If you are one of the numerous amazing RP volunteers who are dreaming of being sent out on the ground, let me tell you one thing: it is not a piece of cake! There are so many things we need to fit in in order to be really useful to people who are involved on the projects on a daily basis that it may sound impossible.

To begin with, you better be sportive, adaptable and open minded. Also, you should be an animal lover a nature cherisher, as well as insect – and dust – resistant. Hot humid weather (like Austin times 5) doesn’t bother you, at all? That’s a good start. On top of this, if your background, skills and experience compel with RP’s need on a specific project you are nearly good to go, under the condition of having enough availability, of course. Last but not least, after travelling for hours, and when you think you finally reached your destination is the toughest part of the recruitment process.

“Valentine, meet Jaso” – Jaso is to Chipaota’s projects what immigration officers are to the US territory. He assaulted me with question. “What are you here for?”, “what’s your background?”, “why do you think you can help?”, “what do you know of the projects?”… After 30 minutes of justification and constructive argumentation, the flow stopped. He seemed satisfied; might even have smiled…. I passed!

To those of you who will be coming in the future, one advice: be well prepared, physically, professionally and psychologically.

Avid to discover new cultures, I observe a lot and do my best to adapt to every place I go to.  Peru is no exception to my travelling experiences but I must say it isn’t that easy to fit in.

Food & drinks – I bought some unknown fruits on the street in Lima, chewed coca leaves with some natural accelerating powder men use there to work on the plantations all day, tried Cañazo a homemade alcohol at about 2800m (9200ft) while waiting for the hard rain to stop in the salva alta of San Antonio, and drank some “fresh” juices in Satipo (Pampa Hermosa). Back in Lima, my friends invited me to taste the traditional ceviche and pisco sour, I couldn’t refuse! This same night, I regretted nearly everything…

Transportation & altitude – To reach the Colibri Cloudforest project, we took an 11 hour night bus from Lima to Satipo.  I was hoping to avoid the well-known soroche by taking a motion sickness pill but it didn’t do the trick!  While my head was about to explode as the bus was going up on the highest road on earth to reach Ticlio Pass 4820m (15900ft), Norma* was sleeping like a baby. After 1 hour in a combi to San Antonio, we finally rode a motorbike in the rain for another hour to reach Calabeza…and back. I then flew to Tarapoto 360m (1200ft) -thank God- where I’ll be based for the upcoming 2 months and a half.

My body doesn’t seem to enjoy all this as much as I do.  I already got sick a couple of times, but this is what happens to gringos right. And according to my younger – however wiser – sister, I’m probably not helping.

” Don’t try to be a warrior. You surely are the only moron in this town drinking tap water!” **

I since then bought coca-cola and bottled water, to see if it helps…

*Norma Lecca is Colibri Cloudforest program coordinator. Based in Lima, she travels twice a month to Rainforest Partnership  project sites.  **For my defense: I did put some water purification pills in it!