Two Peruvian girls sit on the steps at their school in Lima.

The tiny primary school students, who play outside during recess, practically pounce on the Youth Corps members as they arrive at the Fe y Alegrķa (Faith and Happiness) School #32, in Lima. Everyone here wants to meet these new visitors, and the students shower them with hugs and kisses.

"A person from the United States is like a superstar to them," Erica says."

The children escort the Corps members to the school's office, where they will meet the principal, Brother Felipe Alvarez. The Catholic Church operates this school, although it is a public school that receives government funding. All of the students in the neighborhood, an extremely poor section of Lima, are able to attend this school, Alvarez explains. These students are fortunate - their school has much better facilities and boasts better test results than the government-run schools.

While students here take many of the same basic classes that U.S. students take, their curriculum is enhanced with trade classes to help ensure that they find jobs after graduating at age 16. According to Alvarez, Peruvian universities are very expensive, and the colleges' admissions standards are extremely demanding. Due to their economic situation, none of the students at the Fe y Alegrķa School #32 will have the likelihood of furthering their education.

"These students have so much natural potential, but so little opportunity for jobs or to study," explains Cesar Checa, a professor in a woodworking class the Youth Corps members visit. "This is our national problem. Here we are trying to give them an alternative to survive, when there are no other options."

Alexis, Carlos and Elisa observe a student (left) make a bench during woodworking class.

In Checa's class, the Youth Corps members marvel at the beautifully carved wooden benches the students are making. While these benches will be used in the school, the students also have the opportunity to build furniture that they can either take home or sell, Checa says.

Moving on, the Corps members visit an electric shop, a class that trains students to become secretaries, a sewing class and a computer class. Although most of the equipment at the Fe y Alegrķa School #32 is outdated, the school has more learning tools than any other school in the area.

"I think this is one of the better schools I have seen here in Peru," says Alexis, who had the chance to visit several rural schools in the province of Cajamarca. "I think it is great that the classes teach them practical skills they will have to use. In (the United States), sometimes we take classes and then don't apply the knowledge we have learned."

After bidding farewell to their new-found friends, the Corps members are taken to a wonderful seafood restaurant where they are invited to try ceviche, a mixed seafood dish that is a national favorite. Everyone agrees that this is one of the best meals they have had so far. They gobble down every morsel of the ceviche and talk about the night they spent with their new Peruvian families.

"My house is great," Jeremy exclaims. "My host (Gladys Soto) has two teen-aged sons and we played Nintendo, ate spaghetti and went over to Wills' house for a visit."

Jeremy says he felt like he was back home last night. However, he quickly adds that his Peruvian "home" is part of a small minority -- they can afford some of the luxuries many American households have, such as Nintendo. But Jeremy says he did note something during his visit that was distinctly Peruvian.

"Kids here stay in the family until they get married and often the grandparents live with them," he says. "I think this stresses family togetherness and the importance of family."

After lunch, the Youth Corps members travel to their next stop, the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy building, completed in 1995, is a grand complex, complete with running track and tennis and volleyball courts. Security is extremely tight here, and the Youth Corps members and creative team are not allowed to bring in cameras or even take notes.

They soon meet with Public Affairs Officer Doug Barnes and Cultural Affairs Officer Colombia Barrosse. After telling the officials about the Youth Corps, the students from Chicago ask them questions about the political system in Peru, what the responsibilities of the Embassy staff are and what life is like for an American living in this country.

"I was really interested (in Barnes' job) because my father works in public affairs and my dad really influences me," Erica says after leaving the Embassy. "My dad even suggested I should be an ambassador someday, but I thought it wasn't my thing. But being there, I thought the job sounded great, and this has gotten me thinking more about what I would like to study."

While all the Youth Corps members were impressed by the candor of the Embassy officials and were fascinated to learn about their jobs, some decided that being at the Embassy was just a little too close to being at home.

"It felt a bit eerie to leave the honesty and purity of the Peruvian countryside to enter a fortress like the American Embassy," Wills says.

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