LGBTQ+ Experience in Peru: Johanna's Alum Perspective

Guest Author: Johanna M., one of our alumni from that spent a semester studying abroad with EdOdyssey shares her experience and insights from her time living and studying in Lima, Peru.

A few weeks into my Spanish Immersion program, taking classes during the day and going on local tourist outings in the afternoon, my friend asked our Spanish professor what the word for “gay” was in Spanish. In Texas, where I’m from, I’d been taught the word “homosexual,” which I volunteered as an answer when he asked.

JOHANNA’S PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE ABROAD

One of the teachers from the language school during my orientation corrected me and said that in Perú, the word “gay” is much more commonly used. I remember smiling and thinking, “wow, that’s so much more normal”. Later, she said something that struck me to my core: “El matrimonio de los gays no es legal en este país,” or “Gay marriage is not legal in this country."

While obviously, I was not planning on getting married during my study abroad semester, I was immediately reminded of the day I celebrated the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. In 2015, while I was a Junior in high school, the Supreme Court ruled that it would be the law of the land. I had become so comfortable already with my right to be seen as an equal under the law that I was crushed to realize I wouldn’t be viewed or treated in the same way in my new host country.

Public displays of affection, especially for young people, are very commonplace in Perú for straight couples. I would see literally hundreds of young couples at my college during the day, but later, I’d always ask my Peruvian friends and host family, “Donde están los gays?”, or “Where are the gay people?”.

THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY & MY PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE

I didn’t realize before I lived in a country without a very visible queer population, how important it was to really see LGBTQ+ people in public spaces. 

The first time I went to a gay club in Perú, and realized I could find the same love and acceptance there, I felt for the first time in a long time that I could be open about who I was. Talking to my friends, to other young Peruvians who are more progressive seeking out queer spaces gave me islands of safety. I felt excitement to actually embrace my LGBTQ+ identity and meet other queer people like me.

What I learned about visibility, in these spaces, wasn’t just how important it was to see other LGBTQ+ people. I also learned how important it was to me that I take on that challenge and be more visible in normalizing being gay everywhere I went.

MY EXPERIENCE & WHO I AM TODAY

As weird as this may sound, without my experience in Perú, I don’t know if I’d be as connected to that part of my identity. I’m truly grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences I had in Perú to learn about all of the cultures that were new to me, and not just the ones we read about in travel guidebooks.

From everyone at EdOdyssey, we hope that Johanna’s story provides insights into how her impactful experience abroad has helped her discover and connect with her identity. Our team continues to help foster understanding with students and their peers through engaging them throughout the process of admissions, pre-departure and especially during the study abroad experience.

To see how we support all of our program participants from the LGBTQ+ community, please see our blog Study Abroad & Supporting The LGBTQ+ Community for more information.

Want more information about study abroad?

Developing Your Study Abroad Personal Project: 3 Steps for Student Success

Guest Post By Narda Antón - EdOdyssey’s Academic Advisor (Peru)

As a part of EdOdyssey’s semester study abroad, each student has the opportunity to create a meaningful personal project. Studying a semester abroad can be one of the most important experiences of your life, and you’ll want to have a piece for your professional portfolio that differentiates you from other study abroad students and young professionals.

When you walk away from this experience, you’ll come away with a unique project that showcases your passions and skills. With EdOdyssey, you have the opportunity to learn more about the local culture and improve your Spanish and show your academic knowledge.

I’m at the front of the classroom walking students through Personal Project process!

At Pontificia Católica del Perú (PUCP), you’ll gain local knowledge from your classes and experiences outside of the classroom. Most importantly, you will also be able to develop a personal project that you can bring home and share with your professional prospects in the future. 

Your unique project will create engagement with the local community as you research a topic that interests you during your semester in Lima. Each student develops each project during a semester and I, as the academic coordinator, will guide them through the whole process.

