Follow the jump links to learn more about Peru
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts
Back to TopLifestyle and Family Living
Because Peru is so diverse—with different cultures, climates and natural environments—Peruvians and Peruvian families have varied customs. By paying close attention, you will quickly learn about your host family’s lifestyle.
Generally speaking, Peruvians are known for their warmth and generous displays of affection. Parents also tend to be protective of their children and may expect you to ask permission to go out with friends and abide by any curfews they set.
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.
They also have different expectations for their sons than for their daughters. Boys are usually allowed more autonomy than girls. For example, Peruvian girls have less freedom than girls from most European and North American countries. While customs are changing, household chores are divided along traditional lines. “Women’s work” includes cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing and other everyday tasks. Men take care of household repairs and “outside jobs,” such as paying bills.
Peruvian host families, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and 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.Teen Life
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.
You may also have the opportunity to get involved in such local community activities as sports, music and crafts clubs. This is a great way to learn about your community and to make new friends. Dress and Appearance
Peruvians wear many types of clothing depending on their region and social class. Generally, western-style clothes are worn in urban areas such as Lima, and traditional clothes are common elsewhere.
AFSers should bring jeans and T-shirts, a sweatshirt, lightweight sweaters, a swimsuit and sneakers.
If your host family lives in a high altitude, you will also need a warm jacket.
Remember to bring one or two nice outfits (suits for men and dresses for women) for special occasions.Diet and 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.
Ingredients popular in traditional Peruvian dishes are rice, potatoes, chicken, pork, lamb and fish. Most of these meals include one of the different kinds of “aji” or Peruvian hot pepper, which are yellow aji pepper, red aji pepper, red rocoto pepper, as well as many other spices.
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.
Very few Peruvian families are strictly vegetarian, and most expect their guests to taste everything offered to them. Educational System
AFS students usually enroll in the fourth or fifth year of secondary school. The academic year begins in April and ends in December, with 14 vacation days in the summer. Peruvian students attend classes Monday through Friday.
Students have the same classmates through the school year and the same schedule as well. Students learn about Spanish literature, math, English, Peruvian history, economics, civics, arts, handicrafts, social sciences, chemistry, physics and more.
All instruction, with the exception of foreign languages, is done in Spanish. In the beginning, you may find it hard to follow, but as you learn more of the language, school will become less challenging, so be patient, work hard, and keep at it!
While it may be possible to obtain academic credit for the coursework you successfully complete abroad, AFS cannot guarantee this. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Geography and Climate
Peru is located on the west coast of South America, south of the equator. Geographically, it is a diverse country with many ecological zones. Of the world’s 120 ecological habitats, Peru has 80: arid deserts; tropical rain forests; tundra; steep, snow-capped mountains; deep canyons and beaches.
The country can be divided into three environmental regions: the coast, the jungle and the sierra or highlands.
Peru’s climate falls into basic two seasons—wet and dry—though this varies depending on the region. The coast and western Andean slopes are generally dry, with summer falling between December and April. The rest of the year, the coastal fog (the garua) moves in and the sun is rarely seen. In the Andes, the dry season lasts from May to September, while the wet season takes up the remainder of the year.
Population
Peru has a population of 29 million. Approximately seven million live in the greater Lima area.
Language
Spanish is the official language, and Quechua is officially acknowledged as a second language. Additionally, Aymara is recognized as a regional language.
Government
Peru is a constitutional republic. Under the constitution adopted in 1980, Peru is governed by a president with wide executive powers who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president appoints the government. The bicameral legislature consists of a Senate (60 members) and Chamber of Deputies (180 members); legislators are also elected for five-year terms.
Religion
Peru is predominantly Roman Catholic, though many of the county’s Native Americans blend Catholicism with their traditional beliefs.
Spending Money
The local Nuevo Sol is the official currency in Peru.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about US$100-US$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the >AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- Peru is the world’s potato capital, boasting more than 1,000 varieties and vibrant colors including purple and blue potatoes.
- The world’s highest railway is in Peru. The Central Railway climbs to 15,694 feet in the Galera tunnel, 108 miles from Lima. Tourists take it to travel to the ruins of Machu Picchu.
- Spanish explorers discovered peanuts in Peru in the 16th century.
- Llamas were domesticated from Guanacos in the Andean highlands
