What happened 500 years ago is a story of “events so amazing that they overshadow all other famous deeds in history” (Las Casas). It was then that two worlds came together when Spanish explorers came to a land beyond the horizons of everything they had ever known before. This spring, students enrolled in the Woods Around the World class will journey to South America and visit the country of Peru. We will take in stunning landscapes from high atop the Andes Mountains and along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. We will explore the art and culture of the great Incan Civilization and learn of the colonial legacy of the Spanish conquistadors. Both in our class and in our travels, we will learn not only about the peoples of South America, but also about our own histories and stories. The class is also an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable cross-cultural experience in preparation for their future careers.