Below are three main steps that I recommend to my exchange students to accomplish an excellent personal project:

STEP 1: Choosing Your Personal Project Topic

For you to choose the topic of your personal project, you should keep these three key questions in mind:

What topic would I like to explore during my student exchange abroad?

In the initial stages, you will have three topics that you like and you have worked on at your university. Then, you will identify which topic best  fits the reality of the country where you will study and if it is possible to consider it for your personal project.

The topic you will choose will be developed during your semester abroad. You will have to write at least a 10 page essay and make a final presentation for your exchange peers at the end of the semester.

For this reason, it is important that you take into account how accessible and easy it will be to obtain information about the topic you are going to research. For example, some former exchange students chose an interesting topic that they developed in their classes at PUCP and even had the chance to talk to their professors and receive recommendations about their project.

How will my personal project contribute to my exchange experience?

One of our study abroad alums loves dogs and studied Sociology. Her personal project analyzed dogs in different neighborhoods in Lima!

During your exchange, you will have the opportunity to do different activities such as playing sports, taking dance classes, going on excursions to different parts of Peru and even doing volunteer work.

To develop a good personal project, I recommend that the topic you choose is linked to some extracurricular activity you decide to do, so this way you can match your project with your personal experience.

 Here are some examples of past projects:

• A former exchange student, Joe, who was part of the swimming team of his home university, decided to choose “Peruvian university swimming competitions” as a topic for his personal project. He even joined the PUCP swimming team in order to make his exchange experience better. He did some research on university swimming competitions in Peru and did some interviews and surveys to his teammates and coaches in order to write his project essay. In addition, for his final presentation, he showed photos and videos of his training and competitions he participated in during his exchange. His major was International Studies.

• Erin, another former student, was interested in applying to medical school at her home university, chose 'Amazonian natural medicine' as the main topic for her personal project. She had the opportunity to participate in an excursion to the Peruvian jungle, which was organized by EdOdyssey and visited some treatment and rehabilitation centers. At the centers, she had some interviews with medical specialists and collected important information on the topic in order to write her essay and make her final presentation. Her major at her home university was Anthropology.

What impact will my Personal Project have on my career?

Identify how your personal project will add value to your career. For example, when you graduate or when you get a job in the future, how will your Personal Project help you? Are you potentially thinking about a Masters program? 

Don’t forget about your big picture goals and ambitions, and how this project can help serve you to accomplish those goals!

STEP 2: Investigation & Research

Your personal project will have a significant impact on your exchange, so it is important that you dedicate time and effort in order to succeed. Please keep in mind that I’m here to help all students succeed, but please take note of the following tips so you can have the most fun possible with this project!

Be organized: When you start researching your topic, you need to get yourself organized. I recommend that you create a monthly schedule that includes the tasks you must do and the amount of time you will spend on those tasks. 

This will help you to focus on the project and you won’t miss out on your other academic activities.

Step by step: The development of the personal project happens throughout the semester so it will take you a few months to complete it. It is important that you identify the parts of the project and set weekly assignments and goals.

Support: During the semester, you will have my advice and support in the development of your project. We will have weekly meetings that will allow you to present updates and advances with me soI can provide you with feedback  to guide you and improve your project.

Stay calm: Doing your personal project is not an easy task, so it is okay if you feel a little overwhelmed during the process. Remember to stay calm, take a deep breath and reach out to me if you have questions. If you’re proactive during the semester, and keep an open line of communication with me, you’ll enjoy the process and create a better project!

STEP 3: Final Presentation

At the end of the semester, you should present your personal project with your exchange colleagues in order to share your experience and receive feedback. For the final presentation, I recommend that you and all students studying abroad with EdOdyssey complete following:

Style Points: Present your project in a creative and eye-catching way so your fellow students pay attention and get curious about your topic. You’re encouraged to  include photos or videos from the beginning and final stages of your project.

Final Presentation Duration: Your presentation should last approximately 10 minutes. You will include the objective, development and conclusions of your project.

