Discovering Peru

Posted on: 4 June 2024 by Anna Buyers in 2024 posts

Triple Modern Languages Student, Anna Byers, had the opportunity to study in Peru during her Year Abroad. In her blog post, Anna discusses what it was like to be an International Student in Lima, where she even learnt how to cook 'Ceviche' in her Pastries and Peruvian cooking module!

It is safe to say that Peru is one of the most breath-taking countries on the planet. Through the nature itself, I have visited sun, sea, glaciers, Incan ruins and rainforest. But there is so much more to Peru than its nature.

Studying in Lima has been a completely different experience. Through my year abroad, I had the liberty to choose any options available to UPC students. Therefore, I thought further afield than my usual language courses and I am currently studying Introduction to Pastries and Peruvian cooking, where for 10 hours a week I am a chef in training. I have learned so much about the variation of Peruvian gastronomy and their influences, and I am so grateful to be able to recreate dishes such as Ceviche at home.

No trip to Peru is complete without a visit to Machu Picchu! 

Similarly, my living situation in Lima is entirely unique to me. I am living with 13 other students from a total of 6 different countries. Here, I have learned the fascinating, yet frustrating, variety of Spanish spoken throughout the world, and just as I think I can understand something, there is a new Colombian slang that catches me out. I am hugely grateful for this opportunity as I have now created links between England and Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Morocco, which gives me so many opportunities in the future.

As a group of primarily international students, we are all eager to travel and discover more of Peru. Together, we have planned trips and visits to the many highlights Peru has to offer, however with our busy University schedule, we have not been able to scratch the surface of what Peru has to offer. If I were to advise someone studying in Peru, I would say take a month minimum in Peru, as there are so many things to see and do. After finishing our studies, we as a group plan to travel around the hotspots of Peru, such as the Amazon, Arequipa, and Cusco.

Clouds clearing over Vinicunca, also known as the rainbow mountains

Furthermore, Lima is not to be underestimated. With a population of over 12 million people, there is always something to do. Whether that is a festival of Pisco (the national liquor) and Wine, trying Cuy (guinea pig), or Ceviche or Tres leches, wandering through the historic centre or visiting the beach, you will always have something to do. Lima has been a brilliant but overwhelming experience for me, as it is the largest city I have ever lived in.