This summer, two Brooks students went on Exchange to Peru for more than a month as part of Brooks School's annual study abroad program, begun back in 1986.

Watch Kahu's video diary: 5 weeks in 55 seconds
 

The experience “helped me to foster an understanding of culture and interaction that I have never known before,” said Kevin Kahu '27, who joined Angeline Benjavitvilai '26 this June and July on a journey to and exploration in Peru for five weeks. The pair lived in Lima with host families and learned at Colegio Trener, a bilingual, co-educational day school in the city.

Kahu and Benjavitvilai (with a Canadian exchange student and Colegio Trener chaperone).

Back in January and February, Colegio Trener students Luka Bartra and Majo Sanchez joined Brooks students on campus in North Andover for their Exchange abroad.

Read our news story, “Don’t Be Scared:” Exchange Students Urge Others to Go Abroad.”

When Kahu and Benjavitvilai weren't in classes (they studied in both English and Spanish, offering them the opportunity to improve and apply their Spanish language skills), they took advantage of the chance to explore. The pair traveled to Incan caves, museums, Machu Picchu and street markets as well as went on a getaways to Cusco, the countryside, the ocean and archaeological sites.

Learn more about Brooks School's Exchange Program.

“I met many people who were very kind,” said Kahu. “I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because of the willingness of the people I met to welcome me into their community and give me a sense of belonging.”

Benjavitvilai said her favorite part of the study abroad was being able to “fully immerse myself into another culture and language.”

“This experience has taught me to become more independent and adaptive,” she said. “I discovered how to connect with peers while not being fluent in Spanish.”

Looking back on it all, Kahu said he has been changed by Exchange. “Visiting Peru has opened me up to the joy and understanding that comes from travel; it helped me to see the world anew from a whole new perspective,” he said. “I got to put myself in someone else’s shoes, my host in particular, and see what life would be like in a home other than my own. It taught me that there is so much going on outside the U.S. that I had no idea about.”