Demeanor: Feel comfortable and relaxed so you can give a confident image to your audience.

Your personal project will bring together your passions, academic skills and knowledge in order to have the best exchange experience abroad. Remember to focus on the three steps described: the choice of topic, the  research and the final presentation, taking into account the time and effort that each one will take.

With proper organization, strong motivation and a good guidance,  you will be able to develop an excellent project that will have a valuable contribution to your professional career!

Ready to get started?

How Medical Spanish & Latinx Patient Knowledge Supports Healthcare Students & Professionals

Learning medical terminology in Spanish will help you serve others to ensure their health and safety. Multilingualism is becoming increasingly recognized as vital within healthcare and fields requiring professionals to understand medical needs of hispanic populations. 

This program on the Latinx Patient: Spanish and Culture for Healthcare will provide participants with necessary cultural and language skills. These skills will make them more impactful in the field of medicine and healthcare in the future, as well as the means to become more invaluable to your peers and your organization.

Continue reading to learn more about how this program can play an integral role in your future medical-related career and contributions to improving health care for all people, particularly the Latinx community, in the United States. 

MULTILINGUALISM IN HEALTHCARE

The World Health Organization has a page on their website that is dedicated to the importance of Multilingualism, and reads:  “Multilingual communication bridges gaps and fosters understanding between people. It allows WHO to more effectively guide public health practices, reach out to international audiences, and achieve better health outcomes worldwide. In this way, multilingual communication is an essential tool for improving global health.” (World Health Organization)

The WHO is dedicated to pursuing a continuous Multilingual Action Plan to make materials and information more accessible to people who need them around the world. EdOdyssey echoes this vital global need for multilingual healthcare and resources. Specifically in the U.S., there is a need for Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals capable of supporting the growing hispanic population.  

In our Latinx Patient: Spanish and Culture for Healthcare program, you’ll increase your Spanish-speaking confidence and you’ll engage in conversations with Peruvian teachers and medical interpreters. One day, you too can work to support hispanic populations in the U.S., and work toward better health outcomes nation-wide.

MEDICAL SPANISH: A CAREER BOOST

This program is about both helping YOU become the best version of yourself, and positioning you to best serve OTHERS in the future. Below are three key ways in which the Latinx Patient: Spanish and Culture for Healthcare program will give you tangible career boosts for the future. 

• Stand Out Amongst Your Peers: Become a standout applicant for internships, jobs, or volunteer opportunities. The completion of this program and the earning of a certificate from El Sol Spanish Language School in Lima, Peru, will demonstrate to future employers that you took the effort to go beyond the required academic path, and that you can bring a unique and highly needed cultural competence to the workplace. 

• Prepare Now For the Future:  As you learn medical terminology now, you will gain knowledge that you can use through your healthcare career. You will not have to cram additional language learning on top of rigorous medical school or health professions schooling in the future. Plan ahead and work smarter, not harder. 

• Wider Range of Job Opportunities: You will be able to serve a larger range of people.  Linguistic and cultural competency will likely expand the range of your potential future job opportunities. Some communities, particularly those with high Spanish-speaking immigrant populations, will be specifically looking for bilingual physicians and healthcare professionals. 

BEING A BETTER PATIENT ADVOCATE

When you have a more advanced medical Spanish vocabulary and cultural understanding, you will enhance your ability to serve the growing latino population in the United States. You will be well positioned to help people feel understood and cared for while receiving high quality healthcare. Additionally, you will avoid miscommunications with native Spanish speakers. 

Beyond solely the language component, your newly gained context of common illnesses and trends among hispanic and immigrant patients will help you better serve and advocate for patients.  As you gain more cultural and linguistic knowledge, your background will serve as a crucial step to bridging communication gaps between patients and healthcare professionals.

Your knowledge learned through Medical Spanish will put you in a better position to play a more impactful role in the outcome of someone’s medical care. 

