ISA Service-Learning in Lima, Peru

What did your provider do for you and what did you need to do on your own?

Mackenzi:This program had a perfect balance of feeling autonomous and being cared for. I was placed in a public school in a low-income area in Lima. Of course I was afraid of so many things - how to get there, my Spanish capability, the placement, my potential helpfulness, and so many more.

Those working for ELAP made sure that I arrived at the school safely and accompanied me until I felt comfortable to travel on my own. The first classroom I was placed in made me feel very uneasy, and the ELAP employees heard me and helped me address my concerns by advocating for me and relocating me. Once they knew I felt confident, I was able to continue on my own but knew that they would be there for me at the snap of a finger.

What was the best place you visited outside of your home-base city?

Mackenzi:During and after my stay I was able to visit several other cities and countries! Wandering throughout Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina were wonderful experiences for me.

However, my absolute favorite experience was spending a weekend with a family living in a village on the Amazon river. Six hours up the river north of Iquitos (a main Amazonian city in Peru) is a small community known as “El Chino”. I was welcomed into the home of Miguel, his wife, and his four-year-old child.

In this village I slept on hammocks, was introduced to the magical stories of the rainforest, learned about how the village utilized the natural resources, and encountered beautiful, wild animals. To be honest, I was uncomfortable and a little bit scared - yet, I learned that one of the only ways to have such an amazing experience is to leave your comfort zone and cope with discomfort.

Describe your program socially and academically.

Mackenzi:I met lifelong friends through this program. Over a year later, and we still see each other multiple times a year. In fact, one of my closest friends moved from her home-state to mine and we see each other on a regular basis!

Coming into the program, I had no idea that I would meet such wonderful people. I entered the program solely to serve and volunteer, but I left the program with a plethora of new experiences and some of the most valuable relationships I have ever had.

In addition to learning about myself and others, I was fortunate enough to learn about the education system and values in Lima. As I pursue a degree in clinical psychology, I have noticed my experience in Lima enhancing my relationship with clients. I gained a new perspective about education and differing lifestyles that I can now utilize in my future practice with Latina/o clients.

Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country.

Mackenzi:Previous to spending time in Peru, I had lived and worked in Mexico for a time. I came into the experience in Lima thinking that I knew a lot about Latina/o culture because I had spent so much time in Mexico.

My time in Lima, and other areas of South America, taught me that the Latina/o culture is vibrant and made up of many different subcultures. My understanding of culture was expanded - food, architecture, nature, Spanish language nuances, and especially the people.

Peru has a unique history contributing to their overall warm demeanor, welcoming attitude, and livelihood. Perhaps the most interesting thing I found was that Spanish words that I used in Mexico meant something completely different in Peru - sometimes I was completely misunderstood and other times I was met with giggles!

What is your favorite travel memory?

I love to travel with my husband and two small children, especially to the jungle. We recently traveled to Tarapoto, the cloud forest or high jungle plateau, located northeast of Lima. My children were able to see first hand the work my husband does directly with sustainable farming.

All that we try to teach them regarding the vast variety of natural products and their nutritional values came together at that moment when they saw the polyculture farmlands with cacao trees next to the sacha inchi plants, and turkeys walking freely next to their dogs, chickens, cats, and other animals. In my opinion, there is nothing better than getting out of the big city for a few days to breathe the fresh air of the jungle!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I specifically sought out ISA in Austin not only because I loved the city, but my ultimate goal was to serve as an example of a non-native speaker becoming comfortable communicating in Spanish and be a positive influence, motivating other U.S. students to live abroad at some point during their undergraduate or graduate studies.

After my own life-changing experiences and struggles abroad during semester programs in France and Mexico, I was determined to work in the study abroad field and be a part of this process for future study abroad students.

Believe it or not, it´s been 18 years since my first day at ISA, and I can happily say I have fulfilled these goals!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Whether they fall in love, get married to a local or simply miss their new friends and lifestyle in Lima, I see a large number of ISA alumni return to Peru every year. They often stop by our office to reminisce and catch up or just ask us for advice. Some of them return to the U.S. with their Peruvian significant other, and several have sent me photos of their precious children! What brings a smile to my face most is when I see my students continuing to choose volunteer, service-learning, scholarship, and teaching abroad opportunities after their ISA study abroad or ISA Service-Learning programs.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would definitely choose the ISA Fiji program, or somewhere in Asia / South Pacific mainly because I love the ocean, warm weather and being close to Mother Nature. If I had not chosen to study International Business, I think Marine Biology would have been a good direction for me. And with the exception of an incredible, unforgettable three-week work trip to Australia, I have not spent time in that region in over 15 years. Finally, I am a big foodie and lover of all things yummy, so I would love to try all of the delicious cuisines.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

The ISA team has always had what´s best for the student at heart from the very beginning. I loved recruiting at U.S. universities because I could speak with students face to face to get a good feel for who they were as individuals. Based on these unique encounters, I would recommend a program location and I always felt confident that the student was going to receive the best service possible while abroad.

I know that living abroad is not an easy road, but I also knew they would have the support system in place through ISA if they needed it.

Now that I am on the receiving end and I work with students who are studying or participating in service-learning in Lima, I work with students on-site and I can watch them grow as individuals and continue on in life to do great things for the global community.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Although the company has grown tremendously, ISA has been very careful to continue offering personalized services through carefully trained U.S. staff. Plus our resident staff on the ground go above and beyond to help students become independent, global citizens who are more aware of world issues and have a better appreciation of life in general.