Students from Somos Amigos Travel to Peru
Somos Amigos Language Immersion School has been teaching Spanish to schoolchildren and adults in Anchorage for more than 20 years. With the goal of practicing and applying the knowledge acquired in Spanish classes, a group of 22 adult students traveled to Peru last August, along with Denise and Karim Otaegui - founders and owners of the school.
“The trip not only served to immerse the students in the Spanish language, but they also explored and learned about the Inca culture at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, visited the town of Ollantaytambo, among others. In addition, they were enriched by Peruvian culture and tasted delicious typical dishes. It was a magical, wonderful and memorable experience,” said Denise. Sarah Yoder studied three years at Somos Amigos, and this is how she describes her experience of the trip: “I loved Peru! The country is beautiful, and the people are welcoming. I was impressed by the ruins of Machu Picchu and the seven-color mountain Vinicunca. A highlight was visiting the markets and being able to speak my Spanish with the vendors, who wanted to practice their English. It was a pleasure to try Peruvian food, especially fruits, which I had never seen before. I am very grateful to Somos Amigos for the opportunity!” Sarah is originally from Pueblo, Colorado, and always wanted to learn Spanish, since there is a large Hispanic community where she lived. Brigit Reynolds works in the refugee program at Catholic Social Services and is always connected with people from all over the world. “Speaking Spanish is a very useful tool in my job, but I also love the language. Visiting Peru was fantastic! We felt like we were in the time of the Incas at Machu Picchu. It was also a great opportunity to practice my Spanish. The locals were very kind and patient while we practiced our Spanish with them. In the end, the best part was sharing this experience with my Somos Amigos classmates,” said Brigit. Denise assures that she has planned a new trip to Peru in 2026, with the hope of new adventures and that it will be very beneficial for the students. |