Reflective Essay - EVST:

Manaus - Amazonas, Brazil

Pretty average trip. I'm kidding, this trip was everything I could have hoped for and more. I went in not really knowing what to expect, honestly. I am pretty type A (which might be surprising), but I usually like to mentally prepare for where I am going, and I like to have a well-thought-out plan.  It didn't really set in that I had no idea what to expect until we were in the Panama City airport and I was taking my 6th nap of the trip. 

It became apparent to me that through all the fast packing and finishing up classwork for my other classes, I haven't really mentally prepared for this trip.  I am used to subconsciously imagining how a typical day will go when I am on a trip.  I mentally imagine myself waking up, getting ready, seeing the sun, and what the activities will be for the coming days.  However, this experience was so unexplored and new to me that I physically could not imagine what the future would look like for this week, which was frightening and exciting all at the same time.  After a long day of traveling, from barely sleeping the night before we left for the airport to not getting a full night of rest before starting our adventure, it is safe to say I was slumped, but we pushed through.  Thursday night, I went to bed around 3:30 am and then woke up at 8, all for my chauffeur (Gwyn) to pick me up at 8:10 am.  Just my luck that as we were going through TSA, I got pulled out for a good ole full pat down and full bag check.  All to be cleared to go, not even 1 oversized liquid in my bag, but I digress, I was too tired to care.  Then we went from airport to layover to airport to layover, to finally land in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.  I guess I can’t act like the travel day was that bad, as I slept the entire time.  Literally, I somehow fell asleep every time I sat down, sitting up waiting in the airport, off to the side with my neck cramped on the plane, bent over on the tray table, on the bus from the airport to the boat (20 minutes).  I was glad to sleep; however, I am very set on getting my 8 hours of sleep every night.  

Apart from the unexpected and unknown territory of what this trip was to bring, I was pleasantly surprised by all the nuances of the trip.  For a class that met twice a week there was so much information to cover about where we were going, what we were doing, who we were seeing, what we were seeing, ect, we didn’t really interact with the other students.  This left me feeling a bit nervous about how the social interactions would pan out amongst us.  I can be talkative in most situations, and I try to get along with everyone, but it doesn't always work out that way.  I also tend to be quieter or more composed in social settings that feel judgmental or close-minded.  This trip did not feel that way.  Being confined to a boat with the same group of people for ~10 days, you have no choice but to get to know everyone.  And honestly, to my surprise, I am not sure which part of the trip I enjoyed the most, the people or the place. I think that is a pretty good dilemma to be conflicted with. 

This class was composed of such unique people, who came from different academic backgrounds, different places, and of different ages (Yale was basically geriatric - 23 y.o).  One of the things that surprised me the most was that I felt like I was able to have meaningful conversations with everyone.  This came as a surprise, as we all came from different majors for the most part, which would make it seem that we would all have drastically different interests, but that was not the case ultimately.  Yes, we did have some differing interests. I realized that the reason we all like it there is that we all, on some level, are outdoorsy, adventurous, go-getting students who were bold enough to sign up for a class that was so different from our typical classes and so new to all of us.  We knew when we signed up for this trip that we would be going somewhere that is commonly perceived as a dangerous, scary place filled with exotic, lethal wildlife like piranhas, caimans, and electric eels.  All that, and then to add on that we would not be staying at a 5-star resort, but rather in the thick of the Amazon river on a river boat, with our shower water coming directly from the river.  And somehow we all filled out the application, made time in our academic schedule, and got accepted after the interview process.

I enjoyed the duality of this trip through getting to be so encompassed in the wildlife and then getting to experience this with people whom I had just gotten to really know, but felt like family in a way.  I mean, I said this on the trip a few times, but after the first day and we got settled in, it began to feel almost like a family vacation, but with less fighting than I usually experience with my old siblings.  Part of this closeness that the group revealed was due to the outgoing personalities on the trip, and Zane's game most likely played a large role in helping us get to know each other fast.  We skipped over a lot of small talk when we played the We Are Not Really Strangers card game early on.  Another thing that encouraged the group's camaraderie was the overall acceptance and inclusivity portrayed by everyone.  Zane said early on that when he does not agree with something, he likes to say/think, “Just keep an open mind.”  This phase was used legitimately and jokingly.  For example, if you truly disagree with a statement, you could remind yourself just to keep an open mind. Conversely, if someone else says an unpopular opinion, such as “cats are better than dogs” or “coffee is gross,” we would jokingly say, “Keep an open mind.”  The more students who were usually more reserved were outgoing based on the inviting atmosphere of the group, and the more outgoing, extroverted people.

Overall, I am incredibly grateful to have been included in this amazing experience, and it does not even feel real.  It's hard to believe our last class will be this Thursday.  It's been a bittersweet way to end the semester, with all of the rigor of academics and then the emotional aspect of the class, which has felt like a family, all coming to an end.  I do hope that we all put effort into staying in touch, even though I know that may be a common goal, life gets in the way, and it doesn’t always work.  As of now, everyone has been actively trying to stay in touch. We have a groupme for the students, and there have been a few group gatherings and efforts to all meet up.  I have not gone to any just yet because I worked on the days that they went.  So far, the group has seen a movie, and I think they are planning on going to a Red game this weekend.  

Thank you all for this opportunity.  Debbie, Eric, and Steve, you guys made this trip what it was. I can’t imagine going with any other professors.  I am so appreciative of everything that went into the planning of this trip and being able to make such valuable friendships with you 3 and the other students.