How Virtual Study Abroad's Cultural Modules Bring Peruvian Culture Home: Part 2

At EdOdyssey, we think that learning should be fun! That is why we make sure to include fun cultural activities in our immersion programs - you learn best when you make your coursework come alive! 

This upcoming semester, we are proud to incorporate this key part of global learning through our Virtual Study Abroad program. During your virtual study abroad program, you will not only take online coursework with our partner institution Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, one of Peru’s top universities,  but you can also bring a bit of Peruvian culture into your home with our cultural modules that complement your courses!! 

PERUVIAN CUISINE

No culture is complete without food! Peru is known for its vibrant cuisine. With people living in different kinds of terrains like the coastline to the west, the mountains in the center, and the rainforest toward the east, there is no doubt that you could find all sorts of different dishes from the regions of Peru!

Learn about typical dishes enjoyed in different parts of the country and try your hand at a virtual cooking class from home! Our staff in Peru will have a special recipe that you can make yourself.

Try a taste of Peru without leaving the comfort of your home!

MUSIC AND MOVIES IN PERU

Peru’s long indigenous history, and multiple cultural influences, created the foundation for many kinds of music and how many types of movies there are in the country. Dive into the history behind different genres of Peruvian music - Afro-Peruvian pieces from the early Peruvian republic, cheerful traditional Musica Criolla of African, European, and Andean roots, the different kinds of Andean music, and more modern electronic music - and give some new tunes a listen!

Movies have a special purpose in Peruvian culture. In addition to the classic entertainment they offer, they serve as memorials to past tragedies such as terrorist acts and also as social commentaries of pressing issues such as socioeconomic disparity and class conflict.

Regardless of what movie you watch, you will certainly learn a lot about Peru through its cinema in this unique cultural module. 

FÚTBOL IN  PERU

Fútbol, or soccer as it’s known in the US, holds a special place in the hearts of millions of Peruvians. Games are often filled with enthusiastic fans sporting their favorite jerseys and rooting for their favorite teams. Sports club rivalries within the country are intense, especially the one between Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes! Both teams are from Lima and have been competing against each other since the 1920s! 

Peruvian fútbol recently returned to the international sports scene in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This was a major event in Peru’s history; the last time a Peruvian team played in the World Cup was in 1982! You can learn about this significant moment in sports history and more abot Peru’s fanaticism for fútbol in this action-packed module!

CULTURAL IMMERSION FROM HOME

The fun of immersing yourself in a different culture is a vital part of any study abroad experience. Our staff in Peru are excited to share their nation’s culture with you through EdOdyssey’s Virtual Study Abroad program! Experience a bit of Peru from your home this upcoming semester!

Ready to learn more about what virtual study abroad has to offer you? Check out our virtual study abroad here to continue exploring!

Virtual Study Abroad with EdOdyssey: A Cultural Adventure Both In and Out of Classes

Studying abroad is something that thousands of students consider doing in college. Learning new things from a different country provides you with new knowledge and perspectives that you might not find in the United States.

It’s no wonder that so many students choose to spend at least one semester of their college career in a different country!

As you look ahead to the rest of your college career, and beyond, these following questions will be important:

• What kinds of new experiences do you want to have, and what kinds of new skills do you want to gain before you graduate?

• Millions of students graduate from school every year - how will you stand out from everyone else?  

You have an opportunity to taste the immersion of study abroad without leaving your home country. Dive into global learning and develop a deeper understanding of the diversity of the world through EdOdyssey’s virtual study abroad program!

Explore the ins and outs of another country through our cultural modules and online courses taught by our expert partners at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), a top institution in Peru!

WEEKLY CULTURAL MODULES 

Anyone who has gone abroad can tell you that adventure waits at every corner. Every day brings something new to explore. As travelers ourselves, we can say that this is the most exciting part of any global experience! 

Outside of class, you can continue to learn about Peru and the Peruvian experience through our weekly modules! Join your classmates for a new discussion and cultural activity session. These two hour sessions occur twice a week and build sociocultural context to complement your course! 

