The Amazon keeps me, as a human, in check. It is here that I realize just how uncoordinated and talentless we homo sapiens often can be. I look at monkeys that use their tails as an extra hand, and frogs that defend themselves with toxic skin, and butterflies with wings that mimic other creatures... and I think, ĻWhat traits to possess.Ļ We may be smart, we may have conquered the Human Genome Project and thrown some satellites into the atmosphere, but out here, you canīt survive on that. You need to be on your feet and looking around every moment. Shrewdness and determination. Humans arenīt given any luxuries, and we damn well donīt deserve any for all the problems weīve caused. That being said...
When we visit the Petulche community, I speak to a woman about her life in the Amazon. She tells me she has eight children, which somehow leads us to discuss procreation and the use of condoms (or lack thereof).
I swim in the lagoon, which harbors all of the underwater creatures youīve heard will unflinchingly kill you in the Amazon. Cayman, sting ray, snakes and, of course, piranhas. I emerge unscathed and chipper. I mention now that people who claim this is an accomplishment are full of mierda. All of these animals will leave you alone if you leave them alone.
A few hours later, I almost lose a few toes by upsetting a piranha. They donīt look so scary when theyīre bated on your fish hook and lying on the boatīs floor, but their teeth sure look sharp when they unattach themselves and flop around by your exposed toes. I lived through it to tell you all about it. Didnīt even capsize the boat as I shrieked and jumped around like, incidentally, a reeled in fish.
These little vignettes could go on and on. Life is different here. To go about your day coated in a layer of sweat. To feel the rain pound down on you as itīs made its way through so many leaves. I canīt even begin.
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