By Michele Walsky | Assistant Editor
Photo courtesy of Julie Cronin
Go to college and see the world! It may sound like a pipedream but for those involved in the Cultural Engagement and International Service Club’s expedition to Cusco, Peru, it is reality.
Nine students and one anthropology professor will join Brewer Center Director Shelley Nicholson, and Associate Dean of Students Greg Clement, for a nine day trip in May. Previously soaking up Costa Rica culture twice, a change of scenery and the chance to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World—the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu— were the main reasons for choosing a different destination, the coordinators said.
Requiring a year of prep time to set the itinerary in motion, this is the third time around the block for the duo.
“Having gone two years in a row gives us the confidence in what we do,” Nicholson said, referring to organizing, “relentless badgering” for discounts, interviewing companies and finagling flight deals.
Booking their trips through the travel agency “True Nature Travel” creates a health-centered holistic approach to community service while keeping it real. Vegetarian meals, a Yoga center, and self-reflection are key components to the trip.
The trip is a mutually beneficial symbiosis. The group adheres to local environmental practices and the money spent at the destination stays in that area while the group receives once-in-a-lifetime authentic experiences.
“This is not a vacation,” Clement added. “It’s a living course. It’s challenging and physical work. [In Costa Rica] We were in the trenches building houses with adobe bricks.”
“It’s a real immersion experience,” Nicholson said. “We were cleaning monkey poop out of cages and feeding sloths. We communicated with the people and we became one with the culture.”
“Our guides were like encyclopedias,” Clement said.
“In Costa Rica, we were invited by one of the families to press sugar cane. We were pressing and drinking sugar shots,” Nicholson said.
“It’s not just a growth experience for the students,” she continued. “They provide growth to the chaperones. It’s wonderful to watch the experience through their eyes.”
In Peru, the group plans to continue building sustainable homes, working with children and interacting with the residents. Cooking lessons from traditional Peruvian chefs and exploring Machu Picchu are also high on the list.
“We learn so much more than we give,” Nicholson summed up.
Each traveler has six months to raise $2,200, which includes airfare, meals, activities and ground transportation. According to Nicholson and Clement, monetary gifts from MWCC’s affiliates with the Brewer Center, Alpha Beta Gamma, Student Government Association(SGA) and the Cultural Club help defray the cost.
“Students get very creative in their fundraising,” Clement said. “They set up a cupcake business, make Christmas ornaments and run funding pages. We have our famous yard sale each semester and raffle off high end items.”
After all the fundraising, they try to leave seed money for next time. “Next year we’d like to go to Iceland,” Clement said.
To find out how to apply for the 2019 trip or take part in the Civil Engagement and International Service Club, visit the Brewer Center in room 152.
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