I'm doing a really great job at blogging regularly... (not). Sorry to my anxious readers who are following my moves in Chile! :) And wow I have a lot to catch you all up on.
This past week, my SIT study abroad group traveled east with our program director and program assistant into what is called the "pre-cordillera," meaning basically the foothills of the Andes mountain range. These foothills were also around 12 000 feet of altitude change for all of us. We left Arica in the morning and arrived in Putre late afternoon Tuesday, with several stops along the way in order to acclimate as much as possible. Thankfully, my dad suggested I get some altitude medicine before leaving home, and it came in handy because my symptoms were much less severe than some girls on the trip. Once there, we had some pretty interesting presentations from traditional Aymara medicine men and an Aymara midwife where they showed us the herbs they used and described certain ceremonies they practice. We also toured the local health center and talked to locals about the interaction between Aymara medicine and modern medicine that goes on in Putre and the surrounding areas.
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| Town of Putre, population around 1 000 |
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| Yatiri (Aymara medicine man) |
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| Partera (Aymara traditional birthing assistant) showing how she uncoils the umbilical cord from around a baby's wrist or neck without even touching the mother |
After a few days of class in Putre, we continued on to Belen to visit the rural health post where one paramedic attends to the 27 inhabitants of the village and also treats others who come over the border from Bolivia or surrounding camps. The town is so small that we were greeted by a town elder. The town was tiny yet beautifully located with many abandoned houses among the rocky landscape. The school only has 7 students, ranging in age from 5 to 12, and many of the children are Bolivian. We brought them candy (good work, public health program) yet didn't feel too bad because they only get it from our visits- otherwise all the food they eat is locally produced. That afternoon, in another small town on the way back to Putre for the night, we had a typical Aymara lunch where they cook the food underground. We were stuffed to the brim with lamb, corn, and potatoes by the time we left and everyone napped on the way back to the hotel.
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| 7 person school in Belen, town population is around 27 (!!!) |
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| Unearthing a traditional Aymara feast of lamb, pastel de choclo (corn paste cooked in its husk), and potatoes |
After a surprisingly great sleep at altitude, we traveled even further into thin air to 14 764 feet to Lago Chungará in Parque Nacional Lauca. I kid you not. It was impossible to walk quickly, jump, and make sudden movements (yet of course we tried, who doesn't want a jumping picture next to one of the
highest lakes in the world?). It was amazingly beautiful and fun to finally sightsee. That afternoon, we also stopped for lunch and a swim at a hot springs. There were several pools with mud floors and one bigger concrete pool pictured below. We headed back to Arica after lounging around in the sun and the warm water!
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| Parinacota Volcano, Lago Chungará, and my roommates for November! |
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| Termas Jurasi (hot springs) |
Overall, it was a really amazing first trip with the program and I am excited for our adventure next week to Tacna, Peru!
As always, email me at marisaw@gwmail.gwu.edu
- Marisa
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