After nearly 35 years in the classroom, I knew it was time for a change—but retirement brought an unexpected restlessness, a yearning to impact lives beyond the familiar confines of the public education system. For many years, I’d observed that despite changes in curricula, they remained largely the same. Additionally, federal funding consistently decreased, leading to average students being overlooked among their peers. The staff-to-student ratio was insufficient to guarantee that individual learning needs were adequately addressed. This quest led me to a new classroom, thousands of miles away, as a volunteering teacher in Peru.
Leaving the bureaucracy behind was a relief, but retirement left me restless. For much of our adult lives, we’re tied to mundane responsibilities: utility bills, tax returns, mortgages, nine-to-five jobs. My retirement felt like a new window of opportunity, a chance to explore new cities, engage with foreign cultures, and connect with like-minded people.
Finding My Path: Volunteering in Cusco
I decided to “test the waters” with a volunteer initiative. After some online research, I discovered Máximo Nivel’s program for Teaching English in Cusco, Peru. I’d only heard of Cusco because of its proximity to Machu Picchu, and considered it the chance of a lifetime to spend a few months in the Andes.
What truly drew me to teach English in Peru was the immediate value it offered to local communities. English isn’t widely spoken in the public school system there, and where it is, instruction is often limited and under-resourced. Volunteering meant I could equip learners with skills that would meaningfully impact their futures—from employment opportunities to academic pursuits. It was a tangible way to help level the playing field for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to private instruction.
Cusco wasn’t what I expected. From a bird’s eye view, it was sprawling and unfinished. I later learned many buildings remained incomplete on the top floor to avoid certain property tax classifications. No country is without its bureaucracy, it seems—but I knew I wanted to be part of something new.
Maximo Nivel: Support That Made a Difference
Máximo Nivel, which also operates as an English and Spanish language institute, provided exceptional support. Even as a volunteer working outside their private institute, the other volunteers and I had access to the company’s academic team. From the moment I sent the first email, Maximo Nivel provided detailed pre-arrival materials, responsive communication, and a warm welcome in Cusco. They arranged airport pickup, comprehensive orientation sessions, walking tours, and an ESL crash course to refresh our teaching skills. They also reviewed the project structure and objectives and offered continuous support throughout my stay. That kind of personalized guidance made a world of difference.
Despite decades of experience, I was grateful for their ESL training. Speaking English and teaching it are entirely different beasts, and I was much more confident after reviewing verb tenses and best practices in second language instruction.
Impact in the Classroom: Puerto Rico Neighborhood
I worked in a free after-school program serving children from the Puerto Rico neighborhood of Tica Tica. My daily volunteer duties included preparing and leading 60-minute English classes for beginning and intermediate learners. Each class followed a structured lesson plan: we’d begin with a warm-up and objective, move into guided vocabulary and grammar practice, and finish with activities like pair work or storytelling to build fluency. In addition to teaching English, I often helped students with their homework, as many of their parents weren’t literate and couldn’t assist them at home. I saw students who could barely form a sentence gain the confidence to hold simple conversations, opening doors to new possibilities. It was a truly rewarding blend of academic support and personal connection.
While I appreciated the academic support, I was also pleased to be given the autonomy to design my own lessons. I was applying a skillset that had become stale and stiff in my previous life, in an intoxicatingly new environment. I felt creative, energized, and deeply purposeful. I also felt I was serving the needs of the community more directly than I was able to in an Arizona public school district. English language instruction is limited in Peru’s public education system, and locals are genuinely eager to learn.
English classes may be part of the public school curriculum, but they are often not extensive, and local teachers are frequently expected to deliver them despite their own limited language proficiency. Consequently, students, at an age ripe for learning, are often left passively watching English videos or grasping only basic vocabulary—much like I would conduct my own classes if I were asked to teach Italian or Farsi. However, many families recognize the value of English for future opportunities, often sending their children to expensive private institutes after school. My role in providing free classes in a public setting directly challenged these procedural hurdles, allowing me to help students in the most direct way possible.
Beyond the Classroom: A Cultural Immersion
Outside the classroom, I stayed with a local host family arranged by Maximo Nivel in the Mariscal Gamarra neighborhood. Living with Stefanni and her family was one of the most enriching parts of my experience. She was warm, thoughtful, and an excellent cook. Her young son brought joy with his playful energy, and I was often greeted by Garfield, the family’s shy but curious cat. We shared meals, discussed life in Peru and the U.S., and swapped cultural insights during quiet evenings. Staying in a local household helped me practice my Spanish, better understand Peruvian daily life, and feel grounded in a place so different from home.
Working with English students in Peru marked the beginning of a new chapter. Volunteering alongside younger teachers who were so sincerely invested in their students’ and their own futures revitalized my passion for education.
The Unforgettable Gains of Volunteering Abroad
So, what did I gain from volunteering to teach English abroad? Beyond the rewarding classroom moments, I gained perspective. I was reminded that meaningful learning often happens far outside the walls of a traditional school. I rediscovered my love for teaching, but with less pressure and more joy. I built relationships—with students, local staff, fellow volunteers, and my host family—that continue to shape how I see the world. And perhaps most importantly, I reconnected with my purpose.
My time in Cusco was also a test run for my own future. On the brink of a second career, I had been deliberating about living abroad. Immersing myself in a new purpose and surrounding myself with new perspectives reaffirmed my desire to live and teach overseas. So many doors are open to me, so many places to see.
Cusco, with its distinct blend of Indigenous and Spanish culture, is truly unique. Despite its colonial scars, there’s nowhere else I’ve been that so seamlessly intermingles the ancient past and our waking present. The meeting of cultures and blending of times washes over you. On a short hike above the city, you’re bound to stumble across ancient ruins and a Peruvian family barbecuing at their base. I was living in a very different context, across very different times, but I was certain it was exactly where I should be.