Maeve Travels to Peru!

Lake Laurel and Learning to Trust Myself

Well, we meet again blog! Since we last talked, my schedule has been filled with finals, studying, and trying to survive the end of the semester, but knowing I will be in Peru in just six weeks has definitely kept me motivated.

A couple of weeks ago, our wonderful professor and the rest of the study abroad students gathered for a retreat at Lake Laurel, which included climbing a (really high) tower.  At first, I was nervous… well, beyond nervous, to be honest. My mind was racing with thoughts that I would not be able to get through it. Ever since I was little, I have struggled with panic attacks in situations where I feel trapped, and being harnessed 30 feet in the air definitely sounded like being “trapped” to me.

The ironic thing is that another side of me absolutely loves adventure and challenge. Theoretically, I love things like climbing courses and adrenaline-filled experiences, but my brain often shuts those ideas down before I can even try. In a weird way, this retreat felt like the perfect opportunity to force myself to push past that fear. And honestly? I ended up having the best time.

I climbed the tower multiple times using different routes to reach the top. There were definitely moments when I started to feel nervous and “trapped,” but I was able to push past those thoughts. Maybe it was because I was finally able to de-escalate the panic in my head, or maybe it was because I had the constant encouragement and distracting sounds of my peers cheering me on from below. Either way, I am incredibly grateful and proud that I was able to keep going and not let my anxiety hold me back from experiences I genuinely love and want to have.

That experience reminded me that anxiety does not always have to make my decisions for me. I am hopeful I can carry that mindset into Peru and into life in general because I refuse to let fear stop me from experiencing new things anymore.

The dynamic we have created as a group makes me so excited for when we actually travel abroad together. I truly feel like everyone in this group has each other’s backs, and we all bring different strengths to the table. Some people are more outgoing, while others are more cautious, but both are equally important and necessary when traveling. This retreat made me realize that this trip is not just about Peru itself, but also about the people I will experience it with.

What I Learned About Peru Through My Peers’ Presentations

Last week, we had our final presentations in class, and I learned so much from everyone’s research. One of the presentations that stood out to me the most was Eva Beth’s on HR in Peru. I learned that Peru has some of the strictest labor laws in the world, including 30 calendar days of paid vacation, compared to the United States, which has no federal guarantee of paid vacation. As someone who just finished taking Legal Environment of Business (shoutout Professor El-Jourbagy!), I found this especially interesting because I have become really fascinated by labor laws, paid leave, and employee protections.

After Eva’s presentation, I actually researched further and learned that employees in Peru are required to take at least 15 consecutive vacation days, but can choose to sell back the remaining 15 days for additional pay. Learning about the differences between America and Peru really deepened my understanding of how differently countries approach work-life balance and employee well-being.

Another presentation I found really interesting was Ava’s presentation on environmental stressors in Peru. Like much of the world, Peru faces major challenges related to climate change and pollution. Ava discussed issues such as waste management struggles, increasing air pollution from fossil fuels and traffic, and environmental concerns in densely populated cities like Lima, which we will actually be visiting. What stood out to me most was realizing how deeply these environmental challenges affect everyday life for the people living there, rather than just existing as statistics or headlines we scroll past online.

I also really enjoyed Karley’s presentation about alternative dispute resolution in Peru. Karley explained how Peru’s judicial system often faces delays and backlogs, making ADR especially important because it is faster, cheaper, and often more culturally appropriate for Indigenous communities. I had honestly never thought deeply about how culture can shape legal systems and conflict resolution before this presentation.

Some other topics I found fascinating included Sarah’s presentation about Peru’s farming geography and biodiversity, as well as learning about Peru’s four major transportation and logistics systems: air cargo, roads, rail, and maritime trade. Before these presentations, I never thought much about how goods physically move throughout a country like Peru (or really any country), but now I feel like I have a much broader understanding of the systems that keep economies functioning.

Overall, these presentations made Peru feel much more multidimensional to me. Before this class, I mostly thought about Peru in terms of travel, food, and famous landmarks like Machu Picchu and the Amazon. Now, I find myself thinking more deeply about the country’s business systems, environmental challenges, HR laws, infrastructure, and cultural dynamics. I feel like these presentations helped prepare me to experience Peru with a much more informed perspective.

My Presentation: Sustainability Beyond Marketing

For my own presentation, I focused on aspirational statements and sustainability protocols in Peru. My experience running social media for a sustainable, ethically sourced skincare brand gave me background knowledge about sustainability in business and how companies market it to consumers. However, researching Peru’s sustainability landscape gave me an entirely new perspective.

Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and the Amazon rainforest plays a massive role in carbon storage and global climate regulation. Peru is also home to thousands of unique plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. At the same time, the country faces major environmental challenges. More than 50% of Peru’s rivers are affected by pollution, and air pollution in Lima contributes to thousands of premature deaths annually.

Through this research, I learned about ESG auditing frameworks, carbon and water monitoring systems, MRV systems, sustainability reporting, and the difference between aspirational statements versus actual sustainability protocols. To me, aspirational statements are the “vision,” while sustainability protocols are the action behind that vision. I think this topic became especially meaningful to me because it made me realize how easy it can be for companies to market themselves as sustainable without necessarily creating a measurable impact.

I am really excited to see how what I researched translates into real life as we visit these businesses in Peru. I feel like this experience will help me better distinguish between sustainability that creates genuine impact and sustainability that simply looks good from a marketing perspective.

Six Weeks Out: A Little Scared, A Lot Excited

And now… six weeks out. The countdown finally feels real. This is no longer just a fun idea or something far away; it is actually happening.

Am I scared? Absolutely. But is the excitement stronger than the fear? Also absolutely.

I am so excited to experience a place unlike anywhere I have ever been before. One of my best friends is going on this trip, but honestly, I feel like I have grown really close with everyone in the group.

I think it is important for me to acknowledge that having feelings of anxiety going into something this big is completely normal. But I also think a lot of what I am feeling is excitement disguised as anxiety. At the end of the day, I know how lucky I am to have this opportunity to learn, explore, and grow through this experience. Because of that, I want to go into this trip with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to fully be present.

I already know this journey is going to change me in ways I cannot even predict yet, and I truly cannot wait for that.

Well… that wraps up blog #2. We’ll talk again soon!