A great summer in Peru

Global Routes is a really great organization, this was probably my best summer. It all started in the airport in New York, I was greeted by some great staff, and was able to meet the group. Meeting the group is always the hardest part because you are meeting all new people and it can be a little intimating, although I think that the staff does a really great job of helping us interact at first. The group that you meet really become great friends during the trip and even after the trip, they become family. The trip is designed in a way so that we can all get really close. The trip started with a 3 day trek in the Peruvian Andes, and although you are at high altitude and it does get harder to breath at time, we do take our time to let everyone enjoy the trek. these 3 days of trek are a great way to start the trip because you get to talk and have fun with all the other trip members, I had lots of great time during that trek, goofing around or having conversations. We had arrived on the 4th day after one hour by train at Machu Pichu, and seeing it in front of you, I don't think there are any words to describe it, it is truly mind-blowing. The next day we started the home-stay, we arrived in our village and met our new families. The homestay is the best part of the trip as you get to get close to your homestay family, I still keep in touch mine. The villagers are all so great and you really get to experience a place that is totally different from where you're from.Working on the community service project is a lot of fun as you get learn so much stuff. Even though you work all day, it doesn't feel like work, we constantly play play music and laugh all together. After nearly 3 weeks of homestay, we all had to say our goodbyes and we were off for a couple of days of fun in Cuzco (what a nice city!) before going to the lake Titicaca.We kayaked on the lake and visited villages, it was a great way to end a great trip! I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would absolutely recommend this trip. It really was the best summer I ever spent and if I could I would do it all over again!