As our trip to Peru comes to an end, all I can say is that I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to explore parts of such a diverse and wonderful country. With that being said, I had no idea what to expect when I had signed up for this Maymester - this was my first time in South America and I was simultaneously excited for all that the course had to offer as well as an overwhelming nervousness as to how I would navigate this new place with all of the cultural differences that come with going to a different country. If you ever plan to come to Peru, here are my top tips and takeaways from my time here as well as some things I would have done differently.
Immerse yourself with the local communities
Wandering the streets of every city and town we visited made me realize that kindness spreads across language and cultural barriers. Sharing meals with people, asking them about their lives, and being curious about what makes people who they are allows for even greater understanding and connection. As I got more acclimated to the experiences I was having, I began talking to more locals and strangers which gave me another perspective that I could use to shape my understanding of what I was seeing and experiencing. If I could have changed one thing, it would have been to start immersing myself and allowing my curiosity to ask questions of strangers even earlier.
Be open to new experiences
This really just comes down to two words: try everything! There were so many things that I had never experienced before, whether it be foods I had never heard of, sandboarding in the middle of the desert, or just simply wandering through a new city with no clear goal or map; but overall, I went into this trip with the 'yes' mindset (Why say 'no' when I could just say 'yes'?). Obviously, I am not saying that if a random person came up to me offering illicit drugs or I could tell that food would not be safe I am telling you to "just say yes!", but be open to the freedom of allowing yourself out of your comfort zone and really diving into the cultural differences and once-in-a-lifetime experiences you will find.
Be true to you
I think there is a false perception that going abroad for an extended amount of time will unlock some new part of you or change the foundational aspects of who you are; while I hate to break it to you, that just is not reality. Be honest with yourself and who you are, and don't change the entirety of who you are just to say that a place was 'life-changing'. There may be things you realize about yourself, such as a newfound confidence or a love for certain cultural aspects that you encounter, but don't expect a complete change in yourself due to your interaction with a different culture.
Be ready for the unexpected
There were so many things that happened during our weeks in Peru that I did not expect coming in: 5 am wakeups that turned a groggy, annoyed bus ride into a beautiful sunrise over the vastness of the desert; hanging over the edge of the cliff as an argument breaks out between bus drivers over the right of way; and swimming in the freezing ocean waters off the coast of Lima (just to name a few). Similar to what I had said previously, many of these things were not planned and very spur of the moment, but if I hadn't said 'yes' to the opportunity and spontaneity of it I could have missed out on some of my most magical and favorite memories from the trip; so be ready for unexpected things to come up and just see where that spontaneity takes you.
Enjoy the journey and don't take it for granted
Overall, if you get the chance to come to Peru and explore this amazing country I am sure that you will have a great time. Even in the ups and downs of life and whatever may happen while there, my experiences over the past three weeks have opened my eyes even more to the beauty and diversity of our world, and I will forever be grateful that I got to share this experience with people who started out as strangers and now have become like family.
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