Eleven months ago, when Frosty and I were poring over maps and scouring the Internet for information on Pacaya Samiria National Park, Wednesday, March 30th seemed very far way. Now, as we scramble to cross off an endless list of "to dos" before our flight to Peru, Wednesday is right around the corner.

The last month has been an amazing whirl-wind of school visits, international phone calls, late nights working on computers, lots of time driving to schools, stores, meetings, and museums. Soon we will trade our life in the city for the rhythms of the jungle. Dug out canoes will replace our cars, and we will rely on our knowledge of the rainforest, and the carefully selected items nestled in our water proof packs, to keep us safe.

Teamwork must also play an important role in Project Peru if it is going to be a safe, sucessful adventure. Instead of running around to countless meetings and interacting with dozens of people each day, we will become a self-contained unit that heavily relies on teamwork.

Our group is coming together nicely, and we are falling into a rhythm. Jesse has been busy treating our clothing with Permethrin, putting the finishing touches on our giant first aid kit and organizing our camping equipment. Jennifer has been treating our hammocks, spreading the word about Project Peru, and finishing the curriculum. Adam has been getting all of our computers and other technical equipment in order. Everyone has been working really hard and, by working together, we are able to do things that would be impossible without teamwork.

I am looking forward to meeting the local people, listening to howler monkeys, eating piranha, and learning about the rainforest. In addition, building bonds with my traveling companions and solving problems together is a huge part of why I enjoy being a learning adventure guide.

One thing I do know is that I am looking forward to Project Peru, and I hope that you are as excited as we are!

Keep exploring,

Dave