I did it. I can finally say I have experienced the full Chilean culture. Last Saturday, I came home from a night out at 5am, like a true joven chilena. It was the most fun I’ve had yet. The key is to not arrive at the discotec until 1am or even 1:30am when the DJ starts to play the good reggaeton and the dancing gets serious. After that, the hours fly by dancing and laughing with old and new friends. I would have been especially proud of myself if I made it home after my host brothers, but alas, they arrived raucously sometime after 6am from their own carretes (house parties).
Although this weekend was serious fun, this week is serious business. I have been working furiously to complete written assignments, group essays, project proposals and Spanish exams. At the same time I am planning trips to San Pedro de Atacama and Pucón, finding housing and transportation in the Temuco region, and communicating with advisors and other contacts to set up interviews and observations. Oh and I selected courses for next semester and confirmed a summer subletter for life back in DC.
This is a busy, yet exciting time. The “classroom” based portion of the program has ended and the independent research project portion has begun. Although it is still in the process of development, I can explain what I hope I will be investigating. I am interested in the adaptation and modernization of traditional treatments.
I want to understand how and why traditional treatments are used for modern, occidental, chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. During our travels, I have heard repeatedly about this medical hybridization. Although I originally learned about this concept in Putre (the aymaran north), I will be living with a family and another student in Temuco (the mapuche south) and traveling to Makewe or Puerto Saavedra to collect information from the mapuche healers and community. My study period is all too brief, lasting from May 2 to May 28. At that point I will return to Arica for a week to present the results and conclusions.
I am excited to work with my mentor, a charismatic PhD student who gave a riveting lecture on Health and Sociocultural Processes while we were in Makewe. I’m excited to obtain more profound information from the local opinion. I’m excited to conceptualize and rationalize these cultural processes with the hopes of validating their system and creating harmony between biomedicine and traditional medicine.
Chilenismo of the week: buenas ondas: good vibes/ good spirit/good qualities
High of the week: Being told I have buenas ondas
Low of the week: having my original project proposal rejected because it wasn’t specific enough
Some photos from the week:
Buying fish at the port with host Mama Alhe
Sunset in the plaza
Cultural dance in the cathedral