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Thank you.
Firstly, thank you to Mrs. Smith for coordinating this service-learning project and for being the faculty leader on our trip. Your experience in the public health field and providing dental hygiene abroad was invaluable, and your pure generosity made this trip incredibly special. Thank you to Ethel Gonzalez from Peruvian Immersion for the Spanish lessons before my time abroad, your endless knowledge about Peru, your dancing experience and zest for life, and for welcoming the Peru Crew with open arms to your beautiful country. Thank you to the other ladies of the Peru Crew, Mikayla Hammel and Luisa Bajo, for being the best group of girls to study abroad with and for providing some breathtaking pictures for my blog. Your patience, support, friendship, and humor always kept the energy light and enjoyable. Thank you to Andrea for your translating, experience studying abroad, and kindness as well as to her mother, who was an incredibly knowledgable chef that taught us some delicious Peruvian recipes. Thank you to everyone who donated on my GoFundMe and who helped fund my trip. I couldn’t have made it happen without the overwhelming financial and emotional support from my friends and family. My heart is so full of love and joy for the people I met in Peru, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to study abroad while in college. It has made me determined to continue expanding the lens in which I view the world and to provide services and (most importantly) education to improve oral health on a global scale.
Besos, and until next time ~ Chloe Strike ❤︎
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My grandmother, Cece, created a blank travel scrapbook for me to fill with my pictures from Peru. I was happy to fill it with both photos and other mementos from my time there. Thank you, Grandma Cece, for the beautiful reminder of my time abroad. I will cherish it forever. Featured in the background is a hand-woven Alpaca blanket that I got in Cusco.
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Upon returning...
What’s the best thing about being home?
Showering! It’s been so lovely having hot, clean water ready for immediate use. The CDC recommends avoiding swallowing water while showering or brushing your teeth in most developing countries. Implementing this consideration makes washing your face and showering less enjoyable. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/food-water-safety
What’s the hardest?
It has been difficult staying fully present and not flashing back to Peru. I will be walking somewhere and see myself again in Peru, exploring the streets of Mira Flores or running through Lima. My first time shopping at a grocery store in America was a trip. I remember walking up to the doors in the parking lot and flashing back to the mercado. It made me grateful for all the convenient options we have for food, items, and anything else you may need!
How was your experience different from what you expected?
I didn’t believe people when they said it would be life-changing. I couldn’t comprehend how you can come back feeling like a different person. Going into this experience, I anticipated helping every child I came into contact with by providing professional cleanings. I was disappointed when I felt like I could not offer that to them. Many of the children I helped had developmental and cognitive disabilities. The dentist is already scary to most kids, but them seeing the hospital bed there were going to sit in during the cleaning made them incredibly afraid due to the negative experiences associated with the hospitals generally in Peru.
What do you wish you’d done differently?
I wish I would’ve bought more souvenirs! I had so much fun handing out personal gifts from my time abroad, and I was surprised how happy and surprised people were to receive them.
How did studying abroad impact your future?
It made me want to travel the world and clean teeth!!!
Did traveling/studying abroad make you think any differently about your identity or your place in the world?
It made me realize that living in the United States I only see a pinpoint of the beautiful sites, rich cultures, and poetic languages that the entire world has to offer. I’ve been exposed to such a small fraction of the wonders and people who populate the world it has reminded me how small I am in the grand scheme of things.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that I can’t help everyone, even if I want to desperately. I was surprised how painful and emotional that lesson was for me to learn. I also learned that I don’t mind seeing pediatric patients and patients with special needs and enjoy teaching kids the importance of an excellent oral homecare routine.
What do you miss most from abroad?
I miss taking in new sites, sounds, flavors, and experiences. I’m restless and want to travel the world and see as much as I can because I love learning about different cultures and opening my world view.
What does “reverse culture shock” mean to you?
Reverse culture shock means re-entering your home country and feeling slightly disconnected from the place you’ve called home for so long. It’s getting re-adjusted to the routine and way of life you had previously and trying your best to become acclimated to how you lived a life before
Do you think of America any differently now that you have returned? How do you plan to get involved in other international activities? What’s your general advice for students preparing to go abroad? How about for students going on your study abroad program
I view America as very privileged and understand why people see it as a land of opportunity and making dreams come true. I plan on attending every cultural night held at the International Pavillion. My general advice for students going abroad is to start saving money if you’d like to make it happen. If you’re stressing about funds during the trip, it will limit and take away from your experience abroad. My recommendation for students going on my study abroad program is to go into this learning service opportunity with an open heart and mind. Fully embrace and immerse yourself in the culture and try as many new things as possible!
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06/30/19 ~ Cusco with the Fam
Featuring some candid moments of teaching Lez and Maria how to floss. They were two adorable little girls who came up to me in the airport after being fascinated with my hair color. I saw the amount of interproximal decay the youngest had and knew I had to at least try and teach the older sister the importance and technique of flossing!
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Spanish Class Notes & Soles
Notebook for Spanish lessons, an example of the lessons we would complete during class, and very useful dental terms/commands/phrases in Spanish! Also, the currency used in Peru- the sol (plural: soles).
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While in the Host Country...
Tell us about a challenge you faced while studying abroad, how did you overcome it?
I had much more difficulty at first working with the patient population than I ever anticipated. I wanted so badly to help the kids we were seeing through dental intervention but was greatly disappointed and defeated when they would refuse help due to their lack of familiarity with the situation. To overcome this challenge, I would take a deep breath and remind myself that the children merely having the opportunity to leave the orphanage and come to the clinic and interact with us was help enough.
