We wrapped up the reforestation project this week. We wanted to plant 4,000 trees, but ended up with about 3,500, mostly because some of the seedlings were too small. I noticed the rainy season coming on-the night rain lasted longer into the morning, bringing cooler temperatures. Hermania, my host mother, told me she remembers when she was a girl that the rainy season began in September, and lasted a couple months longer in the end. I wonder if the shorter rainy season is due to the massive deforestation, or a result of climate change. Ecuador is on the border of two oceanic currents, so small shifts in ocean temperature are felt here more than most places.
We played a final soccer game with the Tsachila host families, which was a success. Many of our students played for their high schools, so we weren't totally embarrassed by the locals. In the spirit of reforestation, they cut down six balsa trees to make rickety goals using only machetes. To their credit, neither fell down during the game.
On our last day, Alfonso, my host father, suggested having a party. Myself and the other leaders were a little dubious about the 1-7 PM schedule, figuring it would involve a lot of standing around,, but they pulled out all the stops. We had a rain forest walk with a local shaman and his son, explaining the use of many of the trees. I, along with all the other men, got my hair dyed using the traditional achiote process. We learned how to throw a spear and make some of their traditional foods. For dinner we had fish steamed in banana leaves- really good! Then we danced to their traditional music. The party was such a success that another band crashed and played music for an hour or so. There was even a news crew, so apparently it'll be on national TV here.
We're now in Quito wrapping up the last details before we fly to Peru on Tuesday. We're going to hike the Inca trail for four days to Machu Pichu, something I've thought about doing since college.
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