Open, Aware, and Humble Enough to Listen

July 30, 2014

Denise G.

Weather - foggy morning gave way to a beautiful afternoon

Diego's oil talk left us with a great deal to think about and many of us had feelings of helplessnessor discouragement   when we considered the magnitude of the problem.  We acknowledge the potential economic gains of oil extraction here in Ecuador, but can't help but feel that the short term benefits do not outweigh the negative consequences  of environmental destruction.  We spent a good part of the morning discussing threats to conservation in a broad sense.  It seems that well intended policies designed to support development often have unanticipated  outcomes.  We ended our conversation by discussing the scale at which conservation efforts can occur ranging from individual choice and behavior to intentionally coordinated efforts and we read the "Earth Charter" generated by the United Nations in 2004 out loud.

our copy of the Earth Charter

The Earth Charter was beautiful and inspirational, but there is a part of me that feels like it is very idealistic.  Where, when, and how can it be implemented on a global scale?

We spend the morning discussing our final fall project.  I was really impressed by the students' willingness to engage in the process and they came up with a fantastic range of ideas.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing what they produce.

After spending so much time inside, many of us were eager to get outside and hike.  We chose a long and relatively new trail known as Parahuaco.  Parahuaco means Saki Monkey and our experiences on the trail, in some ways, provide a great snapshot of our time in the rainforest as a whole!

We experienced challenging,  "over the boot" moments when someone slipped in knee deep mud.

perfectly camouflaged

There were thorns, and spider webs, and painful conga ant stings, but the forest also gave us moments of joy - a perfect gentle breeze, a flat path past enormous and beautiful trees, the surprising pattern of a snail shell, a frog that blends in perfectly with the leaf litter.

These simple things are the constant and seemingly limitless gifts of the rainforest and I know I will always be grateful that I have had the chance to experience it all.

Our day was rounded out by a lecture from Lissy Coley from the University of Utah.  Inga (the plant she and her research team focuses on).

Lissy Coley and her team

We had a wonderful introduction to plant defenses against herbivores and we learned a little about how to identify

Characteristics to help identify Ingas:
-no terminal leaf
-Ingas sometimes have leafy wings
-they have nectaries that promote ant defense of the plant

I guess I could sum this day up by saying that our experiences in the rainforest have many lessons to offer.  We just have to be open, aware, and humble enough to listen.

Denise G.

One Week To Go

July 29, 2014
by Denise K

I can't believe that we have been here for 16 days.

peaceful morning at the salt lick

I awoke this morning to the distant sound of the Howler monkeys guarding their territory.  A few days ago, they seemed to be right above our cabin.  The sound is haunting - a percussive and pulsating growl that percolates throughout the forest letting everyone and everything know that this is their territory!  I hope they will move closer again so that I can record it.

Breakfast, oh breakfast!  Actually, any meal...they are amazing day after day.  I am so impressed by what Olvideo and the kitchen staff are able to create in these remote conditions -- freshly baked rolls, delicious soups, salads with a lime dressing, pizza, tacos, homemade tortillas, lasagna, and even a homemade birthday cake (with frosting!) when the occasion arises.

At 9:30, our small group headed down the Lago trail to canoe in the lake.  I love hiking on Lago, even though it's a challenging, wet, muddy, and swampy trail.  There are always so many animals on this trail.  Today, we seemed to startle a number of huge birds.  We didn't get to see them, but we could sense their size by the sound of their wings crashing through the branches as they took off through the jungle.  The most surprising animal encounter for me happened on this trail yesterday when we stumbled upon a group of peccary.    We also didn't get to see them (I was okay with that!), but we heard the machine-like clacking of their tusks.  Several of us were a bit scared until we realized that they were moving away from us (they are very unpredictable and can sometimes be aggressive).

The Lago trail leads to the Anaconda trail (named after the 40 foot anaconda that has been spotted in that area) where we saw leaf cutter ants!!!  So cool!  They carry the leaf fragments to their colonies and use them to culture a specific fungus which is their only food.

I was so excited to canoe in the lake.  Our first trip to the lake was guided by Jose, but it rained the entire time, so I was looking forward to seeing the lake on a beautiful, blue sky, sunny day.  The proboscis bats were in their usual spot resting on a stick that emerged straight up from the lake water.

The Common Potoo was hidden in his spot in a collection of trees -- so still, it is nearly impossible to distinguish him from the tree trunk.  The Hoatzins were out, too.  I love their crazy head plummage.

Lunch. Delicious!

We met Juan Carlos and Santiago after lunch for more station service work.  It feels so good to give back to this station -- today we really worked hard!  The workers had stacked five piles of wood off of the Chorongo trail  for us to process.  The wood is from a tree in the cedar family.  It is not especially hard, but it can handle the constant moisture well and is suitable to line the swampy part of our trail.  It has a mesquite type of smell and and a beautiful orange color to it.  It feels so good to be physically active, sweating, and knowing that we are helping, even if in a very small way, to preserve this beautiful environment.

Surprise Mud Bath!

Will not forget the moment that John slammed his wood on a the trail, hitting a sloshy puddle, which sent mud everywhere.  Denise G took the mud bath very well!

