We woke up from our lodge to take an early bus all of the way to the Waprani territories, the ride being about 2 hours long. When we finally arrived to the doc, there were four big canoes waiting to take us on our journey. Lily, Ben, Gavin, and rick were on my canoe, and although the ride was six hors long, we didn’t have a dull moment.
We arrived and it was dark out. Our sleeping area was a mix between outdoor camping and lodge living- but the bugs were definitely a core part of it all. A few of us chose to explore the rainforest before dinner, so we got an earlier taste of the travel experience.
In the morning, we met the members of the tribe, and they took us on a trek through the forest. They told us stories about their ancestors and how they lived before us. We also had the opportunity to use a natural tree swing, and we soared high over the forest beneath us. After leaving the forest, we headed back to our canoes to fish in the river. While our boat only had two catches during our time (catfish) it was cool to see the technique the Waorani men used to catch their fish, and just to have the experience of fishing on the Amazon.
After fishing we headed back for lunch. We ate a pork spaghetti with watermelon, and it was delicious. Considering how hungry we were, every food we ate on this excursion hit the spot.
My favorite part of this experience was visiting the Waorani’s living space. They had a few buildings made of dirt floors and palm roofs. They live right on the water, so it was muddy and buggy- but it just enhanced the experience. Llatawe, one of the Waorani men, named us through their culture, and gave me the name of flower, and said “blanketa,” meaning white. Later, I asked Ellie what this meant, and she said that they appreciated the beauty of a skin color different than their own. After making us with boxy pair from a local flower, they showed us how they throw spears and blow darts, and we even got to get. Still, nothing beats the soccer game we played together. We divided up between us Americans and the Waorani so that the teams were mixed between both. It was probably more dangerous than intended, but it was truly one of my favorite moments of the trip. I was covefsc in mud, scratches, bruises, and probably insects, but I truly appreciated how we were able to bond over a shared goal- winning the game. As the game wrapped up, it started to rain, and it only enhanced the experience. Refreshed and muddy, I felt like a little kid again.
When we finished, we headed down to the waterfront. I’d only worn a pair of white shorts and a white bra, which probably wasn’t the smartest decision, but nonetheless I swam. The rain poured, and all of us Warani and America swam. We played tag and chicken, and bonded. Such a core memory. Wet head to toe, we jumped back into the canoes to grab dinner. Losing track of time, I scarfed down dinner a little bit late, enjoying some salad and a soup with potatoes and cheese. After a few competitive rounds of the card game BS, we headed back to the Warani territory.
In the pitch dark, only illuminated by flashlights and sparse use of the generator, we watched the Warani men perform a traditional tribal dance of celebration. Our boys joined in as well. When finished, we showed them our dances- we sang along to Party in the USA, completely improvising. Then we taught them the frat flick, and the president slowly got a hang of it. We finished off strong with Sweet Caroline, singing acapella, and swaying along with one another. The matriarch of the community sold us her woven art; complex bracelets, bags, center table dishes. I bought two- a green and purple one. But one of the most memorable part was as we headed out to leave, Llatawe stopped me, and gifted me his necklace of was woven, with beads and seeds attached to it. Then Endor, a boy closer to our age, gifted me his bracelet. It was a beautiful moment, and he gave me a hug afterwards.
Finally, we headed back for the night. There was a huge moth that slept inside my bug net, but I think im finally starting to desensitize to it. In the morning, it was time to go home. We grabbed breakfast bright and early, converted a little more with our newfound friends, and prepared for our canoe departure. After we headed towards the doc, the smallest boy of the Warani gave me a different bracelet, one with orange beads. He had been the most quiet and shy, so I couldn’t help but think he felt comfortable with me.
Overall, this was one of the most valuable moments of my life, and although I am eager to kickstart the summer at home, this experience will stick with me forever.