Explore Peruvian culture through movies, sports, and cooking! Our Peruvian-led sessions will bring an authentic Peruvian experience to you!

PERUVIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE COURSE

When you hear the word “Peru,” what do you imagine? A lot of people picture Machu Picchu high up in the mountains. However, Peru is not just the Andes, the Incas, and Machu Picchu. Peru was the center of South American civilization for millennia, and its long history is rich with political, social, and cultural shifts.

You can still see remnants of Peru’s ancient past today, and just as history impacts the present, what you learn about the country in the present will be the good predictors of what might happen in the future. Through Peruvian History and Culture, you can learn about what has happened in the past and how it affects the present.

Most importantly, you will also examine how factors such as societal conflict and personal identity can affect Peruvians for generations ahead!

You can dive deeper into Peru’s history and culture through our weekly modules. Learn more about the intersections of the past and present and explore how the topics you learn in class play a role in the country’s current issues. Our colleagues in Peru, who live and breathe the Peruvian experience, will bring learning to life next semester!

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & LEGAL PLURALISM COURSE

Peru is one of the most diverse countries in the world. A vast majority of Peruvians are either mixed-race or descendants of the ancient indigenous peoples in the area. With over 50 ethnic groups and centuries of cultural shifts and tensions, Peru is the perfect case study if you’re interested in anthropology, race relations, global human rights, or anything relating to the state of the world!

You won’t be taught by any college professor: you’ll learn directly from a Peruvian lawyer who specializes in defending indigenous rights and working with indigenous peoples firsthand! With pressing topics such as land distribution, environmental conservation, and equal access affecting millions of Peruvians, now is the time to learn about the legal histories and policies affecting people in another part of the world!

PANDEMICS, GLOBAL HISTORY, AND PERUVIAN SOCIETY COURSE

As the world becomes more globalized, it will push people and cultures to interact with and understand each other as an important part of our future. Knowledge of the past vitally shapes how we address global issues in the present. 

This course focuses on how Peru has handled worldwide pandemics in the past and challenges students to think about the implications that the country’s history has on people today. Your professors at PUCP won’t just give lectures on history; they will also walk with you through complex social implications of a widespread pandemic and help you navigate the shifting relationships between science and politics in Peruvian society. 

You can further investigate the effect of these factors through one of our weekly modules about Peru in 2020 - we will be discussing how Peru has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, so don’t let this chance to learn something this relevant pass you by! 

YOUR PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE

A virtual course “abroad” will show your curiosity for world affairs, and it’ll teach you lessons beyond the classroom. EdOdyssey’s virtual study abroad program opens a virtual door for you to immerse yourself in the Peruvian experience by learning directly from Peruvian experts and EdOdyssey’s Peruvian team members. 

EdOdyssey’s cultural modules take the lessons from Peru’s culture history, indigenous rights and global pandemics to make them come alive and build on the a strong academic foundation from your classes. You’ll walk away with global competencies that colleges admit from prospective undergrad and grad students. Beyond your degree, you’ll find that employers seek professionals that embrace diversity and new experiences so don’t miss out! 

Want to learn about virtual study abroad?

Q&A: Meet EdOdyssey’s Local Team in Lima, Peru

Please meet our EdOdyssey Peru team! This special group of professionals come from Peru, and they’ve coordinated activities and events to extend the classroom and to get a wider perspective on Peruvian culture. Beyond providing cultural and academic support for students, they encourage students to thrive throughout their time in Peru. Our team works tirelessly with students, who come from different backgrounds, so that all students feel welcome during their time in Peru. 

What’s personally and professionally motivated them to work with study abroad students? How have they learned from our students through their experiences these past semesters? 

As educators who love working with students, we want you to hear from our team firsthand about their experiences working in international education and the valuable, shared moments they’ve had throughout their journey so far with EdOdyssey: 

Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and why you got interested in the field study abroad?

