Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
Having once been the heart of the great Inca Empire and the cradle of many other ancient civilizations, Peru appeals to anyone with a passion for history, anthropology, and archeology.
Peru is a land of contrasts, from the dramatic Andean peaks surrounding Machu Picchu to the lush tropical rainforests of the Amazon; from remote, arid deserts to beautiful sandy beaches. Peru’s people are also diverse: Quechua Indians (descendants of the Incas), mestizos (a blend of Indian and European), and people of Spanish ancestry. This fascinating country is famous for its archeological ruins as well as its vibrant traditional handicrafts.
As an AFSer in Peru, you’ll live with a host family while speaking Spanish and attending a local high school. Students in Peru study a wide variety of topics such as Spanish literature, Peruvian history, math, science, civics, economics, and the arts.
Language
Spanish is the official language. Quechua is officially acknowledged as a second language and Aymara is recognized as a regional language.
It’s a good idea to begin learning Spanish before your departure.
Host Family & Community
Students are placed throughout the beautiful country of Peru. It is likely that you will be placed in an urban area.
Host families in Peru, like all AFS host families worldwide, are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
Peruvians
Because Peru is so diverse—with different cultures, climates and natural environments—Peruvian families have varied customs. Both cities and villages celebrate a wide variety of both Christian holidays as well as traditional Inca celebrations, holding festivals and carnivals throughout the year.
Peruvian families are widely known for their amazing hospitality and warmth and generous displays of affection. Peruvians’ sense of privacy differs from some other cultures, and Peruvian host families may feel unappreciated if you wish to be alone while they are together, even if they simply gather to watch TV after dinner.
Teens
In their free time and on weekends, young Peruvians get together with friends to watch movies, dance or hang out in the town square or at a local café. Students also get involved in community sports and activities. Soccer is a very popular sport.
There are different expectations for Peruvian boys and girls. Teenage girls have less freedom than girls from most European and North American countries. Parents also tend to be protective of their children you will be expected to ask permission to go out with friends and you should abide by any curfews they set.
Meals
Peruvian cuisine is known for its rich variety and for its ability to incorporate influences from different cultures, including Spanish, Chinese, European, African and Japanese. Peruvian cuisine consists mainly of rice, potatoes, chicken, fish and vegetables. Food in Peru is spicy: most meals include aji, a popular Peruvian hot pepper. Families in Peru eat a lot of meat (guinea pig is even occasionally available), so vegetarians can be particularly difficult to place.
Lunch and dinner are the two largest meals of the day. Breakfast is usually quick and light: milk, coffee, bread, juice and cheese. Some families also enjoy having an afternoon snack. It is customary for guests to sample everything offered to them.
Host School
Most AFS students attend private Catholic schools, though public schools are also available. AFS students are usually enrolled in the 4th or 5th year of secondary school with students between the ages of 14 and 17. Most schools start around 8:00AM and end between 2pm and 3pm. Students take 3 or 4 classes per day.
AFSers will have to purchase a school uniform at a cost of about US$150.
Check out the Host School FAQ (.pdf).
Travel
You will receive a Travel Notification email about 6 weeks prior to international departure with your international flight itinerary and detailed instructions for when to arrive at the Gateway Orientation site in Miami. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In Miami, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Lima.
International airfare is included as part of the tuition, but it is your responsibility to get from your hometown to the Gateway Orientation site.
Your Arrival
After the Gateway Orientation in Miami, you and your fellow AFSers will travel together to Lima, where AFS staff and volunteers will be waiting for you at the airport. After an overnight Arrival Orientation, you will travel by bus or plane to your host community where your host family will pick you up.
Your Return
You will travel back to Lima from your host community and then fly back to Miami with other AFS-USA participants.
Orientations & Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the locally held Pre-Departure Orientation, the Culture Trek online orientation, and the national Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize your AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
Arrival Orientation
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Lima. This will be an overnight orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, you will learn ways to approach your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
Mid-Stay Orientations
Within two weeks of arriving in your host community, you will be offered a local orientation where you will discuss your adaptation to the community and have the opportunity to meet your local volunteers.
About halfway into your study abroad experience you will have another orientation, organized at the regional level. This will last for two days and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few months and be offered guidance to make the most of the rest of your experience.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp within the month prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Peru. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are not included in tuition.
Around the tenth month, AFS will provide two cultural activities that will give you the opportunity to learn more about the Peruvian culture, an “Intercultural Workshop” and a “Global Educational Trip”.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- Be within the age range upon departure (located in the ‘read more’ drop-down)
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
- Have a U.S. passport at the time of application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the program end date
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Participation Notes
Due to the high level of meat consumption in Peru, applicants who require a vegetarian diet will be difficult to place and may not be accepted.
Younger high school graduates who meet the eligibility requirements may be considered.
We encourage you to learn as much of the Spanish language as possible before your departure.
