By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

So I finally made it to Machu Picchu this weekend. For all the talk I had heard about it I figured it would be good but I didn’t know how good exactly. Well it definitely lived up to and exceeded all my expectations!!

We were picked up at our houses around 6 en la manana and were taken to another driver who drove us to the train station. The train had huge windows so you could look around the entire ride up. I started off by doing a little studying and a little napping and then just looked around at the scenery. The way to MP is composed almost completely of mountainous terrain so we were able to follow alongside the river almost the entire way there which of course made for even more beautiful scenery. There was honestly one of the biggest rocks I have ever seen in my life in this river (which I believe is actually the Amazon river). I guess that’s how the Incas made their famous rock walls with some of those huge rocks.

Read more on “Study Abroad Peru: Machu Picchu” »

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program

In my experience of living in Latin America for small increments of time always takes the process of adjusting. Culture shock can be very common when being entirely exposed to another way of life; especially coming from one of the wealthiest countries in world to what is considered a third-world country. Fortunately, my process of adjusting has been far from the extreme of Shock and by my third day I feel as though I am adapting well.

Read more on “Study Abroad Costa Rica: Adjusting” »

By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

On Sunday morning we awoke early and had a delicious sweet pancake for breakfast. The dad walked us down to the dock and we were on our way to another of the large inhabited islands. This island is called Tecquile. They dropped us off on one side and we hiked up to the top and to the main central square. This island actually had some solar power since there is certainly plenty of strong sun there all the time.

Read more on “Study Abroad Peru: Return to Cusco” »

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica Independent Teen program

The scene is unreal. The hustle of the city meets serenity unfolding into mountains topped with los nubes (clouds). The mountains encircle all, from every direction, and immediately I thought, I really like this place.

We drop off the other student at her apartment and then arrive at my house. My host mother looks very, very sweet from the start. This first judgment has thus far proven very true. The house is beautiful, so different from what I experienced last summer when I lived in a poorer area of Nicaragua. This house has tile floors, painted walls, indoor plumbing, my own room, and a full kitchen; it’s awesome!! I find out that I’m living with just Yvette, my host mother, because her daughter just got married and moved out of the house.

Read more on “Study Abroad in Costa Rica: El Primer Día, cont’d” »

By Jamie F., Guestblogger from Cusco, Peru SALUD program

So as I’ve been spending the past 3 weeks in Cusco I’ve definitely noticed quite a few things that are different from the US some of which are great some of which just need to be remembered before coming here so need to be taken into consideration…

Read more on “Observations from Studying Abroad in Peru” »

By Katie P., Guestblogger from Coronado, Costa Rica

Well, I made it. Somehow, someway, by some optimistic means the nightlong thunderstorm came to cease as we pulled out of the driveway at 3AM. Philly to Newark, I kept drifting in and out of consciousness, spread out in the back seat while Mom and Jay navigate the drive. No nerves have set in yet—I think that was just because 30 minutes of sleep takes a more dominant effect then normal conscious nervousness. By 5:30AM I was shuffling through security while Mom stands back, holding all the anxiety and stress for both of us.

Read more on “Study Abroad Costa Rica: El Primer Día” »