Exploring Padre Cocha

It has been an exciting couple of weeks in Padre Cocha (the town where we stay).  Every day at work is different and exciting, and we really enjoy spending time with the friends we have made here.

The male monkeys at Pilpintuwasi have recently become sick.  They are all fine, but being the social animals that they are, they need someone in their cage just hanging out with them .  And occassionally getting a urine sample if the vet says so...  I was in there one day, hanging out with Niko.  One of his favorite things is to be brushed.  So I was sitting in there brushing him for about 30 minutes - the other girls and I working there decided we would do rotations of who will sit with Niko for 30-45 minutes.  When my time was wrapping up, I started walking towards the door and he darted in front, blocking my path to actually leave his cage.  Which was fine, I enjoy sitting with him and figured he just wanted a bit more attention.  Couple minutes later, I tried again, and the same thing happened.  At this point, Shawna who is the volunteer coordinator and also works at Pilpintuwasi came to sit with him, but every time I walked towards the door, he beat me to it.  I couldn´t walk out with him right there, as he would escape and the rest of our work day would be spent trying to get him.  So Shawna and I tried working together to distract Niko while I snuck out.  Nothing was working.  We called Nate over to distract him - also didn´t work.  We then had to call the owner, Gudren, over, and that did the trick.  So it took myself, Shawna, Nate, and Gudren to outsmart a monkey and how I could escape.  It was a very exciting and entertaining hour that I spent in there.  And now Niko is feeling much better and almost 100% healthy!

Since Mondays are our days off, we decided to have a litte party last night.  Lately we have been listing the foods that we miss back home, so we attempted to make them.  Guacamole was no problem - Sophia made that.  Nate and I have been missing his grandmothers cream cheese wantons.  We bought the wantons and cream cheese at the grocery store and we were so excited to have them.  Little did we know, when we got home, we bought BUTTER instead of cream cheese.  The container for butter is the same color as it is for cream cheese back home, so we didn´t even bother looking at it.  So we made delicious guacamole wantons instead.  The things you lean while you travel... The night ended with an hour and a half of dancing, as we found ourselves at a Peruvian wedding reception.  Needless to say, it was a great night being with our Peruvian friends that we will never forget.

We are still finalizing where our next voluteer spot is, but we are off to Chile beginning of November.  Time is flying by for us!

Miss you all!

Maddy and Nate