“The trip gave us a true sense of Peruvian life”

I really enjoyed getting to work with the local community – our class helped to build a new school

An expedition to Peru with classmates was the perfect way to start off my final year at Southbank International School. The trip formed part of the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) section of our IB Diploma. It was great fun, as well as a solid, all-round learning experience.

We started in Lima and then went to Cusco to visit the heritage sites of Machu Picchu before travelling to Manu National Park to work with the community in Aguanos. The trip was both active and easy-going, giving us the true sense of Peruvian life.

I really enjoyed getting to work with the local community. Our class helped to build the new school – the boys did all the hard work outside in the playground while the girls helped to assemble furniture and decorate inside the classroom.

The clean air of the Amazon

Some aspects of the work were challenging, but it was encouraging to see that the local niños were grateful for our help. They thought we were incredibly energetic – it must have been the effect of the clean air of the Amazon.

Given that I knew some Spanish and had a basic understanding of the region’s culture, I was able to acquire a degree of respect and trust of the elder locals. As a result, some of them shared details of the native traditions with me.

The younger members of the community took a while to open up to our school group, but they soon started chatting. Talking to the people in Aguanos gave us the chance to recognize that their approach to life is naturally different to ours.

Travelling adds so much to education. Subjects such as History and English require you to understand different cultures and mentalities and through travelling you gradually gain the skill of analysing societies objectively.

South American culture

Travelling also gives you some of the skills that are essential in modern life, such as learning to communicate with different people and adapting to new environments. At the Manu centre, we learnt a great deal about biodiversity and sustainability and were shown the ways in which the local people use nature for their benefit.

The students studying Biology really appreciated this. I also think that the trip would not have been as productive if we travelled individually. As a class, we profited from each other’s questions and remarks.

Inca civilisation

We also had the opportunity to see some of the great heritage sites of Peru, such as Machu Picchu – a truly inspiring sight! The location was incredible and the abandoned ruins seemed to blend into the bright green landscape. I tried to visualise what this place would have been like during the Inca civilisation and the daily activities of pre-historic people.

For me, the highlight of the trip came after a really long, 13-hour, bumpy bus ride into the rainforest. As I woke up, I was consumed by the sight of the dramatic nature surrounding me. The ride back was even more startling because I knew by then that the diverse flora supports the peoples of the Amazon on a daily basis.

The trip left me with the feeling of being dipped in a completely different environment. I returned home feeling as though I had gained added practical knowledge and a renewed perspective on life.

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