Category: Civic Semester Peru

by Tyrin

Starting this blog, I want to acknowledge how extremely ignorant I was about life outside of my own. Ignorant in the denotation meaning of lacking knowledge, not in the connotation of rude, bad manners, and closed-minded. A quick background about me is that I’m from the Southern USA, specifically living my whole life between San Antonio, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida. While both of those places have many differences, the similarities include hot, sunny climates, a lot of Hispanic influence, and the traditional “Southern Charm and Hospitality” that I had yet to imagine could be outside the South. But my perspective was flawed; the South to me means cowboys, farms, and humid days. But being in Perú, I am actually in the south for the first time. One particular moment that struck me was walking through the vibrant markets of the capital of the Sacred Valley, where the smells of fresh fruits and meats filled the air. Here, the south is defined not by cowboys but by rich traditions, lively colors, and the Andean mountain culture. The warmth here doesn’t come from the climate, but from the welcoming smiles and open hospitality of the Peruvian people, reminding me of a familiar yet wonderfully different “Southern Charm.”

It has been exactly thirty-six days since I left home, and for the first time, I have been out of my “South,” and my whole perspective of life has changed. I have been blessed to leave my bubble and see other parts of the world. In those thirty-six days, I visited Toronto and Niagara Falls in Canada, Buffalo and Albany in New York, Boston in Massachusetts, Lima, Cusco, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, Yucay, Huaran, and many other places throughout the beautiful country of Perú. One moment that will stick with me is the first week I was in Urubamba. There was a celebration happening, and the vibrant sunset on the mountains contrasted the vibrant music and dancing being performed in front of me. That was the moment when I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.

This country has accepted me, and that acceptance means everything to me. Every day, I find myself enchanted by the sight of mountains, engaging with locals in Spanish, and diving deeper into the rich culture around me. Reflecting on these experiences, I’ve come to appreciate a personal shift in values and mindset. Before arriving here, I viewed life from a predominantly regional perspective, rooted in my Southern upbringing. But now, I’ve come to embrace the beauty in diversity and the warmth of unfamiliar generosity. I realize that growth comes from moving beyond comfort zones, and I cherish these moments of learning and connection. I hope, in time, I can repay this kindness and belief shown to me, though it’s often said that foreigners aim to help locals. Here, it’s been the Peruvians who have offered me invaluable lessons. I’ll carry with me each smile, buenos días, and the sincere hugs I’ve received. With ten weeks still left in this journey, I can’t help but feel grateful for how much Perú has already enriched my life.

Muchas gracias Perú por todos,
Thank you very much, Perú, for everything.

by Kevin

The last two weeks have been undoubtedly busy for the entire cohort. Orientation activities have taught us the ropes of a new land. Learning how to manage the street dogs of Urubamba, being shown to be wary of the street food around town, and learning how to interact with the community are just a short snippet of what has been taught to us during orientation. Attending an Andean ceremony that aims to preserve a culture that has been present among the Andean mountains for generations showed us a glimpse into a battle between indigenous cultures and globalization. A hike down a breathtaking mountain with a waterfall and river splitting the land apart showcased the beauty that this land has to offer. Visits to non-governmental organizations taught us the impact and importance of service, but also what role we as foreigners have in the context of our service. Throw in a few classes and a birthday celebration for two, and in summary, that’s been the last two weeks for the cohort.

At least, that’s what I would say, but we often forget to reflect on the small moments that really contribute to a meaningful experience. Not the moments that are worth attention on social media, but the moments that contribute to the beauty and authenticity of any new experience. From exploring the local market to the local businesses where we run errands, to the meals that are not necessarily worthy of an Instagram post but that fill the soul and stomach. The many breakfasts we have shared over the past few days, rushing to make eggs or reheat dinner leftovers before we depart for a day of classes or new adventures. Or the many evening or night walks that have us avoiding cars, dogs, and obstacles, all in the hopes of making it to dinner or back home. However, a favorite of not just mine but of most of the cohort has been hanging out on the hammocks in the communal yard and garden. Anything from reading to gossip, to lively group discussions, to friendly banter, naps, listening to music, or simply swinging in motion, the hammocks often get lost in the grand scheme of things, but, in my personal opinion, have made this place feel like home, like a place where I can rest and feel safe, without worry. It’s one of the reasons I stopped referring to this place as a hotel and started referring to it as my home.

But yeah, I just felt like sharing a few big and small moments with you, dear reader, whoever you might be. Thank you for listening to what I had to say.

by Ana

This past week, 11 of us arrived in Peru not knowing just how much there is to explore. We all dived headfirst into the experience, eager to learn all there is about ourselves, Peru, and its rich history and culture. Each week we will visit various non-profit organizations before we begin our internships in October. The internship aspect of the Civic Semester is incredibly important when it comes to learning more about Peru and the ways we as tourists have an impact in the community.