FEELING OF FULFILLMENT

When your skills learned during this course are put to the test with actual patients, an immense sense of fulfillment will likely follow. By putting in the upfront hard work to learn the vocabulary and cultural knowledge, you have positioned yourself to best serve others who may otherwise lack proper care due to their lack of English language proficiency.

Doctors, nurses, administrators, volunteers, researchers, social workers, psychologists, and healthcare workers alike all can better care for their patients by helping them feel heard and understood. Throughout medical related fields, the rising need for practitioners and professionals who speak both English and Spanish will be accompanied by the need for these people to possess cultural knowledge, or direct experience, surrounding Latino communities.

The diverse U.S. population calls for a healthcare field which cares for and supports people of all backgrounds and English proficiencies. This course will position you not only for personal success within the healthcare field, but also to better serve vulnerable communities that need you most.

Want to learn more about the program?

Turning Youth Travel into Study Abroad: Sarah's Story

My name is Sarah Shorter and I’m really excited to be a content writer and curator intern with EdOdyssey this summer! During my first three years at the College of the Holy Cross, my double major in Anthropology and Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean studies has increased my appreciation of global cultures. This interest led me to study abroad with EdOdyssey in Lima, Peru, where I matured academically, socially, and personally.  

Me competing in Austria!

Photo Credit: Synchrophoto.eu

PASSION FOR TRAVEL GROWING UP

Since my youth, I have had the privilege to travel throughout the U.S. and to numerous parts of the world. A large portion of my travel, particularly internationally, was to competitions with my synchronized ice skating team. The main focus of these trips was always the competition, yet my team would often have a few opportunities to explore the city we were visiting before the competition began. 

For five years, I was incredibly fortunate to compete on behalf of Team USA in 7 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, expanding my global perspective. Visiting and competing in other countries not only enabled me to view different cultures and societal differences, but it also was a unique opportunity to connect with people around the world who share the same passion as me. At competitor parties and banquets, the love of synchronized skating connected people from very different backgrounds.

Having extensively traveled for skating and taken some family trips to Europe and other regions of the U.S., I was ready to channel my inner anthropologist and plant myself during my junior year of college in a completely new country, not as a tourist, but as a global citizen. 

My goal was to not only SEE the differences and similarities that Peru has with my home of Lexington, Massachusetts, but to actually LIVE and UNDERSTAND them. I wanted to truly become a part of the community. 

Visiting Machu Picchu with EdOdyssey!

STUDYING IN PERU

Having learned a lot about other cultures and various aspects of Latin America through my two majors, I was drawn to the idea of studying abroad in Peru. The well organized and supportive program which EdOdyssey has in Peru made my decision to study abroad in Lima much easier. It also helped me convince my parents that I should spend a year

I distinctly remember my pre-departure phone call with the EdOdyssey team in Lima. I hadn’t spoken Spanish in about 6 months and I was sweating from nerves as I got on the call. Yet when the call ended and my Dad asked me how it went, I was enthusiastic, excited, and confident that I would be totally fine when I got to Lima the next month.

The Lima team: Patty, Luis, and Narda, are the absolute BEST! 

Celebrating my host parents’ 50th anniversary

THE PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE

Once I got over some fears and embraced all the unknowns and unfamiliarities that defined my new home of Lima, Peru, becoming a global citizen is exactly what I did! During my 7 months in Peru (before COVID unfortunately frantically had me packing to come back to the states), I learned to dance salsa, to use Peruvian slang, and to embrace “Peruvian time”. 

I became friends with Peruvian classmates, and bonded with my host family. Having had this incredible experience, in large thanks to the EdOdyssey team, I am immensely grateful to be able to continue to work with EdOdyssey. Traveling and engaging with different cultures, peoples, and places is an invaluable privilege and opportunity. 

Enjoying the Sand Dunes during EdOdyssey’s Ica excursion!

