After two long, fun-filled days of rafting, we arrived at the riverside town of Misahualli and were greeted by a lovely group of capuchin monkeys perched in the trees. The monkeys have taken over the port, now nicknamed "monkey town" and leap from the roofs to the treetops, scrounging up any food scraps they can. Even though we were all tired and drowning in the heat and humidity of the jungle, we were taken aback by its striking beauty.  On our short walk from the river we discovered bounds of new plant life including gorgeous flowers and cacao trees, making us feel as though we had stepped into a different world.

We soon arrived at Sinchi Warmi, a community center started by Kichwa women to provide a secure income through tourism. At the center they work to preserve their Kichwa culture. We settled into our cabins and all of us were relieved for the chance to take showers and relax after our adventurous day on the river. Tucked into our mosquito nets, we settled in for a good nights sleep, serenaded by the music of the jungle life.

Our first morning there was spent helping the Sinchi Warmi members construct a path by hauling bags of sand and rocks to the site. I can safely say that all of us were feeling the strain of the hard labor and humidity by lunch time, but appreciated the chance to help this community who were hosting us so graciously and teaching us about their culture. Our spirits were lifted by an up close encounter with a large tarantula, thanks to our guide, Fabio. For those of us with enough courage, we had the chance to hold the tarantula and even put it on our heads. Throughout our short stay, we had the chance to participate in the making of chicha (a traditional fermented drink made out of yucca), chocolate, and jewelry.

The serene and beautiful location of the center provided the perfect setting for some rest and reflection, as we reached the six week point of the program. We all took advantage of the extra sleep and the chance to catch up on our reading and journaling. It was great to not have access to any wifi, forcing us to be truly absorbed in the people and experiences around us. I feel we have come to a point in our culture where people cannot have an enjoyable time unless they are attached to their devices and connected to the entire world through the Internet. However, I much more enjoyed indulging into deep conversations with people and playing games late into the night which may not have occurred without our isolation from our technological comforts.

Although we all came on this trip of a lifetime for different personal reasons, we have all gained many other great friends in the process. As we reflected upon our goals and accomplishments, there was never an absence of our laughter as we continued to discover what makes each of us unique. It is hard to imagine all that we have done in the past month and a half together, as well as the fact that we did not know each other before then. As we look back on the trip once we return to our homes, it will be these special relationships and moments that stick the most in our memories.

Makayla Pardo

Service at Sinchi WarmiService at Sinchi Warmi


1 Comment

  1. Robin

    nice writing Makayla, so happy to hear about your adventures. I'm glad you are having a great time!!

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Author Makayla Pardo Posted

Category South America Departure Spring 2016