Luis Garcia: I am a Media major at Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru,  31 years old, and I love riding my bike in my spare time. I got interested in the Study Abroad field after completing a year as a Foreign Language Assistant at the College of the Holy Cross. Our job was to share our language and culture in the Practicum sessions as part of their Spanish classes. 

Luis and students on their way to Iquitos, Peru!

I learned that many students were interested and would sign up for countries like Spain and Argentina, but only a few would sign up to visit Peru. So I decided then that I would do my best to push for students to get to know Peru better and everything it has to offer, both in culture and language. With time, I got really interested in this, and to guide students through their immersion experience in Peru, as they are no longer tourists and my country has so much more to offer beyond the tours and brochures.

Patty Valencia: My name is Patricia Valencia, but everyone calls me Patty. I was born in Ica, Peru, 25, almost 26 years ago, and I am currently working with EdOdyssey as a Program Coordinator. I've been working with EdOdyssey, since I was 23, and the truth is that when I was younger, I never expected I would ever be interested in this field. I am Manager by profession, and I do manage a small hostel and tour operator in Ica, my hometown, and that is how and where I met Peter McGovern, EdOdyssey's founder. He contacted me a few years ago, because he was coming to Ica with a group of students during a cultural immersion trip and he needed someone who could help him booking stuff here. 

Patty (center) with students at Machu Picchu!

Long before that, I had gained experience in tourism because I worked in the field for several years before I decided to open my own hostel. But this group, was my first solo trip. The first one I did all by myself. Logistics, organization, reservations. I was kind of afraid at first, because it was a very big group (30 people), but opportunities only come once, and luckily I took this one.

As it was my first, I wanted to be always there, with the group, in case something (anything) happens. And I did. And just before the day ended, Peter lead a group reflection with the kids, where I was part of and it just hit me.

That very moment, listening to all of their impressions about what they had seen in my country and how that changed in so many ways their perspectives of living and life in general. How kind they found Peruvian people, how different, how hardworking and how giving, even when they didn't have much to offer... It was such an emotional moment, that it made me be grateful of being Peruvian, of being part of a country that struggled so much for what we have now and it made me realize how important it was to conscientize others, not only foreigners but Peruvians too, and to make them see a different reality than the one they used to live in. How important it was to educate people about privileges, and to see it first hand. 

That day, Peter and I never talked about working together. It all happened too quickly. I think I went to bed that night just thinking "how lucky I am to have the life I have", but never expected that some months after, I would be the one leading the reflections, traveling with students, seeing those sparkly eyes while discovering new places and having to say goodbye after having such meaningful time together. 

This job has changed my life in the most positive and holistic possible way. It has given me the chance to embrace my own identity and by doing that, it has allowed me to share it with other people, not only job wise, but my friends and family. So, no, it was never my goal to work with international students. I was just lucky enough to find it along the way.

Narda (back center) enjoyed a meal with student in Lima, Peru.

Narda Anton:  I’m Narda Anton and I live in Lima, Peru. I studied Communications at the PUCP (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú) and since I was a little girl, I’ve been interested in getting to know different cultures and places around the world. For the last three years, I have been working in International Relations at PUCP and every semester I have the opportunity to meet several students from different countries and realize the positive impact studying abroad has on their lives.

Q: What have you enjoyed the most about working with American students?

Narda: I have worked with many American students over the past years and what I enjoy most is the curiosity they have in learning and discovering new things and being open to new experiences during their exchange. All the students are very interested in learning more about the culture and customs in Peru; they love to travel, explore new places, and create connections with the locals.

Q: What have you learned about Peruvian culture as you've worked with American students?

Patty: SO MUCH! To be fair, I think Peruvian primary and secondary education in the past has not been the most holistic in Latin America.As a result, we didn’t learn much about our own history and culture. I have to say that primary and secondary education continues to  improve a lot through the last couple of years and the meaning of what being Peruvian means too. 

There have been many places where I visited and travelled  with international students. Of course, I always tried to make a lot of research about those places before I went there, but the impact once I felt there was absolutely shocking in a good, impressive way. 

