Alumni Interview with Sarah Danielle Mestas

What inspired you to go abroad?

After teaching English in Italy in 2016, I realized that I wanted to take this career path more seriously and invest in my education with a TEFL certification. I want to teach in a country that is different than America, where I can genuinely make a difference and help children to have more opportunities in their lives by speaking English and having me as their teacher.

Why did you choose Maximo Nivel?

I have been searching for the right TEFL certification course over the past year and ITTT had the most location options and seemed most legit. Once I placed my deposit with them, they connected me with Maximo Nivel. It was truly the best coincidence that I ended up with the best English school in Cusco.

What was your favorite part about Cusco, Peru?

The beautiful colors everywhere in the city, the kind and welcoming culture, the perfect weather, the night sky in the sacred valley which was unlike my wildest dreams, the five soles meals in little hidden restaurants, the street dogs, the safety of walking anywhere, anytime in the city center, and feeling safe.

What made your experience abroad unique?

I had many personal trials through this course. One week in, my cousin passed away tragically in LA and I wasn't home in time to attend his funeral. Then during my practical teaching week, I ended up in the hospital from food poisoning. There were many points that I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to complete the course. But, with the help and support from my instructor, Sean, I made it through. I realized that I am so much stronger than I ever thought and it made this achievement that much more rewarding.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The staff with Maximo is amazing and so involved. Sean, TEFL instructor. Ellen, International manager. Dan, head boss. Juliet, another head boss. These people, along with many more, made this experience that much more personal for me. They always made it a priority to get to know us and make sure we were comfortable and happy. I would not have been able to make it through without these amazing individuals and many, many, many more staff in their Cusco location.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would've had a little bit more mental energy and time to go to Machu Picchu and do more 'touristy' things. I probably could have prioritized what I wanted to do a little more but, the workload was a lot more intense than expected and I ended up spending my last two weekends at school studying.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I would come in about 20 minutes before 9:00 a.m., grab a coca tea and a chocolate croissant, and head up three flights of stairs to the TEFL training room. I would take a seat, socialize with my classmates and get my notebook and homework out for the day. Class starts promptly at 9:00 a.m., in which we begin by asking each other a warm up question to get us all engaged and involved.

After about four to five hours of note taking and activities with our instructor, we took an hour break for lunch. Being right in the city center was ideal for fast lunch. My classmates and I were able to find some delicious restaurants all within a five minute walk of Maximo.

We started class again very promptly at the time stated and stayed until 4:00 p.m., taking notes and learning grammar and activities to bring into our classrooms. After class ended, I would stick around until about 6:00 p.m. doing homework and volunteering to teach the teenage classes in the afternoon. After, I would walk home to my host family and have dinner with them.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoyed trying new restaurants to eat with my classmates, enjoying a cusquena negra in plaza del armas, and making little trips to a local cat sanctuary in a neighboring town called Urubamba.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I stayed with a host family in the city center during my course. I lived with my host mom, her three teenagers, her niece whom was visiting from France, and their little dog, Lary. We built such a strong and loving relationships with so many laughs—most of which around the dinner table.

I loved having an authentic experience and really feeling like I was part of their family and that I belonged in Cusco. I loved going to the market with my host family and helping picking up groceries for dinner. I loved having fresh juice in the morning and sharing my bread with Lary. I loved how much my host mom took care of me and made me feel so unbelievably loved.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

The workload over the month is very intense. Plan on giving yourself a week or two after the course is finished to do your traveling and big trips around Peru.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

This course has given me so much confidence, not only professionally, but personally as well. This was a huge step in my education that was a wild dream.

But, through this month, I realized that you can make your dreams happen with hard work and letting love and kindness be your guide. Meeting amazing people in Peru that have similar goals and dreams as I do gave me the confidence to come back home and know it's possible to live the life I've always wanted.

Would you recommend Maximo Nivel to others? Why?

Yes, yes, YES!!! 1000% would recommend Maximo—especially the course in Cusco with Sean. Literally every single day of this trip was an adventure and I have grown so much over the course of one month. I am forever grateful for Maximo and the amazing experience that I had!