Jens's Adventures in Peru - Part V

Just got on the computers as one place was down and the rest full up with no free computers. After the workshop went across the river with Robert, where he has a local awaruana ahijado [Indian godson] that is 14 years old. The boy has 8 brothers and sisters, his mom is 43. It is a really fun family living in very sparse conditions, but full of laughter, and they really love Robert who is just wonderful with all of them. Next to the waterfall local boys have fun swinging on vines.

Came back to find that Jorge, who took a tumble at the waterfall was having a local healing herb applied to his rib by the wife of one of the workshop participants. Rufinio is quite a character with a lot of stories and a lot of the "old ways" about him.

The mix of mestizos and Awaruna, though all speak Spanish well, adds a different dimension, there is a very definite cultural divide. The mestizo/whites are church or NGO types mostly, but still function, talk, tell stories, in different ways. Had a couple of flop exercises and some surprise power ones. Was great that the electricity stayed off until we finished today, as the disco place next door couldn’t play their music ´til just after we finished.

One more day and though Jorge and I are ready to head home, we aren’t looking forward to that eight, or more, hour drive do Bagua. Nor am I looking forward to the trip back up to the border. Don’t know how those drivers take it trip after jarring, noisy trip. And yet, there is both enormous and detailed beauty the whole way!

Thanks for keeping the news coming.

J.