Over the next couple of days we took an adventure deep into the jungle to the Waorani Nation. We started by waking up at 5:30 on Sunday May 18th. We got some breakfast and prepared for our 2-hour bus ride to the boat. Then, we would have a 6-hour boat ride into the forest. After we arrived at the lodge, we had some dinner and had an early night, since it was a long travel day.
On Monday May 19th we started our adventurous day by taking a boat ride into the forest where we learned about different animal calls. We also got to attempt to climb and swing from a vine. It was crazy to think that I am climbing and swinging from trees in the Amazon. Such an unreal experience. Later, we came to this massive sacred tree. It was the biggest tree I have ever seen. Some members from the Waorani Nation were telling us about the tree and how it was used to communicate with each other. We tried another vine swing and then took the boats and headed back to the lodge as it started to rain.
After we got back, we had some lunch as the rain picked up some more. Then we were offered an opportunity to go fishing with the Waorani Nation. I took this opportunity because I thought it would be a unique and fun experience. We headed out in the rain and tried to fish at some spots. Eventually, we made our way to a sandbar where we had to catch some bait (worms and crickets) for fishing. We fished off the island and it was such a shocking experience to be fishing with a tribe in the Amazon Jungle. It was a lot of fun.
We headed back and prepared to head over to where the Waorani Nation stayed to meet the community and hangout with them. We met the community and their two pet moneys. It was such a crazy experience to just see monkeys walking around. They taught us how to throw spears, and we even got to try to hit a target. I did fairly well I would say, but I am not Hawkeye. After spear throwing, we played soccer on a wet, muddy, open field with the Waorani Nation. It was such a mind-blowing experience that I needed to take a second to really take it all in. I am in the Amazon rainforest, playing soccer with an indigenous tribe. Something that I will never forget. After soccer when we were all sweaty and dirty we decided to take a swim in a river in the Amazon. It was refreshing and just amazing to think what we were doing.
Next, we headed back to the lodge for dinner before heading back to the Waorani Nation for a ceremony. During the ceremony we were all given indigenes names with different meanings. It was really interesting to see all of our names and the meanings that related to them. They then did a dance for us, which was welcoming us to the family. We joined along in the dance. It was fun with lots of energy. after dancing, they had a marriage ritual, where some of the students got “married”. We then preformed a dance we were working on for them, it was fun and a bit crazy. We got to try their traditional hot drink, which was made from plantains. It was good, but not my favorite. They opened up a shop, where we could purchase items. It was cool to look through all the items they were selling. The ceremony was so eye-opening, since I never seen one before. It was really amazing to witness one and experience everything that was happening.
On Tuesday May 20th, we took the journey back to society. It was a longer trip, since it was against stream, but it seemed pretty fast. We had an 8-hour boat ride into a 2-hour drive. I was so exhausted and crashed in bed when we arrived. The whole experience these last couple of days are memories I will never forget and moments that will stay with me forever.
