The feeling of panic was palpable in the room. None of us were accustomed to language classes that placed an emphasis on speaking. Although I learned so much about vocabulary and grammar in my high school and college Spanish courses, they didn’t do much to improve my speaking skills.

Whether we’re students or teachers, our knowledge of both content and beliefs gets tested when we go abroad. As we step into the unknown and travel, we begin to understand more about other cultures, but at the same time, we start to process and gain more insight into our own individual personality and values.  

One of my favorite spots to visit, no matter where in the world, are cafes.  Cafes have an authentic and local feeling to them that chain restaurants cannot offer.  When visiting cafes in Lima , it is a local experience. During my time in Lima, I never visited Starbucks.  

During study abroad, one of the places where you will spend a considerable amount of time is at your homestay’s home.  In order for your experience to be as amazing as possible, it is also important that your homestay experience is an amazing one too.  Living abroad can be difficult at first, but making a positive connection to your homestay can impact your experience for the better.

When in Peru, there are several destinations that are worth visiting, but there are certain areas that can get overlooked. Peru’s history, art and gastronomy is hidden throughout its neighborhoods and smaller cities. Each of these places will expose you to the diversity of Peru and you will without a doubt enjoy your time at these fun and multicultural destinations.

If you’re currently a college student, or going into college, study abroad may be on your mind from the beginning or perhaps later on.  Whenever you begin to think about studying abroad, it is a good idea to start this process ahead of time.