Patty (center right) with students at Pamplona Alta in Lima.

For example, the first time I went to Pamplona Alta, a  developing community located up on a hill in Lima. We went there to help locals build stairs so they could have easier access to their houses. First of all, it was hard to trek to the higher areas that are some of the places with the most need for stairs. After some trekking, you start to get to the areas of highest demand for stairs. I think that the day before, it had rained a lot, and so it was very muddy and difficult to walk and go where we needed to go.  The difficulty of the climb stopped as soon as we got to the climb because nothing could be as hard as the reality in front of our eyes. 

I knew there was poverty in Peru, and where I am from in Ica, there are also a lot of families living with minimal resources. However, what I saw that day was just as impressive as it was necessary for me to feel connected to a different community . As I saw people falling over and over again because of the mud to get to their houses, raising toddlers who were just learning how to walk, and being exposed to accidents, was challenging for me to witness. After seeing these hardships, they received us, talked to us as in the most warm and friendly way, and we saw them so excited despite all of it. 

Emotionally, it was one of the most challenging and fulfilling experiences I had working. And now that I share that with students, it always has on them the impact it had on me, that one first day. You share a lot in this kind of job. Couldn't be happier about that.   

Narda (front left) posing with students during a dune-buggy excursion in Ica, Peru!

Narda: Every time I host a group of American students I can identify the qualities that they value most in Peruvians:  how proud we are of our country and culture and how we are always promoting our Peruvian cuisine and our beautiful destinations. I can also realize how excellent hosts we are with tourists, always kind and respectful, willing to help them whenever they need it. I had the opportunity to travel several times with American students and visit different places in Peru. It was a nice experience because I learned to appreciate our cultural diversity and became more proud of my identity as Peruvian.

Q: What is your best advice on how students can immerse themselves in Peruvian culture? How can students gain the most from their study abroad experiences (excursions, volunteering)?  

Patty: I have a few recommendations:

Patty (left) posing with students during a day visit at the Amaru Community!

1. The best way to truly immerse ourselves in our culture, is to actually commit to it. With your Peruvian local family, and the friends you make here. Maybe the same American friends you came with, but friends who are living the exact same experience as you. Give yourself a break from your American life, but not from your regular hobbies or habits. I don't mean you need to pause communication with your family or friends from the U.S., but you have an amazing opportunity to create a second family and group of friends here! Don't take that for granted!

2. SPEAK SPANISH. And "Peruvian Spanish", if possible. You'll notice that we use a lot of slang. Try it! Even if you are not the best at it, you'll get there.

3. Peru has a lot to offer. And compared to the U.S., it is so cheap! Try to make short trips, at least once a month. Here, you'll find beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, oasis, and more. Peru is not only Lima. And you can always come to us looking for help or recommendations.

4. Peruvian and American culture, are very different from each other. So you may find difficult to make Peruvian friends, but try it. The opportunity is always there.

5. Even though Peru is doing better than 20 years ago, it still has so many social (and many other kinds of) problems that require all the attention they can possibly have. While you are here, you can always do some volunteer work in the NGO of your preference. Again, we would be happy to help you choose the best option for you.

Q: What's the most enriching part of your work with EdOdyssey?

Luis: The most enriching part of my work with EdOdyssey is helping students understand things about Peruvian culture by using examples from their own environment to help them compare and relate. 

Luis (left) with study abroad students during their orientation, visiting the Corazon de Jesus School with Agustin (the school’s promoter).

I was lucky to live long enough in the U.S. to be able to understand things about American culture and compare them to my own, learning what things are similar and different. That way, whenever there’s a concept about Peru that a student may not understand, I have learned that having that experience has helped greatly in developing my ability to explain and put things in a way that helps students in their adaptation to Peruvian life.

Patty: Definitely the friends I ended up making, which is fun to say, but it was never my goal. My goal was/is to give my very best to make each student's Peruvian experience, as enriching and fulfilling as it can be. But life has surprised me deeply and has brought people of light along my way, through work, whom I can't be happier to have now as my friends.

