The Peru Intensive Learning service trip will be led by US Spanish Teacher Josefina Paolello and Assistant Head of School Meredith Godley. Originally designed to visit Ecuador, the trip was re-routed to Peru. The Peru trip will travel to multiple cities such as Lima and Cusco, as well as visiting the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Paolello explained why the trip was canceled: “There was a change of government in Ecuador, around [early] December, and this new president got more strict regarding corruption. The whole country was put on alert due to a drug lord on the loose, and there was some political unrest which made it unsafe to go.”

As of March 17, the US Department of State has ranked Ecuador as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution on their travel advisory scale. Travelers are encouraged to exercise increased caution due to civil unrest, crime, and kidnapping.

Trip leaders Paolello and Godley decided to reschedule the trip two months ahead of the trip’s departure. Although the Ecuador trip was canceled, Paolello stated that Peru was chosen as a replacement to create “the same type of experience,” since the “Andes mountains are the same mountains on the coast of Columbia, Ecuador, and Chile.”

Students expressed that the change of trips was very sudden. Ava Blumberg ’24, a student attending the Peru trip, explained that students received two emails. The first one was on January 11 “assessing the situation.” The following email on January 17 stated the potential danger of traveling in Ecuador. Dhru Ponnamaneni ’24, another student attendee, agreed that the change was very abrupt.

“I really liked the service aspect [of the Ecuador itinerary], and the Ecuador itinerary had lots of fun things,” said Blumberg. Agreeing, Ponnamaneni elaborated that in Ecuador “[he] really wanted to see the Inca people and immerse [himself] in the culture.”

In spite of the change, students are still excited to adventure in Peru.

Paolello shared more insight on planning the trip, and why she wanted to lead it,“Initially, I wanted to lead the trip because I am from Ecuador, and I always talk to my students about where I come from.”

Although disappointed that the trip was re-routed, Paolello explained that she is looking forward to traveling to Peru.

“We will be visiting Machu Picchu, which is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, which I have never seen. The last time I went to Peru was about 45 years ago.”

Paolello, too, said she looks forward to seeing students “in a context different than the classroom.”

Featured image uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by CemDemirkartal in the public domain.