Our second full day in the Amazon could not have been more amazing...

Author: Nora
Location: Rio Napo, Amazon
Our second full day in the Amazon could not have been more amazing. After another three course breakfast, we were off to Hector's Island to complete the projects we had started the day before. We were greeted at the island by the school children, and proceeded to distribute the gifts we had brought from home. Our hearts were warmed as we watched the young children blow whistles, twist balloon animals, and parade around in brightly colored sunglasses. Playtime had barely started before it was time to put on our gloves and get to work. For those of us who had hauled wood the day before, it was satisfying to see the wood strung together to create a wall for the school's dining room. The path builders' goals were similarly fullfilled as they filled in the path with sand brought from across the Rio Napo.

Meanwhile, we were all contemplating how best to slip silly quotes into our normal conversation - part of a game that had begun in the morning. We took a break for lunch, then headed back to Hector's Island for a less work intensive - but equally fun - afternoon. Though most of us failed miserably at blowing darts and throwing spears on our first tries, we improved with time, and Anabel and Andrew won praise when they speared an orange with a blow dart. The rain that persisted through the afternoon did not dampen our spirits (though our clothes were pretty wet), and we were quick to agree to a game of soccer on the beach. While our small arsenal of talented soccer players ran back and forth, defending and scoring and such, most of us simply did our best to touch the ball. Our day ended with dinner and card writing, as we struggled to put into words all we have come to appreciate about the young men and women who have become our brothers and sisters over the past three weeks.
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