Amazon, Round 2: "We don't have thieves here, just monkeys"

So this past weekend was pretty darn amazing. I went back to the Amazon to visit my friend Emily (her internship is out there) for her 21st birthday.

Emily with her host parents and siblings

Friday night I got in and we stayed with her host family, which is one of the sweetest families I've met since I've been here. I'd also like to say that I am super proud of Emily and admire her a ton, because she and her family live in, to be blunt, a wooden shack with a tin roof and not much space. So many people would see that and say "um, find me a different family" but Emily kept an open mind and has stuck with it not because it's a burden, but because she really does have an amazing family.

Saturday we went to Misahuallí, a riverbank town where there are a million monkeys. Their monkeys are notorious for grabbing your stuff. They're so funny to watch on the beach, jumping through the trees and whatnot. Our best monkey moment was when a mama monkey and her baby came into the restaurant where we were eating, looking for things they could steal. The owner, after warning us to keep an eye on our things, said, "We don't have thieves here, just monkeys."

Saturday evening we baked cookies (yum!) and then went out for pizza, drinks (it was Emily's 21st, not that it actually matters here, but for good measure anyway) , and dancing. It was a lot of fun to meet her friends from work and to just have a fun night.

Sunday was perhaps the coolest, though. We went out to Emily's family's farm (in the jungle) and her host dad took us around, explaining what plants are used for what and letting us try some amazing fruits (I ate the best banana I've ever had in my entire life), and he even applied some natural remedies on us, like natural bug repellent. It was super cool and an awesome tour.

Heidi, Emily, and I messing around before our jungle tour
Leaf juice=natural bug repellent that does leave your skin a bit green...

After that we ate lunch and cake with Emily's family and some family friends, enjoying Emily's entertaining 18-month old brother's antics and when Emily got her face smashed in the cake. It was also fun using giant leaves as plates for the cake! It was super sweet, her host parents gave Heidi (another friend) and I earrings made of Amazonian seeds as gifts for coming.

Anyway, I was sad to leave Sunday afternoon, but I am so glad I went because it really was incredible. I want to go back to see Em's family again before I leave!

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS EMILY!

Face smash! I love that Flora's cheering it on.