We discussed our journal topics in the afternoon.  I find these small group conversations with the students so rewarding.  DG and I had no say in which students were selected for this trip.  I am impressed (everyday!) by their thoughtfulness, insight, sensitivity, and their ability to make anything fun.  I have told them many times that if I couldn't be on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my own family, they are the group I'd choose to be with.

Our journal topic discussion led to a planning meeting with Denise G and Kevin on the gazebo as an afternoon rainforest storm was blowing in.  It was stunning to watch the sky darken and the storm clouds seemed to merge at our gazebo from opposite directions.  The sound of the rain can be so loud that it is deafening.  

Denise G, Kevin, and I were in clean dry clothes.  This has become a true luxury and we were not about give that up easily.  We opted to stay in the gazebo long after the students ran back to their cabins in the downpour and even though the storm showed no signs of letting up.  We passed the time by doing yoga with the sounds of the rain.

Our evening ended with an  "Oil Talk" by Diego, the station manager.  Informative, eye opening, and very worrisome.  We left the evening pondering what we can do to stop the destruction of this precious place.  It's overwelming and there is no easy solution.  

I am hopeful, though, that this generation of students will go on to fight for positive environmental changes.  I am hopeful that we have all been changed by this experience, by learning to manage (and enjoy ourselves) even though conditions have been challenging and uncomfortable.  I am hopeful that we will embrace any opportunity to make do with less and lead more simple lives so that this exquisite place will continue to exist for generations to come.  It will not be easy, but I am hopeful.

with so much gratitude, 

denise k

First Goodbyes

July 28, 2014
By Precious S

It's only right that we've saved the best for last (haha, I know we're going to write after this, but I'm still technically the last student entry).

stopping at a beach on a sunnier day

Today we didn't do much.  It rained A LOT today.  We were supposed to help move logs for the path, but it was just raining too much.  Instead, some people conducted Forest GAP surveys while others did research in the library.

In accordance with the dreary day, we said good-bye to some members of the station - the Columbians along with guides and staff.  I was really sad to see Ramiro and Jose, in particular, leave. It's weird how the formation of relationships is accelerated  in the rainforest.  They were so nice and caring which made this already great experience so much better.

Since we were saying goodbye, it made me aware that we only have one week left in the rainforest.

goodbye to our Columbian friends

This is the beginning of the end.  The last week flew by and soon we'll be leaving.  It'll definitely be bittersweet, but all things must come to an end. Also we had tacos, which was pretty awesome.  Sorry, today was kind of slow.

Love Anyway,

Precious

There Once Was A Boy Named Gimmesome Roy

July 27, 2014
Harry F.

Just came from the talent show and I feel so warm and fuzzy inside - I don't even want to be mean to Maddie.  Some shout outs are in order - DK for style...and a very cool "hey, what's up?" -- Precious and Elana for organizing and harmonizing...

and Kelsey Du for throwing caution to the wind and giving a performance more out there than I ever

expected from her (Kelsey Dan was pretty good, too).  I don't wanna stop thinking about the show, but arrrgh, I  have to.

This morning we went on a long boat ride and saw the forest go from black to grey to vibrant green against beautiful blue skies.  I got bored at the salt lick, so I laid on a lot of people. Sorry guys.  After the bario-beach, the mood improved and we all got our tans on and saw some dope birds of various colors and sizes.

After lunch we all did our own things.  I, for instance, floated downriver with Marjai, Juliana, Jorge, and Tomas.  I really value the relationships we've built with the staff, the other group from Columbia, and some of the researchers.  Hearing about life from such vastly different perspectives (or even just watching/experiencing small interactions over fishing and futbol) teaches everyone something about life or Ecuador or la selva Amazon or human nature.  Each of us gets a different take away based on our perspective.  Perspective is something I keep coming back to here.  One hike can be seen in so many different ways depending on who's experiencing it.  The guides see so much more detail than we do, for instance, and Tony's knowledge of spider monkeys must set off a more intricate string of thoughts/emotions/brain chemicals when he sees them as compared to us.  Moreover, each person in our group attributes value to different trails, plants, animals, and experiences because of our separate belief structures, distinct lives, and unique set of coincidences that lead up to these moments.

There is no objective explanation for what is happening here - chaos, social experimentation, laughter, research, conservation - nothing can truly capture the richness and breadth of each individual life trying to survive these 3 weeks.

A picture can't capture the unfolding forest landscape across the river just as this journal provides only a muted snapshot of this group as a whole.  What is lasting and all-encompassing though, from my perspective, is the knowledge that this experience will continue to shape each of our lives even after we have separated and returned home.

This pseudo-shared perspective of the rainforest and how it will collectively shape our lives is the most valuable part of this trip.  Right.  Hopefully, that made sense.

Dinner was prime today.

We killed the talent show, folks!

I'll be sad to see Sebastian, Juliana, Jose and Ramiro leave tomorrow.  Such a short period of shared experience and such a total/final goodbye.

Last dinner that we're all together -- the Columbian students, researchers, TBS staff and our group. 

Harry reciting There Once Was A Boy Names Gimmesome Roy... for the talent show, from memory!

Taaaaaaaaaang,

Harry F.