Patty (center) with students at the Sacred Valley.

I always say that this job has given me the chance to get to know people who I feel I would have never known in any other circumstances. But it has also given me the opportunity, in these crazy times, to see hope in the present and future generations. We are truly making an impact in students' lives, but it wouldn't mean much though, if we, as educators, don't let ourselves be fragile about it. It wouldn't mean much, if we lose the ability to feel joy when you see someone crazy happy when he/she jumps into the Amazon river, or takes the perfect picture of Machu Picchu, or tries his/hers first Causa rellena. So, focus, it is never about the place. It is always about the people.

Narda (right) with Patty (second from left) and students during a day trip!

Narda: My work with EdOdyssey allows me to meet students from many parts of the United States, who have different backgrounds and profiles. However, they all arrive to Peru with the same excitement and expectations to have an unforgettable  experience during their exchange. Through my work, I have the opportunity to contribute to their personal and academic development, making me feel very grateful and appreciate the positive impact studying abroad has on their lives and how they return to their country as more open, tolerant, and empathetic people.

Q: What’s one piece of advice that you give students to help them achieve their goals while abroad?  

Luis (front left) enjoyed the sunset with study abroad students in Iquitos.

Luis: My advice for students deciding to embark on a study abroad journey is to imagine yourselves as research agents on a mission to understand a country different to yours. To keep a curious mind about what makes our society different than the one at home, and how this affects language use, social interactions and customs.

To try and communicate as much as possible with people around you, because it is one thing to understand what you are being told, but true success of understanding language comes when you are able to get familiar with social cues and background. And you will know that when you finally get that joke everyone else laughed to, you will be ready to informally graduate as a Peruvian.

Narda: I think the most important advice during an exchange is that students have a positive attitude, willing to leave their comfort zone and be flexible about unexpected changes that may occur while abroad. Each student arrives at their destination with many expectations in mind, however, they must understand that their plans will not always work out and they must be open and mature enough to accept this change and let go and trust that everything will work out fine.

It’s very important that students look for emotional support from their host families or friends while abroad and realize they are not alone in this adventure and there will always be someone to help them through difficult times!

Luis (left), Narda (second from the left), and Patty (center) capturing a moment with study abroad students and EdOdyssey President & Global Founder, Peter McGovern (third from the left).

We appreciate our team for taking the time to share their stories with all of us! We hope students continue to become a part of the Peruvian culture and community abroad, with the help of our on-site staff in Lima. 

Are you interested in studying abroad in Peru? With the help of our team, we’d be thrilled to make that dream a reality! Visit our study abroad page for more information about life in Lima as a study abroad student!  

6 Major Program 2019 Highlights Across Our 5 Locations

As we close up shop on 2019, we’re excited to share with you some notable highlights, including amazing activities and famous sites, that groups of students and faculty were able to enjoy all around the globe! 

Here’s a closer look into our custom programs during 2019: 

Madrid, Cordoba, and Seville, Spain

A group of students visited Spain in March, 2019 for a Spanish Immersion program, full of rich cultural heritage. Students participated in a many interactive activities during the stay, such as a scavenger hunt in Madrid, where they explored an area of the city center and searched for objects within the area. The group absorbed Spanish art, culture, and language while touring the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and incorporated the use of the Spanish language with Spanish artwork. Students also had the opportunity to visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to the soccer team, Real Madrid! 

Following Madrid, students were immersed into a variety of classes and instruction in Cordoba, Spain, as they attended school with their host brothers and sisters. Students had time to become acquainted with their host families and explore the city together. The group also visited Fundación de Banco de Alimentos, a non-profit organization that provides support to lower income families and serves the community. 

Students also learned about Spain’s ancient history during a visit to La Mezquita, the historic area of Cordoba. One of the best examples was the Mezquita-Catedral, which was originally constructed as a Mosque and now is a Catholic Cathedral. As the program came to a close, students put on their dancing shoes as they worked with a local musician to learn about the folkloric music of flamenco, its roots, and history in Southern Spain.