One of the greatest things I learned in Peru was that being courageous, taking chances, and following your passions will lead to some of the most rewarding experiences. As I look ahead to my future after college, I hope to get the chance to live abroad again. I am still discerning what my future plans will be, yet I have no doubt that the lessons I learned in Peru will be an integral part of anything I pursue. 

Do you want to learn a bit more about the special EdOdyssey team members who made my experience in Lima a brilliant one?

Be sure to check out the blog Q&A: Meet EdOdyssey’s Local Team in Lima, Peru to learn more about the amazing team that supported, guided, and challenged me throughout my time abroad!

5 Ways to Acquire Foreign Language

At some point in their academic life, all students feel the pressure of learning different sets of verbs and their conjugations, grammatical rules, and practice-scenarios. It is not uncommon to have heard of a friend who felt so anxious with the workload that they decided to withdraw from a language course altogether. This doesn’t have to happen that way. There is a better way to easily speak and understand other languages.

It’s time to meet Comprehensible Input - a theory and method for teaching and learning language using messages you understand but that also have enough unknown content for you to push through your limits. In this blog, you will learn the fundamentals of language acquisition to better understand key language-learning concepts and to support your language learning journey!

Below are five ways you can put this theory into practice!

1. Understanding Language Acquisition Basics

Imagine this scenario: you go to a market in a foreign country and you have items in your bag. You walk up to the register to check out. You know you don’t speak their language, but you know you’re likely going to hear numbers related to the cost of the individual foods and the total cost. Over time, you pick up on the words the cashier uses when checking out, and that’s where your journey begins. 

In situations like this encounter, there is enough unknown material that you see yourself challenged and compelled to find out what the missing words are and fill in the blanks every time you go back to the store. You are acquiring the building blocks of a foreign language without even trying. According to the creator of the theory of Comprehensible Input, Stephen Krashen, people don’t learn a language, they acquire it. You spontaneously spoke your first language when you were young. Learning and acquiring are different concepts, and you’ll see how.

Music is a great way to interact with a new language and learn about a new culture!

2. Less Grammar Focus

We’ve all spent endless hours racking our brains over grammar. At some point, all of us have tried to remember that table with the rules of the subjunctive form of Spanish verbs so then we can move on to burning the words belonging to that particular conjugation into our minds. All to wonder why that test was so hard to do while we learned the lyrics to Despacito after a night at the party without breaking a -mental- sweat. 

If your goal is to acquire a language and become proficient in it, Comprehensible Input may be a more efficient way of starting to do it. Once you are able to understand a sizable amount of your target language, studying its grammar may help you understand why things are said the way they are. Grammar instruction then gives you a deeper understanding of language, for example, why the verb to be in English has two separate verbs in Spanish, ser y estar and how this changes the way people think.

3. Language in Motion - Acquisition through Context

Acquisition is a subconscious process that happens when you understand the meaning of something. Your brain then starts associating what you see, hear or read to what you understand. If I tell you a story that resembles one you already know, but change the name of the characters, chances are you will remember the names of the new characters, because you already understand the context of the story. 

The process for language acquisition is the same. I can start drawing on a blackboard, describing what I am drawing in another language, but as soon as you figure out I am drawing a face, you will quickly associate the facial features with the words I am saying at the time I am drawing them. Your curiosity is focusing your attention on figuring out what I am doing, but your subconscious is already making the connections and saving those new words for later use. 

This is why Comprehensible Input works so great because you focus on the images and concepts you are relatable. At the same time, you can find yourself so puzzled by the things you don’t know, that you feel compelled to find out what more lies there. Before you know it, new words and phrases start to naturally make sense in your mind.

4. Infuse Your Passions to Activate the Language 

Through our experiential learning programs, students learn words, concepts and new ideas!

Take advantage of the things you enjoy. Our electronic devices are built with the goal of consuming content. Use your device as a tool. The next time you jump onto Netflix and watch your favorite movie, but this time set both the audio and subtitles to the language you want to learn.

