Students spend their summer studying abroad in Peru

Eight students from the University of Illinois Springfield shared their experiences from a summer spent studying abroad in Perú during a brown bag presentation. The event was held on November 4, 2010 in the Public Affairs Center.

“Each time that a group of students gets to go on a study abroad experience they come back and share their experiences and that’s really important for students to hear it from other students,” said Craig Pelka, a Public Administration graduate major.

The students spent over a month abroad studying the Peruvian culture and history, completing 32 hours of Spanish immersion, and participating in a volunteer internship at one of the many local non-government organizations.

“Last year when we went we were only there for two weeks, so we only got a quick snap shot,” said Pelka. “Five weeks this year was still a snap shot, but we got to engage at a different level.”

The UIS delegation lived in Cusco, the former capitol of the Incan empire, and took part in many excursions to historical sites. Students trekked through the jungle, climbed the challenging Huanya Picchu mountain, explored and studied the 500 hundred year old World Heritage Site Machu Picchu, and navigated on Lake Titicaca – the world’s highest navigable lake sitting 12,500 feet above sea level.

“I don’t think there’s a study abroad at UIS quite like this one,” said Carol Schulte, a Communication gradate major. “I would definitely recommend this to anyone.”

The group was lead by UIS professor Veronica Espina. The group consisted of students Kimberly Bach, Cathy Caldwell, Kelsey Holt, Stanislaw Lipski, Molly Meinhardt, Craig Pelka, Carol Schulte and Andy Shaffer.