Peru was the center of the ancient Inca Empire, and today it is world famous for its archaeological splendors and colorful native cultures. The Spanish conquistadors were lured to Peru by tales of fabulous treasures of silver and gold. But they were astonished to discover the architecture and culture of the highly organized and sophisticated Incas, who built their stone-walled cities high in the rugged terrain of the Peruvian Andes. Visitors today experience not only these wonders of the ancient world but also the profound legacy of Spanish colonialism and the enduring traditions of the largest indigenous population in South America. Peru remains a fascinating mixture of old and new; of cosmopolitan centers such as Lima, Arequipa and Cuzco; and tiny, remote villages; of beautiful coastlines, fascinating deserts, high mountains, and dense jungles. However, Peru’s spectacular environment is under pressure from influences such as increasing population, resource depletion, globalization, pollution, climate change, geopolitical issues and natural phenomena. Under the leadership of the Elon professors and experienced local guides, students will explore the diversity of this ancient, yet vital culture and how Peruvian society must respond to these sometimes opposing forces.

This interdisciplinary course combines study of the language, history, culture, politics and environment of this storied country. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required for enrollment, but students will study Spanish in a language school while in Peru and will have continual opportunities to practice their Spanish with Peruvians. The course will also feature group discussions focusing on the richness of Peru's cultural and environmental heritage in a global context. This four semester hour course partially fulfills General Studies requirements in the areas of Civilization or Science (non-lab). It also satisfies the university's Experiential Learning requirement.

a) To understand fundamental aspects of contemporary Peruvian society - including critical economic and political issues, religious traditions, family patterns, healthcare practices, artistic and musical forms, and habits of daily living.

b) To know broad themes of Peruvian history, especially the tension between Spanish colonialism and the cultures of indigenous peoples and to appreciate the high levels of cultural sophistication and complexity exhibited by the Incas and their ancestors before the arrival of the Europeans. The course will explore the ways in which these patterns of cultural heritage continue to influence the lives of modern Peruvians.

c) To experience the amazing diversity of Peru's natural environment and to study how humans have responded to that land and its resources from pre-Inca times to the present.

d) To develop conversational ability in Spanish so as to enable each student to function on his/her own in Peru and to interact on an elementary level with non-English-speaking Peruvians. Prior knowledge of Spanish is not a prerequisite for this course, but attaining a basic level of proficiency in "survival Spanish" is a course objective.

e) To show respect for Peruvian people and their customs and to think deeply about why their practices may differ from our own beliefs and practices in the United States.

f) To develop one's abilities as a traveler in another country - including the enhancement of intellectual curiosity, tolerance of differing worldviews, personal fortitude, self-confidence in unfamiliar situations, and cooperation with others.

(1) Insight Guides: Peru. APA Publications. Available in the Elon bookstore.

1) Participation                                                                                                  25%
2) Knowledge of Peruvian culture and environment                                   25%
3) Spanish                                                                                                           25%
4) Final reflective paper                                                                                   25%
Total                                                                                                                  100%

1) Enthusiastic and engaged participation in all course activities will earn you high marks in this category. Be observant, be interested, be on time to events, be courteous to your companions and respectful to Peruvians, be helpful, be patient. Ask yourself whether you have made this experience better for others. Complainers and grouches score poorly in this category, as do those who contribute little to class discussions.

2) This portion of your grade will be based on the intellectual curiosity and knowledge you show regarding Peruvian society, history and environmental issues. Familiarize yourself with the Insight Guide and ask informed opinions of our guides and course professors. Complete any assigned observational exercises/activities and requests for written reactions or responses to these. A critical element of this part of your grade will be the results of a written exam that will take place in Cuzco on January 24.

3) Your grade in Spanish will be based on two exams given in Peru, one at Máximo Nivel (the language academy where you will take classes) and one given by your course professors as part of your written final exam for the course. You will earn high marks for putting your Spanish (no matter how limited) into practice with Peruvians throughout the month. Every time your professors hear you using your Spanish with a Peruvian, your grade improves! Every time you ask one of your professors (or Raúl, our guide) how to say something in Spanish and then attempt to communicate with Peruvians in Spanish yourself, rather than relying on someone else or relying on Peruvians’ knowledge of English, your grade improves!

4) The final component of your grade will be a more formal paper, to be completed in February 2010 after your return to campus. For this project, you will research and analyze one environmental issue from a list of topics provided by Dr. Gammon. The paper should combine your research of various information sources with your own observations and reflections about these matters. Guidelines for this paper will be provided; be sure to follow the guidelines carefully.

We are followers of the traditional grading scale in academia, which means that a ‘C’ indicates ‘average’ performance in any of the above categories, with the remaining grades indicating:

Isabella Cannon Centre for International Studies

24-hours per day/7 days per week: (336) 693-6952*

*NOTE: After hours and on weekends, calls to this number will be forwarded to the cell phones of members of the Isabella Cannon Centre for International Studies. Someone from the office will be on call around the clock during our stay in Peru.

If a family member needs to contact you for emergency reasons while you are in Peru, the best way to do so is to call the Isabella Cannon Centre and let someone on the staff contact you in Peru. Then you can return the call to the United States. The group leaders will be in constant contact with the Isabella Cannon Centre, so that the staff there will know where we are throughout our time in Peru.

Approach this study course with an open mind and ample academic preparation and you will most likely have one of the most amazing experiences of your whole life during January 2010. We look forward to sharing it with you.