Global & Cultural Engagement
My field school in Peru was the first time I ever left North America. I did not speak Spanish, nor did I know anyone else attending the program. Throughout the weeks that I was there, I was thrust into a new culture, language, and country. Still, I was able to adapt, learning how to fit into Huanchaco. I moved from being unable to navigate the main strip of road by the beach to being able to travel to the market alone to make purchases. While in Peru, my classmates and I also attended religious festivals, museums, and archeological sites, providing a vast background of cultural knowledge that I am now able to draw upon in my work here in the States. I now understand varying points of view to a greater extent, and can communicate across cultural boundaries.
Technology
Also in Peru, I was taken aback by the amount of technology that I did not realize was included in archeology. The first week, drone imaging was used, stretching out our small site to contextualize it. It opened my eyes to how commonplace archeology is in places other than the United States. I would love to apply this type of drone usage to my work here in the States. Additionally, I learned how to scan artifacts to digitize them. This narrows the globe, making information accessible no matter where people are located. In addition to learning about new technology, my Peru field school shocked me with how difference cultures are used to archeology in their backyard.
Teamwork
In the summer of 2024, I lived in Huanchaco, Peru to take part in an archeological field school. I knew nobody, and was the only non-anthropology major. Despite this, we grew to be close friends and teammates as we worked on the excavation site. Through this experience, we each developed an newfound understanding of physical work and archeology. As we were all in the same situation (and lived together 24/7), we became proficient at working together, peer editing, and overly improving each other's work. We are still close friends and even though we are no longer working full-time on excavation, we still see each other as teammates.
Communication Skills
My communication skills have grown through my international classwork. I've had to communicate with international students who did not have the same background as I. For instance, in World Archeology, it is interesting to find what sites I grew up learning about in comparison to others. I had no clue sites such as Chan Chan existed, and it is interesting to hear other people's opinions. Additionally, I have learned to alter my language to explain metaphors or use terminology that can be understandable to a wider audience. This typically comes about when I'm discussing my field work, and people do not know the Chimu or Moche.