This week we were able to visit four lovely organizations that serve the people in the surrounding area of the Sacred Valley. Monday, we visited Niños Del Arco Iris, which is a school that provides free education and health services to over 200 hundred underprivileged children in Urubamba. We also visited an organization right down the street called Valley Camp, that provides outdoor educational activities to children and families in the surrounding areas, providing children with opportunities to try new things. On Friday we visited another two organizations, Yanapasun and Casita Huarán. Yanapasun works with children and adults with various disabilities providing them with services such as speech and physical therapy. Casita Huarán is an organization that gives educational opportunities to kids in rural Andean communities. As we spent time at these organizations, we got to meet the founders and various staff that are so incredibly passionate about what they do. It is truly wonderful and inspiring to meet such passionate people, the change makers, and know that I can become one too. We are all passionate about something, and once we find it, we are able to embark on great adventures and make a big impact on the people around us.

But oftentimes we don’t realize the consequences being a tourist has on a community. As travelers we tend to arrive in a country, take a couple pictures, and fly home without engaging with the local community and reflective on what it means to be a good tourist. This past week we have reflected on each organization and their various missions and the ways we can learn from them. During these reflections we ask questions such as: “Is it the job of society to prioritize minorities?” “What is the role of education in society?” and “What do you think about the term ‘White Saviour’?”. As one can imagine, these are difficult conversations to have, but we all approach them with grace. During this time, we give space & make space for everyone to share their various opinions and personal stories without fear of facing judgement. As we learn more about ourselves, we are able to learn more about what strengths we can bring to our placements when we begin in October. It allows us to see how we fit into this new society as more than tourists and how we can help create a bigger positive impact during our time here. We are all incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend our first semester at university abroad and are excited to see what is to come. At the end of this week, I asked everyone to share a phrase or a word that reflects how they felt after visiting these organizations and they are the following:

• Insightful
• Hope
• Optimistic
• Reflective
• Understanding
• Excited to Learn
• Motivated to see More
• Eager
• Inspired
• Community
• Love
• Passion Changes Everything

by Micaela

BOOO! Happy Halloween! With Halloween coming THIS Thursday, I could not be more excited. Every year, Halloween is a time where I unleash my creativity to come up with and make my costumes, I spend time with my friends, and I eat an absurd amount of candy. What’s not to love?!?

This year in Urubamba, I am planning to dress up as a mermaid, but my costume is still in progress (I have not begun). For me, Halloween feels different this year. Halloween is the same holiday it has always been, but now I have new friends and a new family here to spend it with. I’ve realized that holidays are not at all about the day or the celebration, but about the people you get to spend them with. I could not feel luckier to have the privilege to spend this holiday with my amazing host family and friends.

It is interesting to see how the anticipation to go out, dress up, and have fun with family and friends extends all the way from the United States to Peru. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the excitement for Halloween here in Peru, especially among younger kids. My niece (6) can’t wait for us to work on her costume and take her out on Halloween night! Beyond learning that Halloween is also celebrated here, I have also learned that this is a time of 3 back-to-back holidays. First, is Halloween on the 31st. Then, Dia de los Santos on the 1st. Lastly, Dia de los Muertos on the 2nd. Here, these three days of celebration are a time to appreciate life, death, and family.

I’m anxious for the days of celebration to begin, and can’t wait to learn more about Peruvian culture and the differences and similarities with the United States. My host family mentioned many traditions on Dia de los Santos, which I am excited to experience. Some questions that I am currently thinking about are: How is death seen differently in different cultures? Is it common for kids to “Trick or Treat” in Peru? How has globalization impacted the celebration of these holidays in Peru? What are common costumes that people wear in Urubamba? Do most people create their own costumes or buy them? I can’t wait for Thursday to come where I can learn more about these questions and experience my first ever Halloween in another country!

Originally posted here.

by LG

The weekend before I left for orientation at Tufts, my best friend drove down to Connecticut from Vermont to pay me a visit. Previously, Laurel and I saw each other every day for hours at a time. At that point, it had been about three months since I had last been in the same room as her, and we were on the precipice of nearly four more. On Monday morning as she loaded up the Subaru to head back up north, we stood looking at each other with tears streaming down our cheeks. “When I see you next, everything’s going to be different,” I told her. It’s a tad dramatic, but it’s rung true.

Since I said goodbye to Laurel, I’ve integrated myself into a group of people I can only describe as my Tufts University-assigned best friends. While I’d like to think our paths would cross in any universe, I’m endlessly grateful to Tisch College for guiding them together in this one. We’re all from different parts of the world, are interested in different things, and have different stories, but we all share the desire to adventure and understand a way of life different from our own. This community has taught me to love, trust, and breathe more deeply. From the very beginning, there’s been so much love in this house of strangers.

Continue reading “Growth and Gratitude”

by Natalie

It’s crazy to think that I’ve already been in Peru for over a month! This weekend we move in with our host families and I’m very excited. So far, we’ve done a lot already. We’ve been taking Spanish classes, a Latin American Civilization class, and of course our Pathways class. We’ve explored Urubamba, Cusco, and Paru Paru. We’ve gone on hikes and adventures, had bonfires, eaten delicious Peruvian food, spoken to locals in the Plaza and main market, shared group bus rides and movie nights, had fun family dinners, seen the Milky Way in the night sky, and so much more. I can’t even begin to express how happy I am to be in Peru, especially with this group.

Continue reading “A Little Update”