South America Semester: Andes & Amazon (Gap Year)

I loved my time spent abroad with Where There Be Dragons (Bolivia and Peru) semester. For the most part everything was good. We were thought to understand the culture of where we were and were taught to be global citizens. My biggest complaint, however, is on the content of program rules. Specifically, the no tolerance of alcohol rule. THe drinking age in Bolivia and Peru is 18 yet the dragons program will kick you out if you drink. While everything is presented to you before you begin and you sign your name saying you will not break the rules, people fail to realize how drinking is embedded in the cultural times. For example, a tradition Bolivian alcoholic beverage, was offered to me on multiple occasions. I always felt rude turning it down. I'd suggest that Dragons change their rules a little bit, give the instructors some flexibility and let them decide what to let their students do, let them decide if it would place students in a precarious situation. While I don't advocate drinking for drunkenness while traveling in any way shape or form, I think the program administration need to see the difference between doing it for further culture immersion.

This course was the most amazing experience of my life.That may seem like an exaggeration, but it is actually true. Every day presented a new and exciting experience, and I was constantly learning something new. There were so many opportunities to challenge myself and expand my horizons, and it was important to make the trip what I wanted it to be. It was amazing to go into something without really knowing what to expect, and then having my mind blown with the beauty of it. I had never been trekking before and rarely slept in a tent, but I found myself so happy in the Andes mountains for days at a time. The instructors are such amazing people with so much experience. I came home with a much more widened perspective on life and a million more questions. Overall, I can't wait to go back to Bolivia and live the Bolivian way! Academics: I learned so much more than I had expected coming onto this trip. Even though I did not take the course for credits, I feel as though I'm stepping away from it with more knowledge than if I had spent a semester in college. From instructor lessons to a conversations with a natural healer to challenging myself out of my comfort zone, not only did I learn a lot, but I'm also asking so many more questions. I can't wait to go to college and get back into the books (I know that sounds crazy) and start making the most of my college years. Living Situation: The living situations were very rugged - sometimes in tents, hostels or with local families. But this was one of my favorite parts about the trip. These types of living situations allowed us to truly experience Bolivia and Peru, especially with home stays. The relationships we made with the locals were amazing and our understanding of their culture and lifestyle was complete. I always felt safe and became very comfortable with very little. Cultural Immersion: Dragons defines cultural immersion. These courses are not about being tourist, but rather it's about being a traveler. On my course, I felt as though I lived in Bolivia. I loved being able experience how the locals live, eat what they eat, travel how they travel, etc. Bolivia and Peru have so much culture, and I felt that I was coming home with part of that culture still inside of me and to stick with me for the rest of my life. Program Administration: The instructors on my course were so amazing. Any instructor with Dragons has to be amazing, and they take so much care and effort in making the trip extremely meaningful for the students. I always felt really safe with them, and comfortable that they knew exactly what they were doing. They were always one step ahead of us in order to challenge us and help us grow from the experience. I feel like I was able to get really close with my instructors, and they presented themselves with a nice balance of friendship and guidance. One thing that surprised me the most was the relationships that they had from past courses with locals in the areas that we visited. Health and Safety: I always felt very safe on this course. The instructors do an amazing job to make sure that we are all healthy, happy and comfortable. They always have the medical kit, and if anyone gets sick, there is no hesitation to bring them to a clinic to get checked out. And even though we were in remote areas, there was always a clinic close enough in case we needed it. The host families were very safe as well, as they are families that Dragons uses year after year - they have a great relationship with them. Social Life: I loved my group so much. We were like one big family always having so much fun with each other. At the same time, it was so amazing to be able to make close relationships with host families and neighbors in villages. Pick-up soccer games with all the kids or seeing the same juice lady every day, there were always people willing to talk and share their stories.

It was an incredible trip put together by incredible administration and instructors. They work everyday to get you around the most wonderful people and in the most wonderful locations that are totally different from anything you'll ever experience again. If you're on the fence about this trip, go for it! You won't regret it. Living Situation: While the home-stay is in no way posh, it is real. You learn to appreciate what you have so quickly.