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Peru - Beautiful Diversity
Peru stands out in the Americas for its geographic and cultural diversity. Its coastal desert is punctuated by fertile valleys once inhabited by pre-Incan civilizations and leads eastward to the foothills of the Andes.
Rising up from the coast and running from its northern border to Lake Titicaca in the south, the Peruvian Andes are home to millions of highland Indians who preserve much of their traditional way of life and still speak their ancient tongue of Quechua.
Frequently referred to as the "Land of the Incas," Peru is famous for its numerous architectural wonders. The semester program is based in the Incan capital, Cusco, which means "navel of the universe," and boasts cobblestone streets and walls of Incan stonework.
Within a few hours of Cusco lie the enchanting Incan cities of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo, and the archeological complex of Machu Picchu, among numerous others.
Peru is home to over 20 unique Amazonian peoples, in addition to its coastal and highland cultures. Amidst this cultural richness, just east of the Andes, is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, the Peruvian Amazon. In fact, Peru boasts 84 of the world's 104 known bio-zones.
These conditions lead to poverty for many Peruvians, and make it difficult for the country to provide its citizens with basic health care, education, sanitation, and other social services.
- A visit to Incan Ruins in the Sacred Valley
- A tour of the Major Incan ruins around Cusco, including Sacsayhuaman
- Trips to Andean forests, lakes, and glaciers
- Community development projects
Mexico - Geographic and Cultural Diversity
The city of Oaxaca offers an extraordinary array of cultural activities and serves as a logistical base for international students and travelers. One look at the cobbled streets, shaded squares, colonial churches and busy markets and it is clear why UNESCO declared Oaxaca a World Heritage Site in 1987.
The city is in close proximity to some of Mexico's best preserved archaeological areas, and is surrounded by communities renowned for their cultural diversity and the quality of local crafts. The many indigenous groups in the area boast over 90 dialects in 14 distinct languages.
The state of Oaxaca has the greatest biodiversity and variety of natural terrain of any state in Mexico. Within a few hours, one can travel from the sandy beaches of the Pacific coastline to tropical jungles to thickly pine tree-forested mountains of over 10,000 feet.
Social and Development Issues
In 2002, half the population in Mexico was living in poverty and one fifth was living in extreme poverty. Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico with more than a third of its population living on less than three dollars a day.
According to government statistics, the literacy rate is 79% and about half of all children don't finish primary school, many dropping out to work alongside their parents.
The lack of productive jobs forces many families to depend on the income of their children. Access to medicine and health care is minimal with the state run health care attending to just 23% of the population.
These factors and many others combine to lock the people of Oaxaca in a continual struggle against poverty.
- Visits to Artisan communities of the Central Valleys where ancient traditions continue to produce stunning pottery, woodcarvings and weavings
- Visits to museums/art galleries and attendance at local cultural events
- Visits to Pre-Hispanic archaeological sites such as Monte Alban, Yagul and Mitla
- Community development projects
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