Blog #8 The Jungle Blog

Celebrating life on the Amazon

As our sweaty backs feel the familiar chilling breeze of Palugo farm, we come back from surviving the wild jungle. We avoided all those creepy crawlies to our best efforts, dove deeper into ecology, and took refreshing dips in the rolling river. We started our first day becoming acquainted with the increase of temperature and got to know a post-semester student/guide/man of the jungle, Nadino. Our awareness immediately heightened as we felt the gentle welcome of the slithering snakes and spikey tarantulas. We also tuned in greatly when approaching the white rapids. We were in either the massive cataraft or the nifty ganues. We practiced running with the rapids rather than completing a simple run down the middle. A true gift to look at the river, with respect, and work alongside it. We strengthened our knowledge on navigating these waters, but let the Amazon watershed take us most of the way. I wonder what a sight it would have been to see a group of individuals, sprawled over boats, facing backward soaking in the afternoon sun? 

Practicing running the rapids

Heading downstream in the ganues (packrafts)

We spent time in Nadino’s home, Shiwacocha, and felt what the day to day life can be if you called the jungle your home. Some of us would begin the mornings, waking in the dark to drink the Wayusa tea, jungle coffee, at 3:00 A.M to discuss our dreams. We built structures with no nails; only using what the jungle provided and feasted on platanos and yucca in any way you can imagine. After spending a couple of days there, we paddled to a kind family’s beach where the river flowed downstream, yet upstream at the same time. We made camp, played games with some children, and taught their uncle English as the sun settled into the forest. Not only have we excelled in our Spanish, but Quichua is no stranger. We slept under an array of millions of stars, listening to the sway of the river as we drifted off. That morning, we were picked up in a motorboat and traveled upstream. We arrived in Mishahualli, (monkeytown) where we dined with the friendly monkeys. 

Our camp on the beach

Dining in Mishahualli, (Monkeytown) 

We bused, taxied, and trekked to Marcela’s mother current passion. With Ines, we were welcomed to the cocoa farm and did our best to calm our exploding excitement for chocolate. We explored the grounds, seeing a true story of a dream become a vivacious forest. We didn’t have to wait long to experience the pure chocolate process. We saw the cocoa on the tree, saw it ferment, it dry, it roast, and then tasted the natural food of the Gods. We partied with flavors of the Amazon and ate too much. What a way to end our expedition, no? All together in lovely weather, eating chocolate, under a Toucan preening its feathers.

Surprise!

A jungle exploration

We now welcome the end of the expedition only to make room for our upcoming juicy week. Palugo, our home, has gotten easier and easier to transition into. Everyone is healthy, mostly, and these moments are richer than dark chocolate. Now is not the time for goodbyes, rather something sweeter. Our group is a wild one, making us that much more special. Ecuador has pulled, pushed, pressed our mind, body, and spirit. Looking back, we remember the feeling of intensity with each landscape, how we endured dripping bodies of sweat to frozen fingers. Each place brought forward something new for our group, and when it broke us down, in turn, we grew stronger. Now at Palugo, the feeling is community. These months together produced a family. We wake up together, cook, be, and say goodnight to each other every day. What a freckle of time it has been since the beginning, yet nearing the end, it still feels like we have just begun. 

The cataraft pulling away as we depart from the river

Working with Nadino in Shiwacocha

Always return to the journal

A moment shared by Edie: At dusk, we were called in from our solo spots along the riverbank and made our way back to the family home in the community Shiwacocha. We emerged from the dark jungle path, and all sat around a fire while thunder rumbled overhead, shocking the blue sky with a blinding white light. There was a drop of rain, then another and within seconds it was pouring. We all lept up and ran for cover like chickens from a hawk. We came back together forming a circle around the fire. As we were all squished together, we felt cozy and dry even as the rain pounded on the roof. Then, Marcela and Morgan went around the circle giving each of us meaningful and heart-fluttering appreciations, painting our faces with huito while we sang songs of all languages. Our songs blended with the roaring of the rain, the rhythm of guitars, and the gentle deep sound of the flute. This ceremony aimed to realize who each individual was, and how special each of us were within the circle surrounding.   

JUNGLE POEM

Lucy- In the jungle, anything that dies is immediately overtaken by new life

Rye- Things are reborn overnight

Savanah- We too were reborn, wrapped in the jungle’s might

Carlitos- The jungle is a place abundant with life yet always close to death

Emma- The life in this place, dying, takes over your dreams

Maily- Ver corer el rio, eschuchar el canto de los pajaros respirar la brisa fresca de la selva

Blake- Insects take over the air like oxygen

Fiona- Feasting on any and all exposed human flesh

Edie- Birds fill the empty spaces with song

Sofia- We hear their voices begin to fill the lightening morning air as we sip Guayusa and talk of things dreamt the night before

Rubey Grace- We are the jungle, slithering through death, birth, and dreams

Liam- We are of the air, of the earth

Misha- It was nice