OCS Highlights

9 December 2024

Information compiled by Edith Reyes Contreras ’25

Cross-Cultural Psychology in Prague: Chris Melo ‘25

Chris Melo ’25

This OCS experience has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I got the opportunity to live in the Czech Republic. I had never been to a European country before, so adjusting to Prague was difficult at first, but I loved getting to know the culture of this beautiful city and country. Living abroad made me realize just how loud Americans can be—I swear, some of my classmates and I were always the loudest in the room! Prague itself is stunning, a time capsule of historic architecture that I know I’ll miss dearly when I return to the U.S. 

Academically, the experience has been both challenging and enlightening. Conversations and lectures with psychologists here have shown me how different cultures approach treatment and how cultural context influences psychological disorders. This experience has been incredibly relevant, as I plan to work in clinical psychology with immigrant populations in the United States, and what we learn here directly supports my career aspirations.

If I were to give advice to anyone going on OCS or considering it, I’d say: take every opportunity to explore and fully immerse yourself in the culture, but do not procrastinate on your school work. Remember you are a student. OCS is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that creates unforgettable memories. The world is a beautiful place—go out and see it in all its beauty. If you’re thinking about OCS, take this as your sign to go for it. Cheers from Prague!

Tiffany Nyamao ’25

Tiffany Nyamao ‘25

Hey everyone! I am Tiffany (she/her), a senior biology major and neuro minor on the pre-med track! For Fall 2024, I am on a Non-Carleton OCS program called SIT IHP Health and Community: Globalization Culture and Care. By the end of this program, I will have visited Delhi, Udaipur, and Jaipur in India, Cape Town and Zwelethemba in South Africa, and Buenos Aires in Argentina. 

Although traveling is a major plus of this program, I chose this program because I wanted to shift my perspective on how sociocultural, political, and economic factors shape health outcomes, healthcare accessibility, and public health policies in diverse global contexts. This perfectly aligns with my goal as a future physician by teaching me how to listen to stories that are not the dominant voice and to engage with systems of care that are not only Western or biomedical!

Because I am originally from Minnesota, this was my first time being “alone” with new people and new environments. I learned what it means to make new acquaintances and to navigate a city by yourself. This has been extremely helpful as I navigate living in homestays and making meaningful connections. For example, immediately after landing in Udaipur, the city my parents studied in, I received a warm welcome when our site director surprised me with a cake. 

Beyond this memory, the most life changing moment was talking to Pratapi Bai, a guni master (a traditional healer) and learning more about what she does and how she heals individuals. I learned about the practice of pulse reading and how she can tell you symptoms or diagnosis based on your pulse! This completely shifted my Western perspective on how we use pulse readings.