Take the chance to study abroad in Cusco, Peru

By James Storbeck.
Are you bored with your life? Feel like you may need a change of scenery? How about an entire change of culture? Well, BCC can help. Through the Washington Community College Consortium for Study Abroad (WCCCSA), you can study abroad in Cusco, Peru for the latter part of summer.
The WCCCSA is a group of 15 Washington state community colleges that organize study abroad programs for two year college students. Besides Cusco, you might also have the choice of studying in Shanghai from June to July, but that program is still in the planning stages.
Carol McKee, head of the Travel Study Abroad program at BCC, feels that this can be a life changing experience. She believes that BCC has been offered this oppurtunity to share and progress students to new outlooks and a better grasp on the world around them. “Students will definitely have their eyes opened to the world,” said McKee. “Many students have never traveled outside of Washington, so they are actually longing for an experience that takes them outside themselves and exposes them to new perspectives. They come back with more confidence and often with a new direction for their lives.”
Leaving August 20th and returning September 19th, students will have the chance to spend almost a full month in Peru. Students will take an intensive course in Spanish, earning five credits in the process, but you don’t have to be advanced in the language to go. “It is especially good for students who want a good foundation in the Spanish language. Even beginners will benefit. What better way to be introduced to a language?” said McKee.
Students will learn Spanish from Peruvian professors for four hours a day, Monday through Friday. Outside of Spanish, students will also receive weekly instruction on activities such as dancing and cooking.
The trip also includes a two day excursion to Machu Picchu, one of the most familiar symbols of the Inca Empire. It was built around 1460 AD as an official site for the Inca rulers. In 1981, Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary, and since it was not plundered by the Spanish when they conquered the Incas, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place.
Outside of the Machu Picchu excursion, you will also view Inca treasures, visit local festivals, and take in stunning landscapes and other activities.
If you’re still worried about immersion into a different culture, there will be an American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Program Coordinator on hand to help with safety, security, cultural advice, travel advice, doctor appointments, and any emergency phone calls you may need to make.
The fee for the program is $2,645, not including airfare, tuition, or any personal expenses. For further information, email Sherrie Buendel at sbuendel@spcc.ctc.edu, or you can stop by room R205 and talk to Carol McKee.
The program is recommended for any student who wants a study abroad program, but doesn’t have a lot of money. The only requirement is that students must be at least 17 years old, and must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Applications are due June 2. what are you waiting for?