Experience report
ANR: 512757
Name: Pascal van den Munckhof
E-mail: p.w.j.vdnmunckhof@tilburguniversity.edu
Exchange semester: Fall semester 2014
Academic year: 2014-2015
Host University: Universidad del Pacífico
Country: Peru
TOPIC: Admission, arrival, housing
Upon arrival I got picked up at the airport by the housing association where I booked a room for the
semester, I immediately found out I got ripped off with a price which was way too high. There is
nothing wrong with most taxis inside the airport. The accommodation you have to organize yourself, I
heard of APU from someone and got a room in one of their houses but later moved to La Jato
because I wanted to live with more friends. You can as well stay in a hostel the first nights and search
a nice apartment while in Lima. There was an orientation/introduction day, but this was just
information about the uni and living in Lima.
TOPIC: Location of university/city
Lima is a huge city with around 10 million inhabitants. But most of your time you will spent in the
districts Miraflores (tourist district with a lot of restaurant), San Isidro(Financial district, where I lived),
Jesus María (where the uni is located) and Barranco (where most bars are).
TOPIC: Academics
I had two courses in Spanish and two in English, in the beginning it is hard to get all the details in the
Spanish courses, but while your Spanish improves during the semester you understand more and
more. The academic method is different, you have class in smaller class rooms with about thirty
people, and there is a high percentage of participation in your end grade. You have to attend at least
70%. In the end it is not that hard to pass your courses. But you have a lot of presentations and
groupwork.
TOPIC: Social life
I did the two week Spanish course offered by the university before the semester, where I already build
up a group of friends, furthermore it is nice to live in a big house with exchange students to meet
people. There was a buddy system, but I never met my buddy. In the end I didn’t talk with a lot of
Peruvians, but that is okay. Lima has a lot of universities with exchange programs, resulting in tons of
exchange students. I made a few trips during the semester, so I saw all highlights of Peru. After the
semester I went to Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama and Colombia with friends I made in Lima.
TOPIC: Living costs
I didn’t receive any grant from TiU so I lived on DUO and saving money. It is hard to tell exactly what I
spent because it is a mix of food/drinks/taxis and the travels of course. My rent was 950 soles which
is about 270 euros. In Lima food isn’t that cheap, even in the supermarket you will find European or
even higher prices for some products. I didn’t have any university related expenses.
TOPIC: Culture
There are of course a lot of culture differences between Peru and the Netherlands, but since you will
live in the most westernized districts of the capital city there are only small differences you will
recognize, so no, I didn’t experience a culture shock. In the beginning, the language was the biggest
problem, but with enough effort that is tackled quickly enough, since the contact with locals is kind of
standardized, in the supermarket for example. The real Peruvian/Latin culture you get to know while
traveling, and I really liked it. When you’re not at too touristic places, the people are really nice and
are happy you visit them, without demanding any money. It was the first days after my return to the
Netherlands remarkable how cold we Dutch are to each other.
TOPIC: Personal development
One of the major things I learned was a new language. Spanish. Furthermore I think my personality
changed a bit of course, there will always stay a bit of Latin in me. I think hanging out with exchange
students makes you more extrovert, because everybody is in a certain this is our time mood. I learned
to take every opportunity and no longer hold back.
TOPIC: Tips for future students
I can highly recommend an exchange period! And go to another continent, I really enjoyed my time in
South America. And I think this is the change to experience living there. Don’t plan too much, just see
what happens there.