Rome, Italy 

March was a busy month for travel as an additional group of students and faculty visited Italy.  One of the faculty leaders for EdOdyssey’s Rome Program enjoyed a program inspired from the work Walking with a Palladio: A Passport to Rome that helped give students valuable insight into the history of Rome. After settling in, the group explored important basilicas, including Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, and the Basilica of San Clemente. Following a long first day of travel, students enjoyed a group dinner with roman style pizza. 

Rome’s historic center is incredibly generous with its architecture and rich history, including some of the biggest attractions, such as the Pantheon, a nearly 2,000 year old former Roman temple that is now a church, and the Colosseum, Rome’s greatest gladiatorial arena inaugurated in 80 A.D. Next, students toured surrounding ancient ruins, where they traced origins back to Palantine Hill and spent time in the Roman Forum, known as the downtown district of temples. 

The group also ventured over to one of the most famous fountains in the world, the Trevi Fountain. Tradition requires that visitors toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to the Eternal City! St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica could not be missed! Students spent a full day in the Vatican City and visited the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, home to some of the world’s greatest art collections.

Students were also able to spend time with local students, volunteer, and gain insight into a typical italian school atmosphere. Another interactive, hands-on activity included a special group dinner prepared by the group with a local chef, and delicious samplings of famous dishes! 

“The best part of the trip was going to the school because we met so many new people and got to experience another culture with kids that were our ages. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and I would personally go back again.” - Cole, Student

Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and Daxu, China

EdOdyssey also travelled to China in 2019 with students studying Mandarin to understand the importance of Chinese culture and their way of life. Beginning in Shanghai, students spent time with their sister school, Shanghai High School. Afterward, the group traveled to Guilin and engaged in intensive small group Chinese classes to strengthen language skills used during the remainder of the program. 

Additional interactive activities included Taiji Quan with a Taiji master. Taiji Quan, often spelled Tai Chi in the West, is a Chinese martial art practiced for defense training and health benefits. Students also met with local students to hike Chuan Shan, Guilin’s karst mountain scenery, and participated in a Chinese calligraphy lesson led by a local artist. To dive deeper into China’s religious roots, the group explored a Buddhist monastery, chatted with monks, and meandered through the underground prayer caves.  

“The mountainous view was gorgeous and unreal. We learned a lot about the religious culture as it [Guilin] was a more rural part of China compared to Shanghai but I definitely enjoyed both totally different experiences a lot.” - Ikwo, Student 

Students enjoyed learning about tea culture through a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and savored a hot pot dinner followed by karaoke with Chinese friends. The group also cruised down the famous Li River to Yangshuo and explored the famous shopping and cultural district. 

Lima and Cusco, Peru 

During April of 2019, a group of students traveled to Peru for a Solidarity & Service Trip. They improved on their Spanish language skills through authentic immersion and service with local communities. Corazón de Jesús, a K-12 school located in a low-income area of Lima, was the students’ first immersive experience where they played with children and had lunch in the school cafeteria with local students. 

Upon arrival to Cusco, the group got acquainted with a city tour, then visited a local ceramic class and made their own Torito de Pucará, which is well known in Cusco due to its representation of the Peruvian South-Andean identity.

The group rode PeruRail Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu, and explored the ancient ruins with a local guide. After a short bus ride to Amaru, the group lived like the local community, prepared their own food with the help of Amaru friends, and visited other local residents, such as the alpaca and vicuña. 

Their return to the States included one last stop in Lima, and students spent the afternoon exploring the center of Lima, along with it’s beautiful architecture. However, their program wasn’t complete without taking part in a Peruvian cooking class!

The final service project in Lima was in Pamplona Alta, a special community EdOdyssey has maintained a close bond with. There, students worked together with leaders to build stairs up in the hills where access to water and electricity is limited. 

