Carrie Milliken

International Experience Country:
Peru
Cohort Year:
2011
Home Institution:

Washington & Jefferson College

Heinz Programming Area:
Arts and Culture
International Experience Summary:

Carrie Milliken spent five weeks studying the Spanish language and Peruvian culture in Lima, Peru.  She took two classes (Socioeconomic and Political Realty of Peru and Spanish Literature) at the Universidad del Pacífico.  These classes, along with her experiences in the city of Lima, helped Carrie to improve her Spanish speaking skills and become immersed in the local culture.  Carrie was able to visit various regions of the city ranging from the “nice” areas to impoverished areas.  Carrie was also able to visit areas outside of Lima.  She traveled to the Andes Mountains and visited Machu Picchu where she learned about the Incan culture.  She also traveled to a desert region and the Amazon rainforest.  In these diverse environments Carrie was able to experience the many different cultures, social groups, and terrains of Peru.  Carrie’s diverse experiences provided insight into how a country with many different cultures and even languages can manage to stay united.

Community Engagement Experience Summary:

CEE Title: Chopped

For her CEE, Carrie and her team developed Chopped, which was mirrored after the famous television show on the Food Network. They challenged teams to make dishes using mystery ingredients that were sustainably and locally sourced. After the competition, the participants and spectators were able to learn more about eating locally and sustainably, armed with the tools to create delicious foods from their own backyards.