"I could hear the very unique language of the jungle." - Katie Lynn Finch The Harding University in Latin America program ended its annual expedition into the Amazon Rainforest by traveling to a new destination located in the Tambopata National Reserve in Peru. The trip to the resort included traveling by motorboat across the Amazon Basin, hiking two miles through knee-deep mud and canoeing across Lake Sandoval, where they stayed at Lake Sandoval Lodge. Sophomore Anna Gibb,who attended the HULA program during the spring 2015 semester, said the weather in the rainforest was a challenge during longer hikes, but by the end of the week, the group had adjusted to its surroundings well. "The heat and humidity were intense, and as a few others passed me on the trail, I told them to tell my parents that I love them," Gibb said. "But we finally made it to the boats to take across Lake Sandoval to the cabin on the other side where we would be staying for the next week. Looking back, it was an incredible experience, and the sights and sounds and mud were pretty great, even though it didn't seem like it at the time." Senior Katie Lynn Finch, who attended the HULA program during the spring 2015 semester, said she vividly remembered the final leg of their journey to the resort. "I remember the canoe going through a natural door made of the trees and brush that opened to the wide, peaceful lake," Finch said. "I could hear the very unique language of the jungle filled with chatter of the night crawlers that were waking up and many other creatures finding a place to rest for the night. Although the jungle was noisy, it had a certain peace where the distractions of the world were silenced, and all that was left was God and his creation." The group took daily expeditions where they saw wildlife, such as, river otters, a sloth, toucans, red howler monkeys, tamarin monkeys and caiman. One day that stood out to HULA spring 2015 participant senior Sam Elander was when it rained so much that it kept the group inside the lodge all day. "I think our group bonded the most in the Amazon on the day that it rained heavily," Elander said. "We were able to relax in the lodge in hammocks, listened to the rainfall and play card games. Not being able to go out on the lake was a bit disappointing, but looking back, it was nice to have that time together." HULA director Pamela Hook said although they traveled to a new location, the Amazon excursion was always one of her favorites every year because of how the group was able to spend time reminiscing about their semester together. Elander enjoyed the solitude oftheir location in the Amazon because it allowed the group to relax and decompress before traveling back to the U.S. "I loved ending my study abroad trip in the Amazon," Elander said. "It was exotic, beautiful, and had a different culture than what we had previously encountered. Something about the relaxed atmosphere and friendly guides made it a nice way to finish HULA, even if we kept wishing it wouldn't end." The HULA group stal'ts their two-mile hike to the cabin where they would stay for a week at I,uke Sandoval Lodge on Jvfoy 26, 2015. They spent their time on expedit ions to see thC' unique ivildlife and explo,·e the rainforest. I Photo courtesy ofA.nnu Gibh Senior Allison Nolan swings on a hrcmch while exploriny the rainforest in the Amazon on May 28, 2015. Many students took the opportunity of beiny in the Amazon to eat /ocalfczl'es such us.fresh Br·azil nuts and termites. I Photo courtesy ofAnna Gibb 11 l' L.\ :L5
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==