“This trip was one that I will never forget, and one that I would never change. This trip changed the way I view the world. It also allowed me to connect further with who I truly am as a person. Throughout this trip I gained a deeper understanding of how other people around the world live everyday. The amazing people in Peru who accepted us from the moment we arrived to our departure showed me what it meant to embrace your culture and where you come from.” - Grace, Student 

Quebec and Montreal, Canada

As the fall semester began for students, French language students visited Canada in October, 2019 to focus on the past and present of Quebec. At the beginning, the students were welcomed by their host families and spent time getting to know them. Students also attended French language classes at a local school to utilize the target language as much as possible and had lunch in the cafeteria with the locals. 

Students participated in a scavenger hunt in Quebec City and visited a local Sugar Shack to learn how maple syrup is collected and sampled the delicious sweet. In addition to learning about Canada’s sweet traditions, the group also had the chance to taste a traditional speciality known as Poutine! 

After a short journey to Montreal, students had time to discover the historic neighborhood and see sites such as the Notre-Dame Basilica with a local certified bilingual guide. Students also prepared traditional Quebec cuisine with a local chef for dinner! Their program concluded with an entertaining workshop about local graffiti art where students created their own masterpieces!

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru

Groups of our study abroad students arrived in Lima, Peru for spring, summer, and fall semesters, where they met up with the EdOdyssey team in preparation for their semester or academic year abroad at PUCP. During their first month, our students began to familiarize themselves with the area, visited other districts in Lima, volunteered with local organizations to serve their community, got to know their homestay families, and attended an 80-hour language booster course to become comfortable with Spanish as their primary language of communication. 

Additionally, our groups of students went on in-depth journeys to explore Peru’s incredible diversity through excursions to Iquitos, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Huacachina, and Ica. All excursions displayed different landscapes and components of Peru, including the cuisine and history, in hopes of students continuing to seek out adventures during their travels. 

As this fall semester comes to a close, we hope our current study abroad students can enjoy their last few weeks in Lima and reflect on all of the enriching experiences Peru has brought into their lives. 

“Soon Peru became like a home to me, thanks to the program coordinator and the other staff who constantly went above and beyond what was expected of them to ensure that we all were well accommodated. The additional trips that were offered throughout the semester and the volunteer opportunities were definitely a huge part of my experience and I am grateful to have been a part of such a beautiful thing.” - Yarlenis, EdOdyssey Study Abroad 2019 Alum 

Some of these EdOdyssey 2019 highlights have made for a fun-filled year! We look forward to all of our programs happening in 2020! 

Interested in designing your own custom program with EdOdyssey? Visit our webpage for more information on how you can get involved with immersive international experiences with your students during 2020. Below is a video highlighting EdOdyssey and why we believe travel changes people!

Check out our new welcome video!

Why We're Grateful for Our Study Abroad Alumni

EdOdyssey is grateful for all our students who have been involved in our past programs, especially our study abroad alumni from our Peru program who were inspired to call Lima, Peru their home for a semester. They have returned from one of the most enriching experiences of their lives, and we are grateful to have shared their journey. 

Studying abroad allows students the opportunity to care more deeply for international communities, stay involved with education and travel, and inspire others to get outside of their comfort zones. From experiencing different cultures, making long-lasting friendships, and having amazing immersive experiences, we want all EdOdyssey Alumni to know that they make our programs special. 

During a season of thankfulness, we encourage current students and alumni to reflect on the various ways international education have shaped their lives. We hope the current study abroad students in Lima will continue to use their global experiences as a resource and remain inspired as they explore all that the world has to offer.

Here are three pieces of advice from EdOdyssey Alumni for students planning to go abroad! 

Maddie reflected on her experience and offered some advice for other students overseas. Get to know host families and spend time when you can with them, because they’re a great resource practicing Spanish and having people to be around in your daily life while getting to know a foreign country. Also, practice patience with yourself and others. You have it within you, it just takes practice and time. 

Do you consider yourself to be a spontaneous traveler? Katherine advises students to have a decent amount of cash and change at all times. Sometimes there’s different rules in certain places, or you might not expect to visit a place during the day with certain entrance fees or activities you’d like to participate in. 

