credit transfers at this time. |
