Jojo Savea - Peru 2019

In summer 2019, I had a great opportunity to be part of the Global Learning Experience in Peru. While editing all the photos I had taken, I could not stop thinking about all the people I met and got to know.

One part of the trip that I particularly enjoyed was working with our clients in Trujillo for the Small Enterprise Education and Development (SEED) project. It was humbling to see the differences between our values and motivations. For example, they are earning money for survival, so they were always filled with the drive to do all they could for their business. A certain woman named Marita was my favorite to work with because she was so excited and willing to accept any feedback. With the kind of passion and hard work she was willing to put in, I can’t wait to see her business thrive. 

I also enjoyed the business visits. After being exposed to various types of businesses, I was able to gain greater insight as to how businesses and the economy impact each other. It is completely different reading about it and actually seeing it work in person. The latter has been more beneficial to my overall understanding, especially because I am such a visual learner.

This whole class has really helped me get out of my comfort zone by interacting with others in the classroom, especially with professors. I usually do not participate during class, and I blame the communication barrier for it. However, it isn’t entirely true. Being seen as the “Deaf kid” in the class makes me self-conscious even though my knowledge and experience are equal to those around me. This class trip was an informal classroom setting, which helped me slowly warm up to being more involved. I was thrilled to get to know my professor and my classmates better. They are all really amazing in their own ways, and I still remain in touch with several of them to this day.

Along those same lines, personally seeing several ruins and museums really touched the history nerd in me. I was so excited to have my interpreters there, so I could understand everything fully. Usually, in this type of situation while traveling, I have to ask my friends to interpret for me. But their limited experience does not match that of certified interpreters that USU was able to provide. Having more access to the information, I was able to get the most out of the experience that Global Learning has to offer.

All in all, this experience was extremely eye-opening, fun, and memorable. Not only did I get outside of my own comfort zone, but I was able to aid in the practical application of what we learned in class. This experience has strengthened my decision to pursue a degree in marketing and entrepreneurship. It also has piqued my interest in the SEED program. This is one opportunity I feel no one should miss out on!