Margaret recommends study abroad students to really get to know their new neighborhood abroad, such as walking around and getting to know it for themselves, instead of following friends along. Join a club, or other activity. Margaret joined a yoga studio and not only met others, practiced Spanish, but also found joy in an activity while abroad. 

Since their time abroad, our alumni have been helping immigrants, gaining temporary experience and searching for exciting opportunities in new cities! Check out this video below featuring EdOdyssey alumni:

Many of us can agree that some of the best moments of life as a study abroad student occurred while we were overseas. A special thanks to EdOdyssey Study Abroad Alumni for providing thoughtful tips and insight for other students to make the most of their time studying abroad. We are appreciative of what you’ve all learned from studying abroad! 

A huge “Thank You” from the EdOdyssey staff for the opportunity to continue to encourage people to change the world one immersive program at a time. 

Interested in more testimonials? Check out what our alumni are saying here!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

3 Reasons Your Language Base Accelerates Your Spanish Abroad

EdOdyssey’s partner language school, El Sol, located in Miraflores, Peru.

“Wow! Your Spanish is so good! How long have you been studying it?” You may hear this type of compliment during your time studying abroad, but it takes some commitment before and during study abroad for up and coming language learners.  

After you’ve spent some time creating a strong language base at home, you’ll be able to take that foundation of language skills with you abroad. It is very beneficial and necessary to build up your language skills before study abroad so you can maximize your experience while abroad.

Here are 3 ways how learning language at home will help take your language skills to the next level:

Build Deeper Connections

With the knowledge of a language, you can really take a dive into a culture. Furthermore, you have a foundation for basic communication that gives you a base of the language to connect with others on a level that is more than a friendly hello and goodbye relationship. 

You’ll need to make sure that you have a sense of how the language works and feel confident enough so you can work on going faster while still feeling in control. The world continues to move quicker, and it is still truly connected with language, which is one of the most effective tools that brings people together.

Increase Your Confidence Abroad

Before you decide that you want to study abroad, you too can experience the benefits of language firsthand. It will only require some work on your part with regard to studying the language of your choice.

A local art piece featuring the Spanish language.

For EdOdyssey’s study abroad program in Peru, it requires at least three Spanish courses of knowledge, or the equivalent in Spanish knowledge for you to have some context going into the experience. For example, if you plan to study abroad in Peru during the spring semester, it may be a good idea to make sure that you work on the language during the fall semester. If you put in the time and effort leading up to your study abroad experience, you will be setting yourself up to take the most advantage of your time abroad. 

Before even arriving, you will have a general sense of the language going into the experience which will give you more confidence and autonomy when you want to explore on your own. This will not only help you when taking classes in another language, but with your daily life, making friends, and connecting to the culture when abroad. 

When I did the EdOdyssey Peru program, I was with a group of fellow classmates in the program who also had a strong base of Spanish. All of us had signed the language pact to speak in Spanish and I felt like the intensive 80 hours of Spanish classes took my Spanish to the next level to fully enjoy and make the most of my time abroad.

A Second Language s a Gift For Life

Understanding a second language, such as Spanish, is beneficial when exploring the city during your travels!

The advantage of going abroad is that study abroad itself accelerates language learning. When you are abroad in the streets of Peru, you are going to have to be able to speak the language. Therefore, you will attain daily practice of a language, improving your proficiency (and hopefully local tongue) by the day. Language is a powerful tool, but its full power is only activated if you properly prepare yourself for experiences abroad.

As an EdOdyssey Peru alum, I saw first hand how my Spanish went from basic to conversational within my time in Lima and I continue to use it and study it. After you’ve invested the time and effort, you have to make sure that you do your best to keep it alive!

Interested in improving your second language skills? EdOdyssey’s study abroad program in Peru includes an intensive 80 hour Spanish language booster program for all students to advance their Spanish! Visit our study abroad page for more details!