In my mind, I drive a Subaru Outback, backpack across the United States, and am always in search of my next adventure. In reality, my husband Rob and I live in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. I drive a minivan and live on a cul-de-sac street. I get motion sickness easily, which makes me a very anxious traveler, a real joy to be next to on a plane. If that is not enough, I’ve not really traveled extensively, but I have been on the highest peak on the east coast, Mt. Mitchell, a whopping 6900 feet above sea level. However, I did not hike it, but simply drove to the overlook to get out and enjoy the view. I once got seasick on a sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay when an elderly couple invited me to go out sailing with them!
Considering my previous lack of travel experience, how is it possible that I ended up at this amazing place called the Manu Learning Center (MLC) in the rainforest of the Andes Mountains? I’ll have to blame my daughter Johanna (aka Hanna or Jo Jo) for that. I guess her father passed along his love of travel to her, and she ran with it! It was no surprise to us that she accepted a job offer at the MLC without any regard to how we felt about it. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really glad that she did.
Rob and I came as volunteers to the MLC and told Hanna that whatever she thought we should experience is what we would do. We were treated like the other volunteers and got to go through the same orientation procedures. One session gave us an opportunity to voice what our expectations were. I just said seeing monkeys and butterflies, but had no idea what was in store for us over the next six days.
We did not just get to “see” things, but do things. We were part of the vast array of scientific studies that are occurring at the MLC. We participated in an all day excursion collecting, identifying, and releasing all sorts of colorful butterflies with names like Morpho and Heliconius. We even collected dung beetles, a bit of stinky job, but still meaningful nonetheless. Thank you Joanna for handling the “glove aspects” of that job. We went on an avian mammal transect when we helped record bird sounds as our guide Nom listened intently. Her ability to distinguish bird sounds was absolutely astounding. We were even able to hear the eerie sounds of howler monkeys in the distance!
So what was the highlight, might you ask? Well, I did get to see the monkeys – three types, in fact. The Titi monkeys live close to camp and sound like angry geese up in the trees. The Woolly monkeys we saw not only on our way to the MLC, but Rob and Hanna also saw them on the butterfly transect. We were extremely lucky to see Red howler monkeys right over our heads while collecting butterflies. There was a whole family just looking down at us, the baby hanging by his tail eating vines.
While seeing these monkeys was certainly on my jungle bingo card, even better was just being in this place called the MLC. This place is so unpolluted by artificial noise and light. Dinners are by candlelight, and lights out time means simply blowing out the candles and turning off one’s headlamp. There is no sound of TV in the background., but instead the daytime is punctuated by sounds of the active Orapendula birds whose nests are part of the MLC landscape, and we went to sleep to the sounds of the many varieties of tree frogs that call the MLC home. Sitting in the common area is like looking over a very unique outdoor classroom. Collaboration on a scientific study is happening in one corner and Spanglish in another. The workroom hums with excitement whenever there is something new and exciting like a colorful snake, insect, or frog that is being photographed in the white box.
This outdoor laboratory would not be successful without the amazing people in it. From the chef Jesus who kept our bellies pleasantly full (I really want the recipe for your granola Jesus!), to the many volunteers, interns, and staff so dedicated to creating a sustainable Amazon, we were welcomed with open arms. We want to especially thank Juvenal for opening up the snack bar to keep our vices of beer, soda, and chocolate going. The Peruvian interns who tried to teach me Spanish exhibited the patience of Job! Lastly, even though there is serious research going on here at the MLC, the staff makes sure there is time for fun. We laughed until we cried as we enjoyed Saturday night fun at the MLC. Who knew that I could portray a very convincing Liam Neeson!
We would never have visited Peru and the MLC if my daughter had not been there, and if I had not overcome my fears about traveling. I would never have had the joy of seeing my daughter flourish in this amazing environment. . It sure was incredible to get away from the cul de sac and out of the minivan and experience a whole new world. Before I left to come to Peru, I was certainly worried, but then I saw this quote: “Do not listen to your fears. They are not real, but stem from your imagination.” – Dave. I tried to make this my mantra as I overcame each obstacle involved in getting to the MLC. Well, thanks to this quote, I was able to stop imagining my fears and experience something that I could only imagine.
Text by Kelly & Rob Markiewitz