Layne Phillips is a sophomore in the College of Forestry. She spent most of winter term in Chile as part of Forestry’s “From the Andes to the Sea” faculty-led study abroad program.
Where were you?
I was in southern Chile, most commonly referred to as Patagonia. Specifically, I spent time in Los Lagos and Aysén regions.
What language is spoken there?
Spanish.
What was the focus of your work?
Our courses focused on comparing the Chilean ecosystem with Oregon and how conservation and resource management is done in Chile. We had three courses taught by OSU professors while we were there.
One of the big things we learned about was salmon aquaculture. Salmon is an introduced species in Chile, but it is their second largest export product. It was really interesting to look at the ecological impacts of salmon in a negative light, compared with Oregon where we are trying to conserve salmon populations. Even though salmon can easily outcompete the native Chilean fish, and aquaculture has affected the health of waterways, it’s a massive industry that locals rely on. It’s quite a challenge to think about what the best management strategy is because you have to take the perspective of all the different stakeholders.
I also thought it was interesting to learn about the differences in conservation policy. Chile had a long period of disregard for their landscapes, and conservation organizations didn’t quite emerge until the mid-20th century. Many of these were also not funded by the Chilean government until more recently, which contrasts with the U.S agencies having always been federally or state-operated.
Layne Phillips at an Universidad de Chile forestry experiment station.
How much time did you spend there?
I spent eight weeks in Chile (February and March).
Who were your closest local colleagues?
We had six Chilean students in the program with us, who were great people to become friends with and learn from. A few of the faculty members who taught courses and coordinated the trip are also from Chile: Ivan Arismendi, Claudio Guevara and Carlos Gonzalez-Benecke.
What was the biggest challenge of working there?
I think the biggest challenge was balancing school work and the interest to go explore.
What’s the best food you ate there?
My favorite dish was called “chorillana.” It’s French fries topped with steak, sausage, caramelized onions and a fried egg.
What’s the most non-touristy thing you got to do?
The most non-touristy thing we got to be a part of was a traditional Chilean gathering and meal called a “curanto.” It includes mussels, clams, a variety of meat and milcao (potato patties) that have been cooked on hot stones in the ground covered with nalca leaves. We helped prepare the pit and some of the side dishes and all gathered around outside to play guitar, sing and eat together.
What’s one thing from your experience that you’ll take back to Oregon with you?
I tried to savor all the moments in Chile and felt very grateful to be there, so coming back to Oregon, I want to be better about appreciating what I have and enjoying the present.
What were you most surprised to learn?
One thing I was surprised to learn was that wildfires are not a natural disaster in Chile. The landscapes don’t depend on it for regeneration. And the beaver is also invasive!
Besides family, what did you most miss from home?
I missed having a clothing dryer. It took quite a while to dry my clothes when I hand-washed them.
What piece of advice would you give others who might travel there?
Chile has a good public transport system, and taking the buses to get places, instead of only a rental car, will give you a more cultural experience and sense of adventure. You also can’t flush the toilet paper. You have to put it in a waste bin. I kept forgetting about this for a few days when I first got there.
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