Forestville High School Spanish Teacher Laurie Becker and a group of chaperones took the students to Peru so they all could explore the country and experience its culture. Joining Becker on the trip were colleagues Kristen Marvin, Peter Hanzly and Melissa Press, as well as several parents.

“How fortunate am I to have these people travel with me and to have parents put their faith in us to take their children where we took them,” Becker said.

Over the course of the trip, students visited the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the Inca Empire capital of Cusco, Lake Titicaca, ancient structures that once hosted live sacrifices, trading posts established in the time of the Inca Empire, and even an alpaca farm. The students also experienced Peruvian cuisine, including roasted guinea pig known as “cuy”, which is considered a delicacy in Peru.

“Going to Machu Picchu was on my bucket list,” Becker said. She called it a very emotional experience that she will never forget.

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Forestville High School Spanish Teacher Laurie Becker smiles during a presentation of the Spanish Club’s trip to Peru.

Forestville student Iris Muck shared her takeaway from the trip with the Board of Education near the conclusion of the presentation.

“It is a life-changing experience going on a school trip with a bunch of kids, getting to view different parts of the world with kids your age,” Muck said. She added that the highlight of the trip for her was the visit to the alpaca farm, noting that when she was younger, she dressed up in elementary school for National Llama Day.

Becker said one of the most impactful parts of the trip for her was when the tour guide, Boris, pointed out the differences between how history is portrayed in books and online compared to what the locals live with as part of their heritage.

“The culture that they experienced … I can’t say enough. It was a fabulous trip,” Becker said.

Becker later added, “We will always have this together. I will never forget it.”