Peru Language Immersion and Service Adventure

My 15 year old daughter just returned from her trip with Global Works to Peru. She had an amazing time. The trip was incredibly well organized by Global Works; from the communication before the trip which included a video call with everyone on the trip, to detailed packing guides and daily plans. Once in Peru, everything ran smoothly - even when immigration at the airport took so long that a flight from Lima to Cusco was missed. Global Works was able to quickly arrange travel for the entire group on another flight. The guides on the ground were helpful and knowledgable and my daughter's host family was warm and inviting. In her own words, the service part of the trip was real work but also really rewarding, visiting the markets and practicing Spanish was a lot of fun, but Machu Picchu was the best! Along with a great experience, my daughter has also come home with a number of new friends that she's keeping in touch with and already planning to meet with again. We chose Global Works based on the great reviews we read - and our expectations were exceeded!

During my time in Peru, I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture and take away from all the amazing opportunities the country had to offer. Every day was a new adventure where we met new people, tried new foods and created lasting memories. With the work we did, we got to see the first hand the effects we had on the communities and schools. From learning to make adobe bricks, to working alongside villagers in the mountains of Kajillarakay, we were able to see the true extent of our capabilities when working towards a goal. Throughout the trip we continued to bond and build relationships with each other. During our homestays, we got to practice our Spanish with our welcoming families and create lasting connections with them. They took us under their wing as their own, showing us how to cook Peruvian dishes and telling us about their lives. Every moment spent in Peru was one to remember, as we all have taken so much away from this once in a lifetime experience. The trip leaders were amazing, always there to talk to me when I needed help. It was nearly impossible to feel homesick as we were constantly chatting and having fun as a group. From the memorable bus rides of singing and playing the ukulele to hiking up to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu, our adventure in Peru could not have been better. The two weeks flew by way too fast, and by the end, our goodbyes felt impossible. The hardest part was accepting that for many of us, we would go from seeing each other everyday to not at all. I know we all can agree that our trip with Global Works was definitely one for the books, and a time none of us will every forget. We were so lucky to be able to have had this experience and hopefully encourage others to embark on adventures of their own with Global Works. I cannot thank Global Works enough for the impact this trip has had on me and all the memorable bonds and irreplaceable friends I have made!

The Peru trip was amazing. It made me see the world from a different perspective. I learned a lot of new things like survival skills, being on my own, culture, and most importantly my Spanish improved. The trip was well organized and the trip leaders were awesome. They always made sure they had everything you needed and did health checks. My favorite part about the trip was exploring Machu Picchu, the town of Calca, and doing a homestay. The community was very nice and I felt welcome. Also I love getting to use my Spanish and interacting with the locals. The projects were very fun. I learned a lot from them. When we were installing monkey bars, I learned how to make cement and how to properly use a pick axe. We got to help build a greenhouse for the Sacred Valley project and I made bricks by hand. If you are on the verge of doing this trip, do it. You won’t regret it and you will learn a lot.

I loved everyday of the trip through Peru and Ecuador! This was my second trip with Global Works and I waited all year to see what I would learn this time.

The service work was fun and sometimes challenging. But I experienced the difference our group was making first hand and that was exciting.

I will never forget my home stay family. They welcomed me into their daily lives and I learned so much about the culture. I also enjoyed answering their questions about my life and the United States as well.

The other volunteers and group leaders were fun to get to know. Our group was pretty diverse and that made for some lively conversations! Our leaders were always ready to help and kept us on the ball.

The sightseeing was really beautiful! The downtime trips and cultural exchanges were so interesting. The market trips were so colorful. I enjoyed my trip this summer and want to try another Global Works trip next summer.

Every day I got to wake up in a real Peruvian house and really see what day to day life was like. I could see the types of things that I might not have seen if I was just a tourist. I got to see my homestay family's jobs and even play with the kids. also I got to see some of the hardships that families in 3rd world countries go through. The entire trip as a whole was eye opening and I am very thankful for being able to go on such a trip, and am looking forward to Panama next summer.

I have traveled with multiple companies and no program has been as good as Global Works. The leaders were kind, supportive, and excellent mentors, the experiences offered were profound and the service actually made a difference. The confidence and perspective that I gained are still a huge part of my life today. On a trip so well structured and beautifully crafted, you can't help learning something about yourself and the world. I would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone, because they really do travel, safety, learning, and adventure incredibly well. I hold Global Works in the highest regard.