Study Abroad in Lima, Peru with WorldStrides

I spent five unforgettable weeks in Peru through the WorldStrides Community Health & Medical Spanish program at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. While living and studying in the Miraflores District this summer, I balanced classes with bonding with my host family and participating in social excursions.

Academically, I learned so much. From the simulation labs with other UPCH students to the community clinical experiences at the Piedra Liza Health Center, the exposure to the Peruvian healthcare system was invaluable.

Outside of the classroom, I made the most of my time in Peru. Notably, I tried various Peruvian dishes (with lomo saltado quickly becoming a favorite), took a cooking class, hiked Machu Picchu, cheered at a fútbol game, relaxed on a weekend trip to Máncora Beach with friends, rode horses, admired art and history in museums, and sand-boarded at the Huacachina desert oasis.

This program challenged me to practice my Spanish daily, immersed me in a new culture, deepened my passion for nursing, expanded my professional network, and broadened my global perspective. I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity, and I will carry the friendships and memories I created during this study abroad experience with me forever.

I spent a summer in Lima, Perú, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Lima is a huge city filled with endless activities, so you'll never be bored. There's something for everyone between the delicious food, rich history, amazing art, and beautiful beaches. There are also plenty of outdoor activities in the city itself or in nearby towns. And, just to reiterate, the food is a huge part of the experience. Peruvian cuisine is on another level, with Lima being home to FOUR of the World's 50 Best Restaurants, including Central, which holds the top spot. ISA helped make this an easy and enjoyable adventure by always being just a text message away to answer any questions and taking us on several wonderful cultural activities. I can't recommend the program in Lima enough, I loved it so much that I'm doing it again this semester!

It was one of my best moments of my life in recent years and I do not regret doing this program :) Everything is very different and Peru has many beautiful places. In addition to the things that I liked most is to try their variety of food. I also recommend a Facebook group to get advice and recommendations when they are in Peru. ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/exchangestudentinternationslima/ )

I would definitely recommend this program. I had an incredible experience combining Study Abroad with Service Learning in El Hospital del Nino while staying with a Peruvian host family. My language skills improved immensely, I gained an appreciation for the Peruvian culture, and met wonderful people from around the world. Study abroad has been a highlight of my college career and a life changing experience. The onsite staff through ISA are absolutely amazing--willing to help out with anything at anytime. I would also suggest signing up for all of the excursions. I went to on trips to the rainforest, to Cusco and Machu Picchu, and to a desert oasis/beach town, and those were highlights of my entire trip.

This was an incredible program! The on-site staff were always there to look out for you but gave everyone enough independence so they could enjoy their trip as they saw fit. The program was more expensive than others but with all of the big trips planned and paid for along with weekend excursions it saved the headache and hassle of having to plan your own side trips within the country. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful group of other Americans there and we all connected and formed a lifelong bond. Life in another country is not always easy but it is the most rewarding way to spend a semester in college!

The ISA Lima crew is quite simply the best!! If I were to study abroad again I would definitely go through ISA!! All of your housing, food, and excursions are included in the cost. Everything is set up for you when you arrive, this is great so you can enjoy your city instead of worrying about housing! Our group became a family and this made the five months in Lima even better!!

I studied in Lima during the fall semester of my junior year of college - Fall 2012. ISA as a company prepares you well before you go overseas, doing its best to pair you with a more the. Adequate family who either has hosted students for years and/or are personally known by the on-site staff. The on-site staff provided a comprehensive day-long introductory course to the city, and culture. They helped us as a group of foreign students understand the socially acceptable behavior and the faux paus as well. The biggest challenge, but wonderful adventure, was understanding and getting used to using the public transportation 'system'. The staff consists of mainly native Peruvians. They were available 24/7 by phone, e-mail or to physically accompany/assist us with whatever we needed. Once, when my roommate & I had signed up to run the McDonald's "Mujeres Corremos 2012" 5k race our director & one of her employees genrously chauferred us to the packet pickup. The group trips to Machu Picchu, the Amazon, etc, were extremely well planned & exposed us to the insanely diverse & beautiful country that is "el Peru". As a result of the staff's & my host family's help, and my love of adventure I became comfortable maneuvering by myself around the city. Moreover, my roomate and I were placed with a great family. We had siblings both younger and older. All of them helped us get around before we were comfortable on our own
Our Mom took us to the zoo one day! And shopping to various districts. Not only did they adopt us into their family (celebrations too) our parents taught us about many cultural & historically & politically important issies or events. I am extremely grateful to have been placed with a family who so highly valued our well-being. FYI - Lima is HUGE. There's never a dull moment. Festivals, mercados, restaurants and clubs always provide something to do. Honestly, I can truly call Lima home. I highly recommend this program for its quality staff and great cultural & learning experience. Porfa, vente! Lima te está llamando!

Studying abroad through ISA has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! My semester in Peru was the higlight of my college years.
The ISA on-site staff was amazing and always went above and beyond for us. We were introduced to the city and given time to explore before classes started. My host family was amazing and was well-trained, making for a comfortable stay.
ISA planned several included trips throughout the semester and it was great to do all of that traveling together with a knowledgeable leader each time.
Some experiences that Peru gave me:
sand boarding, eating cuy (guinea pig), eating anticuchos (cow heart), eating passionfruit, paragliding, piranha fishing, swimming in the amazon river, sleeping in the amazon rainforest!