Chile: Skye Dickson (Learning on Excursions)
Program: SIT Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment, Spring
I have been in Chilé for about ten days now and I have already learned so much! One specifically memorable excursion was yesterday when our group went to a large rose farm outside of Santiago. We all woke up early and drove about an hour to the farm, where we were greeted with four very friendly dogs and the farmers, Gonzalo and Lua. We first had a conversation about the different types of roses around the world including in Iran and Bulgaria and how the farmers started the farm itself. We then walked out to the rose field which was so beautiful and the most roses I had ever seen! The bushes were tall with many different pink colored blooms.
Everyone was given a basket and we all collected a couple baskets each of roses, before taking what the Chileans call a ‘cafecito.’ In Chilé, it is common to take this type of midmorning break of coffee with some sort of fruit and pastries. After we finished our ‘cafecito’ we went to a tent nearby where the farmers talked about the products that they make with the roses, such as essential oil and lotion. They said it actually takes 4-5 tons of roses to make 1 liter of rose essential oil. One of my programs focuses on traditional medicine. The farmers talked a lot about the health benefits roses offer. They mentioned that applying the lotion which includes the essential oil can increase healing of scabs and scratches and is very good for skin irritation as a whole.
Spending time at the farm offered a unique hands-on experience with how traditional medicine is incredibly connected to nature and offers a sustainable option to healthcare.
Skye Dickson
Program Name: SIT Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment
Major: Biochemistry & Spanish
Hometown: Monroe, Wisconsin
Being a recipient of the Global Gateway Fellowship means the possibility for me to expand my horizons by being immersed in a new environment. By studying abroad, I am able to take on a new challenge of developing relationships in a new environment.
Through this program, my goal is to become a proficient Spanish Speaker. I would like to be able to improve my conversational Spanish skills especially by using all interactions with Chilean Spanish speakers as practice.
I am looking forward to learning about how the Chilean health system compares to the United States system. I also want to learn more about how the practices of indigenous communities influence the health system of Chile as well.