Peru- Pre-Departure

I was just perusing the Study Abroad website and looking at all of the exotic places other people were going. I didn’t really have any intentions of going myself, but as I did more research, I realized participating in a Dialogue of Civilization was an easily attainable goal.
I chose Peru both because it will vastly improve my Spanish and I feel like I will get a much more authentic experience if I am with someone who knows the area and culture well.
I know that I will gain a greater appreciation for those who lead a life completely different from my own. I hope to gain a broader worldview and that it will translate to my life back in Boston. I also hope to push myself outside my comfort zone and try something I normally wouldn’t.
I want to take advantage of this opportunity and get as much out of it as I can. In order to do this I will be keeping two blogs and a journal so I will be kept accountable and have a little motivation to have interesting experiences to write down.
I am most worried about the language barrier, but I know that most people will appreciate that I am trying to improve my Spanish and they will be patient with me. With that said, I will likely become very good at charades by the end of this trip.
I am most looking forward to spending an extended amount of time in a different country. Every time I have left the US it has only been for a short period so I remained a tourist. I’m excited to form somewhat of a routine and get a feel for everyday life in Peru.