During the spring Semester of 2024, I got the chance to study abroad with ISA in Cusco, Peru. During my time there, I stayed with a host family in their apartment. My host family only knew Spanish, so I was lucky enough to get to practice my Spanish speaking skills with them.

I also met my best friend in Cusco and became close with their host family. Because I got to get to know all these people and me and my friend were both heritage speakers we got to have a very authentic experience.

Despite Latin America being known as dangerous, I never felt or faced any danger when in Cusco.

The program was structured very well. Every day (except the weekend) we got to go to two classes, and then in the afternoons, we got to be independent and roam around the city to explore stuff on our own.

In addition, there were also days where our ISA professors would take us on field trips. For example, one of our professors (professor alberto) took us to many different places, such as Sacsayhuaman and San Pedro market.

In addition, the program also took us to Machu Picchu and Madre de Dios (a section of the Amazon rainforest)
For spring break me and my friend also got to travel independently to Lima and Paracas.

I studied abroad in Cusco, Peru, during the summer term for two months. It was my first time being away from home, but my host family and advisors made me feel safe and welcomed. The culture in Peru is vibrant, and the community is eager to share the rich history of Cusco. During my time there, I attended dance classes, hiked Rainbow Mountain, explored local areas like San Pedro and San Blas, and even worked in the Inka Museum alongside my professor and classmates. Our WorldStrides advisors also took us to Machu Picchu, which is a memory I’ll always cherish. Although the sightseeing was incredible, the best part of my experience was building friendships and making connections both within and outside of the program. I loved my time in Peru, and Cusco will always feel like a home away from home.

Cusco is the perfect study abroad destination. As someone who has spent a significant amount of time in Europe if you prefer nature and outdoors over the city and more upbeat life style. This should be an easy decision. The views in the entire country of Peru, but specifically Cusco are incredible. I highly recommend. The ISA support team is both incredibly transparent and responsive. They included incredible excursions like Machu Pichu as well. One thing that truly surprised me was the quality of teaching. Both of my professors were incredible teachers and also very understanding. Thank you Alberto and Professor Ortega

I did the Summer I semester in Cusco and had a truly life-changing experience. Despite being a shortened semester, ISA made sure we saw all of the best parts of Cusco. Cusco's rich history and culture made for an amazing time studying abroad. The ISA staff and my professors made sure to support me every step of the way, providing great help even when I got sick. The study center is small but charming and offers a great space to study and engage with the ISA community. I will never forget my time in Peru and going through this program has me yearning to go again.

The opportunity to study abroad presented itself at the perfect time. During the fall semester of my junior year, I was going through a mental rut; I felt disconnected, unmotivated, and dispassionate. As someone from a tight-nit community that intentionally stays close, I never considered studying abroad. That was until I experienced an abundance of synchronicities. Initially, I was reluctant to even apply for a program because I felt fear; the most pressing of them all was discovering a new version of myself, one that functions independent of the familiar influences and environmental factors that I was raised with. Because of the mental state that I was in, I felt that I had nothing to lose-- so I applied to the program that I felt most connected with; ISA Cusco, Peru.

After completing a semester of studying abroad in Cusco, Peru, I can gratefully say that it was one of the most impactful highlights of my life. This experience truly saved me from myself. As someone who had previously never left the continent and who has lived in the same state my entire life, I never knew how much I needed to "leave the nest." Living in another continent, studying with students from all over the world, and creating connections independent of any familiar influences allowed for me to learn so much about myself. I learned things about myself that I would have never known if I would have never left my hometown. I discovered that I appreciate living in the present moment, taking things in, and not rushing my experience of being. In the US, it is socially normal to constantly feel rushed or preoccupied with thoughts of the future, and this is reflected in our behavior. I noticed that most people in the US walk at a quick pace, with the purpose of getting somewhere else, never really taking in where they are at during these transition periods. Even once they arrive to their destination, they are thinking about where they have to be next. This robs one of the ability to appreciate life for what it is, and takes away from living in the now. In Peru, people take in the now, they are not worried about being late--because people expect you to be late, and they walk slower (the fact that Cusco is 11k ft. above sea level may account for the slower pace of walking). Living in a country that values practicing being present and mindfulness made me realize how much I had been missing out on. Furthermore, I realized how important it is for me to incorporate presence and mindfulness into my daily life.

I urge future participants to conceptualize studying abroad as an opportunity to self-discover, moreover, to realize who you are independent of the environmental factors you experience back home and grew up with. In addition, studying abroad can increase your levels of open-mindedness as experiencing new regions of the world can provide you with a bigger picture perspective about life and show what you really want from it. For me, Cusco taught me that I love the feeling of being present, and that for the sake of my well-being-- it is crucial for me to soak in the moment and get out of my own head.

Ever since I left Cusco, I have been wishing I could go back. It is the most magical place full of delicious food, incredible people, and breathtaking scenery. The staff at ISA was so supportive and did a great job making me feel safe and comfortable in a new place. They gave great recommendations, taught us how to use public transportation, and took amazing care of us whenever any of us got sick. We got to go on amazing excursions such as the jungle and Machu Picchu. In addition all the classes included a bunch of amazing field trips.

I had the most incredible experience with ISA during my time in Cusco! From the moment I arrived in Peru, I was warmly welcomed by the program coordinators who made me feel right at home. The academic aspect was equally enriching; the courses were thoughtfully designed and provided a perfect balance between classroom learning and real-world exploration. Beyond academics, the program's cultural immersion activities allowed me to truly understand and appreciate the local way of life, traditions, and customs. The support system in place, including the dedicated staff and fellow participants, created a tight-knit community that made me feel welcomed and connected. This journey has not only broadened my perspective but also given me lifelong friends from around the world. I'm immensely grateful for this experience and would wholeheartedly recommend this study abroad program to anyone seeking personal growth, academic advancement, and unforgettable memories.

Something I was worried about with this program was being overwhelmed with school work and not being able to explore the city and learn through experiences, but the staff were very accommodating of that and while the work in classes was challenging for me (who isn't yet fluent in Spanish), I had more than enough free time and didn't feel burdened by the course load. That being said, I feel like I didn't learn that much in the actually classes, but they were still good experiences. My host family and staff were very willing to work with me and my schedule, they both wanted me to explore and learn as much as I could!