What advice would you give to others experiencing the same challenge?
REMINDER that it is not your responsibility, job, or expectation to save every person. You may want to help someone desperately, but if they refuse that help, then there isn’t much else you can do, and feeling bad about the situation changes nothing.
Your favorite or most interesting cultural experience while abroad?
My favorite cultural experience while abroad was dancing at the celebration for the anniversary of Caylloma. The small community and surrounding villages came dressed in traditional garb and with their offerings for the central fire pit. A bucket of a horchata-like drink made its rounds around the crowds of people watching the circles of villages dancing. We managed to break into a circle and got to grapevine and celebrate with the locals on this special and festive night.
What’s your commute like from home to class?
We mostly commute anywhere from the hospital by a taxi set up by the Peruvian Immersion program.
What do you hear/see on the way?
We saw crazy drivers who took the street lights and signs as suggestions. We saw the beautiful white volcanic rock marbled throughout the city in its 500-year-old buildings.
What’s your living space like?
While in the hospital, three single-person beds were in one room with lamps and locked drawers. There was only one mirror located on the dresser door.
Who do you live with?
I roomed with the two other dental hygiene students who chose to also go to Peru for their public health externship!
How is your home abroad different from your home in the US?
The dogs of the street howling and barking at night kept me up at first, but I started to become accustomed to it.
What did you pack that you wish you’d left behind?
I brought my grandma’s photo album she wanted me to fill up with Peru photos. I had no reason to bring this but had to because I brought it with me on accident to the airport. I luckily was able to keep it relatively unscathed, but traveling was still rough to it.
What do you wish you’d packed?
I feel good about what I packed. I wish I hadn’t packed so many clothes, but it was nice to have options for myself and extra clothing for my friend whose luggage was delayed.
What’s your favorite food you’ve tried so far?
Rocoto relleno and I love the dulce de leche incorporated in most desserts.
What have you accomplished while abroad that makes you proud?
I was proud that by the end of the campaign, I was actively trying and confidently speaking Spanish to my patients. I was intimidated at first by the prospect of delivering effective dental care when there are cultural and communication barriers. Still, I learned rather quickly that there are universal things like a smile and reassurance that will always work to show your patient you care.
How do you spend your free time?
What free time?
Are you making progress with the language?
Yes! The Spanish classes really helped with basic vocabulary and dental terms that helped us get through the appointment. As there have been more clinic days, I have gotten more and more comfortable giving directions and oral health instructions.
Have you discovered new music while abroad?
Most taxis have played top Spanish hits that I mostly have not heard of. I loved Es Por Ti by Jares, the Andean panpipe festival tunes whistled during the celebration of the anniversary of Calloyoma, Afro-Peruvian rhythm observed at the Peruvian Folk-dance festival, and more cuimba to my delight.
What have you done abroad that you don’t do at home?
We went to the hot springs in the Colca Canyon and got to dance (to my delight) some salsa variants with locals.
Favorite trip or excursion?
The tour of the Colca Canyon was incredible, but seeing Juanita: the Incan Ice Maiden still preserved back in Arequipa was unlike anything I’ve done before.
What are your favorite words from your host language?
Gordito, chonchlas, chonies
Does being abroad make you think any differently about what it means to be “an American”?
It showed me how privileged I am to have been born an American citizen. There are so many simple luxuries (like the convenience and variety of superstores like Target and Walmart), freedoms, and opportunities I’ve never questioned being available to me and didn’t realize could not be an option for me if I were born to another country.
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06/27/19 ~ Farewell to the Peru Crew and Reflections
I got to stay in a hotel in Lima by myself for the first time!
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06/27/19 ~ Farewell to the Peru Crew and Reflections
Journal Entry #11 ~ Final Entry
We woke up this morning to do last-minute shopping for souvenirs and to see the frozen ice maiden, Juanita. It was my first time visiting a museum, and it made me want to visit many more! It was so fascinating seeing how the Incan people essentially left clues on where to find their human sacrifices. They also had such intricate miniature llama figurines and a figurine which depicted an Incan man with coca leaves stuffed in his cheek! The museum was happy to have Juanita back in Arequipa after she toured Japan and other museums. Following the museum, we traveled from Arequipa to Lima and said farewell to Ethel. At the Lima airport, it was time for me to part ways with the Peru Crew. I was so incredibly grateful for the empowering, funny, supportive women I got to experience Peru with and for the opportunity to explore and fall in love with the country. Now for 24 hours alone in Lima until my parents come!
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06/26/19 ~ Last Clinic Day
Supplies we donated for the clinic to use, certificate of recognition from Peruvian Immersion, and the last patient I saw on my externship
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06/26/19 ~ Last Clinic Day
Journal Entry #10
The last day of clinic brought the bittersweet realization our campaign at Clínica Infantil Paz Holandesa was ending. It has been an absolute honor and pleasure to have worked for this hospital and to have seen the variety of patients that came. The types of patients I saw ranged from persons who use a wheelchair, to persons with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, cleft lip, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, calculus bridges, major restorations, and early childhood decay. I will never take for granted the immense amount of knowledge and experience I gained from my externship in Perú and feel as if a part of me will remain there.
If I could change one thing about my last clinic day, it would be to not spend as much time on the lingual aspect of the mandibular anterior sextant (despite how tempting it may be). I also would like to be more conscious of my water and saliva levels in my ultrasonic and portable suction unit. I was happy that I finally felt like I found my groove and was able to educate and converse with my patients confidently.
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