I’ve spent most of this last month in the Amazon, in both Peru and Bolivia. Each trip shared the common jungle themes that I always encounter on my visits: heat, mosquitos, and long rides to the communities. This month, however, I encountered something new in both countries.
I was spending the night in San Jose de Paranapura, a small community on the shore of the Ucayali River in Peru. This part of the Ucayali teems with life, due to the rich nutrients caused by the joining of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers which mark the beginning of the Amazon. After a late-night bath in the river to clean off the day’s sweat, sunscreen, and bug repellent- taking care to avoid stepping on the venomous skates that rest in the sandy shallows- I headed back to the house where I would spend the night.
There was a bucket of water there for drinking and I served myself a mug. I quickly noticed the strong woody flavour of the water. While contemplating the flavour, our Alma teacher in San Jose, Jorge, proudly informed me that he only drinks water straight from the river. “I live the natural way!” he declared as I considered how many parasites I had just swallowed.
A week later I was deep in the Amazonian savannas of Bolivia in an isolated community where we work called Cotoca. It was an especially hot day and we were about half way through our 12-hour mid-term project evaluation. Andrea, our Project Coordinator in the region, asked one of the mothers for some water before continuing with individual parent meetings discussing student progress, difficulties, and strategies parents’ can implement in the house to help. We had been drinking the corn-based refreshment they call chicha all morning. Therefore, when the deep yellow liquid was passed my way I assumed it was another glass of chicha.
Unfortunately, after drinking the cool glass in one swig I quickly recognized that rich woody flavour. I turned to Andrea and she happily explained that this community has no potable water, so the only water they drink is fresh from the river. This also explained the fever and diarrhea outbreak among the students. I took note and resumed my consumed parasite count.
Thankfully years of living in Peru has made my stomach tougher than a rusty coffee can, and I was fine in both cases. But the takeaway lesson is to always ask what’s in the cup before drinking when in the Amazon!
