Homestead students participate every two years in a trip that is designed to expand their understanding of Latin culture beyond the classroom. This year, students were able to travel to another country.

A group of students, along with Spanish teacher Señor Orlando Frets, made the journey to Peru during Homestead students’ spring break. They visited the cities of Cusco and Lima, with most of their stay in Cusco.

Helena Frets, junior, said one of the most important takeaways from the trip was recognizing how similar people are across cultures.

“People are more similar than different, no matter where they are from, and it was nice to experience Peruvian culture and how similar it is yet different from us,” Frets said, noting that locals were especially kind and welcoming.

For many of the students, staying with the host family was the highlight of the trip. Living with a family in another country gave them a look into an everyday life they wouldn’t normally be able to experience in the United States.

For Aniyah Love, sophomore, staying with a host family was one of the most meaningful parts of her experience and, her host family quickly made her feel at home. The bond she formed with this family has stuck with her immensely, even after her departure from Peru.

“My host family wrote me a letter and told me I was like a real daughter to them. It was really sweet,” Love said.

Students also noticed cultural differences in everyday life. Señor Frets pointed out that one of the most surprising experiences was learning about the traditional foods.

“Couy is really popular. Guinea pigs are consumed and eaten all the time,” Señor Frets said

Despite these differences, students said the experience encouraged them to remain open-minded and appreciative of others’ cultures.

“There are other people out there, and there are people different than me, but it helps me stay open-minded, Love said.