If you enjoy cooking, why not look for a YouTube video of a foreign meal you always wanted to try? You already know most cooking shows list their ingredients first, then move on to the instructions, so use that to your advantage to associate what you see with what you hear.

You must have fun doing this, and if the method you are using right now does not inspire or compel you to continue, don’t be afraid to change it into something you can’t wait to do.

5. Building Language Through Daily Interactions 

Comprehensible Input shows students who might struggle with classic methods of classroom teaching and learning to rather focus on how to naturally pick up the language. For example, language acquisition in children happens spontaneously through play, daily life, listening to their parents, songs, stories. The next time you are feeling anxious or frustrated about that chart with verbs you need to learn, put the dictionary down for a moment and find another fun way to activate the language.

Have you tried using Comprehensible Input? Connect with us on social media below and tell us about your experience! You can also check out our blog post on Four Tips for Embracing the Language Learning Journey.

Five Facts About Peru That You Might Not Know

How much do you know about Peru?

You may have heard about Machu Picchu and the Incas, or important Peruvian dishes, such as Cebiche (seafood dish) and Lomo Saltado (traditional Peruvian stir-fry), but what other elements make this fascinating country in South America so unique? In today’s blog, we will be sharing a few fun facts with you about Peru! 

There are 90 different micro-climates in Peru

Because of our varied geography, Peru features the coast, highlands, jungle and rainforest all inside its territory. This means Peru has all kinds of elevation in its terrain, from sea level to 6757 meters above sea level in Huaraz. Different altitudes means a wide variety of microclimates, which provides an abundance in both flora and fauna, referring to plant and animal life.

The Incas knew this, and experimented with micro-climatization in the archaeological site of Moray, a multi-level agricultural site in Peru. The Incas would plant the same type of seeds at different altitudes of the circular depressions, which would yield different results!

The Amazon rainforest covers about 60% of Peru

We don’t yet know all of the species that live there! The vast density of the rainforest makes it so difficult to traverse that few expeditions venture into it. That is why every year new species are discovered, from small to large. One of its territories called Madre de Dios (mother of god) is believed to have received this name because of the diversity of species that had its origin there.

Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua & Aymara

Yes! Quechua is also known as the language that unified the Inca empire. Originally called Runasimi, “the language of the people”, Quechua has many dialects on its own and so different among each other that someone from Cusco will have a difficult time chatting with their neighbors in Ayacucho, and they both speak Quechua!

Aymara is the language that is mostly spoken in the highlands of Puno and south-eastern Peru. Being an official language means the government has made efforts to provide information in all three languages to the Peruvian population. So next time you are in Lima, tune in to Channel 7’s TV Peru, and you’ll be able to hear the news in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara!

Lima is home to Peruvian gastronomy

If you ever plan on taking a cross-country trip through Peru, you will quickly learn that you could have a completely different meal each day and not necessarily find the same options in other locations! Diversity is shown through gastronomy, and Peruvians are quite passionate about their love for cuisine.

In Peru, food is closely related to identity, and depending on where within the Peruvian territory you are, you will find they have a signature meal. From Comida Criolla in Lima, to Cuy Chaqtado in Cusco, to Rocoto Relleno in Arequipa, you will find Peruvian food in a restaurant near you!

Three-quarters of the 10 million alpacas around the world live in Peru

Needless to say, we know each and every one of them… by name. Just kidding! However, we do keep track of them because they have been declared an endangered species.

Alpaca wool is so fine and high-quality that it’s sought by luxury brands to make all sorts of garments for winter. The alpaca’s cousin, Vicuña, is also an endangered species because their wool is the highest quality fiber within the animal world. Garments made with Vicuña can be sold for as high as ten thousand U.S. Dollars!

Did you know any of these facts about Peru? Are there any others you have heard of or know from your trips to this wonderful country? Tell us about it! To get to know Peru in more detail, read our past blog, “Understanding The Keys of Peruvian Culture: Landscape and Diversity”!

Learn more about studying abroad in Peru with EdOdyssey!