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| Sam & some Peruvian friends |
Oops—a
long break between posts. When last I
posted it was early July in Perth, Western Australia. Now I sit in Brighton, Michigan with two
months of Iquitos, Peru in between. I’ve
become quite adapt at shifting in cultures with different foods, money,
procedures, measuring systems, cultural expectations and, of course,
language. To be sure, I am never bored
and often in a state of wonder! What a
joyful life my path has taken me.
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| Sam & Fred, the anteater |
Arriving in Iquitos
was a bit of a hard landing. After being
yanked away so expectantly for over seven months, I simply couldn’t wait to
return. But once in town, I found myself
having doubts that returning to the jungle, my job and my life there was the
right choice. However, after about two
weeks I was back in that place where I loved every waking minute of my day and
knew returning to Peru was the right choice.
Getting back to CONAPAC and seeing all my co-workers and Pamela was
wonderful. My first day back found me
attending a surprise party in my honor with cake, balloons, songs, photos,
etc. Everyone in the office attended and
I was truly touched. I decided to arrive
the first day at work without a hat or scarf.
The first time since the start of chemo that I’d gone bare-headed but
this is why I love Iquitos. Everyone
just took it all in stride and I’m sure those on the street just thought I was
another loony “gringa” with a nearly shaved head. How empowering! My neighbors and friends quickly turned up
and within a very short time, life in Perth faded in the background and the
liveliness of the rainforest took hold.
A lot happened
during those two months with visits from donors, students from the
University
of Colorado, doctors and med students from Michigan State University, and may
daughter, Samantha. Between catching up
on all the work news and friends; inventory and orders for 2014 Adopt A School;
and a serious search for additional donations, my time in town absolutely flew
by and I found myself back in the US of A in no time! On that note, more to
come but it has been great to see so many family and friends and especially my
grandson, Jack—who with his mother, Erin, will be coming to the rainforest in
February to experience the adventure of a lifetime!
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| Jack Attack! |
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| CU-Boulder Water Audit Team |
So what
did I find changed in Iquitos after seven months? Not a whole lot. The weather was just the same, which I
love. The massive municipal sewer
project is still not done nor close to being connected or operational. There
was an odd new restaurant here and there. Also, there does seem to be a few
more autos on the roads and more glass windows and doors in the shops so the
city seemed a bit more prosperous. I
continue my battle with the Peruvian government to settle up the dispute over
my medical absence. Seems they’re not
sure I really had cancer and the necessary treatment but rather that I’m scamming
them in some way. I suppose until we
come up with the right bribe, it will continue to be up in the air—ugh! More to
come on that issue, I’m sure.
I’m now heading out West for a month-long road
trip covering Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico
with a focus on the national parks. And finally, I can use my Spanish while here
in America!
