As we don our muddy rubber boots after a 6 o’clock wake up, we sleepily make our way down through the misty rain or downpour for coffee and breakfast, which consists of eggs, bread, fried plantains, and the most fresh, delicious papayas and other fruits we’ve ever had. We head to work on the peca peca (our small motor boat), and prepare ourselves for manual labour and sweat. We had to get low to remove the plants and grass all the way to the soil with rakes, axes, and other tools, avoiding the painful bites of fire ants. Finally, we could begin to lay down some grass plugs that we prepared from an area at the field station, but we still have a ways to go for the area to be completely clear. After about 3 hours of work in the hot sun (rain usually starts later), we head back for a soothing swim in the river. We do this daily, and usually wash our clothes by hand right after and hope that they dry despite the humidity. The jungle smell is beginning to infect our clothes… a smell that Devon said will never leave. We have a delicious lunch (contrary to Ale’s expectations, beans have been only thrice), followed by a siesta. Besides napping, the rest of the day is spent playing cards and UNO, writing, reading, talking, bracelet-making, laughing, crying, or whatever else we feel. Life here is pretty easy – timing is relaxed and we’re also slowly learning to go with the flow, without the distractions of noisy iPhones and social media. After dinner (veggies, meat, rice, potatoes, more fruits, but always varied and delicious!), we head back to the dorm for a 9 o’clock bedtime. On the way, Mikaela shrieks as she splits open her toe on the stairs. Our wonderful live-in doctor Zoe performs minor surgery with a flashlight, trying to quickly cover the wound while a cloud of numerous insects swarm the area. Sally eats a bug, spits it back up, gets stung by a wasp, and all the while Alec and Anna sleep soundly without a care in the world. Day 5 has ended, but the ceaseless chorus of the jungle’s creatures persists.
Alec & Lena
(pictures to come, if wifi allows 🙂 )