Education Study Abroad Programs in Lima, Peru

I am a heritage student. As IFSA first Peruvian abroad in Peru, it was difficult for me to connect with my peers in IFSA. I would experience microagressions and just overall, I felt as if a majority of them did not want to connect with Peruvian culture/make the effort. Many did not check their privilege (being white Americans from a developed nation) and formed cliques. I did manage to find two great friends who were really there to experience the city and learn the language. We were all low-income and all pushed ourselves to get to know the city. I often questioned my identity. This is not a process I regret. Having dual nationality has permitted me to pursue experiences such as this one in order for personal growth. That in itself is something many people cannot afford. My mother was also in Peru visiting family at the time. She was medically uninsured and suffered a horrible accident during my second week into Peru. It was very upending and shocking. All of a sudden I had to deal with family, my mental health, school, my mothers health. All these burdens. Due to feeling so distant from most of my IFSA cohort, I only told the two I felt comfortable with. I felt incredibly alone. Although my IFSA director made efforts to make sure I had access to resources, I don't quite think he grasped how alone I felt among the peers who did not understand me. Its very hard to sit in class and wonder about how your mother is doing in the hospital, how your family is going to afford it, and if she'll have access to enough resources (she was in one of the poorest districts of lima) while your classmates complain about the cramped bus rides and how people stare at them for being white and speaking english (in a Spanish country...). Welcome to my life in the US where I've been ridiculed for my brown skin and accent.

IFSA in Lima, Peru was the perfect support system that I needed. I knew that I could always fall back on the friends that I had made through the IFSA program, but I never felt bounded by this circle of friends. I had the freedom to branch out and meet local Peruvians. Logistically, IFSA was great in preparing us to live in a new country. During orientation week, our resident director gave us a presentation on some of the essentials such as: public transportation, insurance system, health care, differences in academia, grading system, and etc. He was super easy to contact, and I could always ask him questions about any topic starting from visa situations to making new friends in Peru. Overall, I was able to grow so much through this semester by being in a new culture with a strong community.