After returning from the fishing trip we had lunch and about a hour to ourselves. With no internet my only option was to go exploring around the cabin and I found some cool butterflies and frogs. 

Then back on the canoe ride to visit the Waorani’s home. At the entrance of their home was a tree that had 5 parrots that you could hold. As someone who is not exactly an animal person I really came to like the parrots. There home was made of multiple huts scattered around in a somewhat circle shape with a homemade soccer field in the center. 

There we got traditional Waorani male and female face paints. Also we got to shoot a blowgun that they use to kill monkeys and throw a spear that they used to kill ground animals. I was really feeling like a one of them when wearing their face paint and throwing the spear right into the wooden log. After everyone got their face paint the tribe was eagerly waiting for us to join them on the soccer field. I walked over and took off my boots to feel the foot of cut down grass under my feet and kick a very very used soccer ball. Dripping in sweat we all went for a swim in the river. After cooling down we decided to make our own make shift mud bath with the clay under the water. Before we left we bought necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bags, and pots made out of either clay or woven palm pants. 

Back to the canoe for a short ride to our cabin where we would have dinner. At dinner Donya and I got to ate the catfish that we caught and it felt rewarding to eat something that you caught with the tribe. By this time it was dark but we had to get back on the canoe again to see the tribes dances that are performed at night. On the way to the tribes home the second time was the best trip by far. This is because I saw the best stars of my life. Words would never be able to describe what I saw. My neck hurt after looking up the trip at the stars. Once we got to their home I saw a line of leaf cutter ants carrying leaves to their mound and my professor told me the different type of ants in the colony and it was very interesting. He pointed out how there are large warrior ants and smaller carrier ants. 

Then we all gathered around one of the larger huts that only had two walls and a roof. There the Waorani showed us a traditional welcome dance. The men and women wore minimal cloths and did their chants in a dancing pattern. After about 5 minutes they asked us to join them. The males join and did the tradition make dance and the women join the women. The men circled the women as we chanted one thing and the women sung a different tune. After the traditional dance the tribe asked us to sing some of our songs. We chose to sing “I want it that way” (my suggestion) then “Love Story” and finished strong with the Pitt version of Sweet Caroline. The tribe must of liked it because they smiled and laughed the whole time. Then we danced to Spanish music that the tribe had and boys paired with the girls and everyone danced together. In their culture the girl waits to be pick by a boy so I walked up and picked out the grandma of the tribe to dance. We danced and everyone was covered in sweat again. 

Sadly we had to say our fair wells and went back to the cabin for our last night. Everyone pretty sad to leave them but the shower was very much need. The dirt of the river and the sweat from the dancing made it very refreshing shower. 

Next morning was another early breakfast so we could get on the canoes and head home. Spirits were high as we all wanted to take a shower when we got back but that was shortly crushed by the nearly five hours of rain we sat in. I did get to see a couple of toucans on the way so that was a plus. After a cold six and half hours up stream we finally arrived just to see that our bus still didn’t show up. Of course though, it is Ecuadorian time. Another hour and half bus ride back to the lodge in a wet bathing suit but it is all part of the experience. We spent the rest of the day recovering.