3 Weeks to Go!

Are we ready?!

Hello friends! I’ve got another pre-departure post of my excited ramblings. I don’t know about the rest of my group, but I cannot wait to hop on that airplane to Lima! Everyday I get more excited about it. We have just under three weeks until our program officially starts, and I get to start exploring the wonderful world of Peru. I feel prepared, but also unprepared at the same time? I have no idea what to expect, I just know it’s going to be great!

Pre-Departure Reflections

Since I was accepted into this program last fall, I have had the opportunity to research and learn about a wide variety of topics covering all things Peruvian, and also relating to corporate sustainability.

Out of everything my group has done together so far, I have to say my favorite experience/assignment was the sector presentations we did at our final pre-departure class (I reviewed a couple of them in my last post). I thoroughly enjoyed getting to research and ancient and modern agricultural methods used throughout Peru. It was also really interesting to see how our presentations related to one another in ways we did expect. Everyone did a phenomenal job exploring the different industries of the Peruvian economy.

This program has already done so much to open my eyes to the effects and influences of corporate sustainability. I know that my personal learning on the subject still has a lot of room for improvement, but I do feel it has changed my outlook on things. I find myself thinking more and asking question about sustainable practices, in my personal life and in the business aspect. I now understand a larger scope of impact that sustainability has on everything in our environment and economy. It goes far deeper than recycling, but simple acts like that can build the stepping stones needed to advance.

Prep Work

In addition to the work I have been doing for the program, I have been trying to do a little independent research myself! I have been looking at travel pages and social media posts related to Peru. I have also watched a couple documentaries on its history! My favorite has been National Geographic’s mini series “Incas: The Rise and Fall.” It does a really great job going into depth about the growth of the Inca empire before the Spanish took over. It also talks about the political and religious aspects of the old empire. It has gotten me really excited to get on the ground and see it all for myself!

I have also been doing a bit of reading! For my trip I got two novels from popular Peruvian authors. I have “The Bad Girl” by Mario Vargas Llosa is a more playful romance story based in Lima in the 1950s , and “Deep Rivers” by José María Arguedas goes more into political and cultural differences within the country. I have saved those for the plane ride and to read in-country. The book I am currently reading is actually a story that inspired me to travel to Peru in the first place! “Ruthless River” is the real life, firsthand account of Holly and Fitz Fitzgerald’s accidental expedition and survival on the Madre De Dios river in the Amazon.

Now you might be wondering, “Sarah, how did a story about horrible near death experiences inspire you to travel to the Amazon?” My answer can be found in Holly’s writing. I won’t spoil the story for you, but in my initial discovery of their story, I was enamored by the idea of the Amazon as this wild, dangerous, unchartered territory.

I can’t quite put it into words, but the idea of being in a place so inherently wild was enchanting. For centuries, natives peoples have made the rainforest and the river their home, they have adapted to its climate and survived its dangers. There is so much hidden amongst the trees and the foliage, some that has been untouched by humans. I want to stand on the edge of that forrest and feel small. I want to see its magnificence for myself, even if it’s just a little taste of the real thing. It’s places like the Amazon that make me think of the wonders of creation, and how blessed I am to experience them.

Holly (my new role model) and Fitz atop a mountain in the Andes, a picture featured in the book.

Wrapping Up

With the little interactions I have had with Peru through my research being so profound, I can only imagine what actually being in the country will be like. I have wanted to do a trip like this for so long, it almost feels too good to be true. I get to go South America for the first time, with one of my favorite professors, with some amazing friends and classmates. How insane is that?! Believe me, I know how blessed I am.

This program has already been an incredible experience that has made me grow as a person and a citizen. It has expanded my worldview and influenced my beliefs. I am so excited to see what happens when we finally arrive! I look forward to exploring Peru’s business world, culture, history, and meeting its people. I have high expectations, but I am sure they will all be exceeded.

I want to return to the US with an even greater understanding of the global impact of corporate sustainability. I really hope that what my group learns while in Peru can help us make better decisions in our future businesses and careers. I want this trip to be more than a memory, I want it to be a foundational cornerstone. The pre-departure part of this journey has already meant so much to me, so I know this is only the beginning!