WEEK THREE 7/22-7/28 Rio Araza
Why has humanity come to depend on others for knowledge when independent discovery can fulfill all questions?
In scientific labs students are told what to do and follow instructions from a piece of paper. In the jungle of Peru, it is hands on experimental field work. For me this is where the real learning is. Science can’t not be taught from book, it must be discovered and theorized in the field.
When we arrive back from Cadena we have about a week before we leave for Rio Camante, the ten day expedition that is supposed to change our lives. Kyle, Dawson, Louisa and I decide to head out on our own adventure and do some “independent learning” as Dr. John Janovec would say. We pack food, a tarp, plant collecting bags and a variety of supplies necessary for camping before departing on the two day planned camp out. We walk along the Rio Araza for about an hour before we make camp and the rain starts to pour down. It continues to rain until 10pm, when it really starts to dump. The “chirping frogs” croak consistently with the rain breaks, warning each time for a harder downpour. Having only a tarp for shelter we quickly begin digging trenches to direct the water from flowing under and into our fire. After several hours the intensity of rain subsides and we relax at last falling in and out of sleep.
We fulfill the next day by collection plants in a secret niche we find off the main waterway. As we head back to Quincemil I have a revelation of how we independently survived the storm last night. We didn’t pack up and return to the house. We perceived and solved the problem ourselves.
When we return to the house we sort through the Acanthacea, the Fabacea, the Melastomatacea, the Clusiacea and 27 other plant families. Recorded in our notebooks we have collected 70 different species of plants.
The Rio Araza trip left me feeling adaptive and innovative. We can teach ourselves so much and learn by personal motivation. This makes me question how native peoples of Peru first began teaching themselves about the plants. How did their shamanistic rituals begin? Was it by trial and error? How did they know which plants would help them with visions and food and which would kill? Learning is on a curve that we must experience for ourselves. For me I remember something better when I discover it myself, not when I am lectured from a book. Independent discovery will not only help answer personal questions, but it will help guide the progress of life as it continues.
In scientific labs students are told what to do and follow instructions from a piece of paper. In the jungle of Peru, it is hands on experimental field work. For me this is where the real learning is. Science can’t not be taught from book, it must be discovered and theorized in the field.
When we arrive back from Cadena we have about a week before we leave for Rio Camante, the ten day expedition that is supposed to change our lives. Kyle, Dawson, Louisa and I decide to head out on our own adventure and do some “independent learning” as Dr. John Janovec would say. We pack food, a tarp, plant collecting bags and a variety of supplies necessary for camping before departing on the two day planned camp out. We walk along the Rio Araza for about an hour before we make camp and the rain starts to pour down. It continues to rain until 10pm, when it really starts to dump. The “chirping frogs” croak consistently with the rain breaks, warning each time for a harder downpour. Having only a tarp for shelter we quickly begin digging trenches to direct the water from flowing under and into our fire. After several hours the intensity of rain subsides and we relax at last falling in and out of sleep.
We fulfill the next day by collection plants in a secret niche we find off the main waterway. As we head back to Quincemil I have a revelation of how we independently survived the storm last night. We didn’t pack up and return to the house. We perceived and solved the problem ourselves.
When we return to the house we sort through the Acanthacea, the Fabacea, the Melastomatacea, the Clusiacea and 27 other plant families. Recorded in our notebooks we have collected 70 different species of plants.
The Rio Araza trip left me feeling adaptive and innovative. We can teach ourselves so much and learn by personal motivation. This makes me question how native peoples of Peru first began teaching themselves about the plants. How did their shamanistic rituals begin? Was it by trial and error? How did they know which plants would help them with visions and food and which would kill? Learning is on a curve that we must experience for ourselves. For me I remember something better when I discover it myself, not when I am lectured from a book. Independent discovery will not only help answer personal questions, but it will help guide the progress of life as it continues.
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