— This and That
Giving Back
Building an aviary at an animal rescue centre
Here’s where I write about the times when I’ve gotten more proactive about an issue, or when I’ve volunteered or raised funds for a cause.
You can browse the following articles about volunteering and activism.
You are currently browsing page 4 of Array.
On Tuesday, Pico brought us visiting an oxbow lake on the Tambopata Reserve. Nearby, the University of Lima maintains a research centre where its biology students can stay to do field work. We took Pico’s boat — it’s got a 50-horsepower Johnson, so even though it may look like a pekipeki, it’s much more powerful. By the way, […]
Monday was a rainy day and with Pico gone to Puerto for the day, Johanna and I spent our time reading and avoiding work. Life in the jungle at Picaflor can be real nice! Minutes after Pico returned in the late afternoon, all three of us were surprised by the sound of a boat stopping at our landing. […]
My encounter with pacas was last night. I had just returned shortly before dinner from running some errands in Puerto Maldonado over the weekend: Getting some laundry done, since nothing ever properly dries in the rainforest unless it’s sunny for a few days; Stocking up on provisions, since Joel and Elissa and their delicious baked treats are gone […]
“Julia, viene.” “Si, Pico.” Being used to Pico’s orders by now, and orders they are, I got up from the chair I was curled up in, reading, and followed Pico to the main steps of Picaflor Research Centre, noticing through the screen windows of the library that he held a flashlight in his hand. “Tus zapatos.” My shoes. […]
We’ve lately had quite a lot of wildlife sightings here at Picaflor Research Centre (smiley face). While we were in the kitchen baking the other day, we noticed tree branches moving outside and soon saw monkeys playing nearby! We watched them for about 20 minutes, until we couldn’t see them anymore, then returned to our work. The next […]
The volunteer tasks at Picaflor Research Centre pretty much seem like a cover-up to disguise that the centre no longer appears to be in operation. We mainly just maintain the house and grounds, if and when Pico feels like it. One day we weeded the banana farm. Useless job. Another day we mowed the lawn — with machetes. […]
During my first days at Picaflor Research Centre, Pico took me on a small introductory tour of the trails behind the house (reed roof, walkways, screens instead of windows — very exotic). He pointed out various things to eat, like Brazil nuts and guanábana. We even saw two red macaws, a monkey walking high above in the canopy, […]
I ended up staying in Cusco one more night, for the simple reason that I mistimed my arrival in Puerto Maldonado. Since getting to Picaflor Research Centre for my volunteer commitment on the day I’d said I’d be there had become impossible, I took a one-way flight to the jungle. I was disappointed, for I was looking forward […]
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