What Grew in Peru

by Bess Lovec

In January of 2019, I decided to join a student trip to Peru, sponsored by MSU Billings. I had to jump through countless hoops (transcripts, interview, essay, shots, money, medical release by my physician, and more), but ultimately, my efforts proved worthwhile! We spent most of our time that May on tributaries of the Amazon River, plus many days in Iquitos, the largest city accessible only via plane or boat.

Huge caterpillar!

Imagine that you are in a greenhouse looking at houseplants. Then you plant 25 varieties in 12 square feet. They intertwine uncontrollably, spilling over edges. That is what the Amazonian rain forest looks like. From sloths swinging and monkeys violently screeching to complex varieties of plants, the Amazon Basin teems with life. The most amazing, however, were the insects. Their sizes alone really shocked all of us… spiders the size of my hand. Once a swarm of flying beetles entered the open-air platform where our tents were set. Their arrival was like a dark curtain swooshing across the space. We all had sprayed our clothes, bags, and tents with peremithrin before leaving the U.S., plus we applied insect repellent to our skin twice daily, yet each of us could count over 100 insect bites on our bodies at any given time. The trip was not for the faint of heart.

Huge spider!

We had a great time and like most trips abroad, attendees became very close-knit due to extreme events. We experienced a magnitude 8.0 earthquake at three in the morning, which woke us but fortunately caused little damage to our immediate area. I spent one 24-hour period surviving digestive issues with the help of our attending physician. I tipped the staff of the hotel extra the next day. Our schedule and directions had to adjust due to an unusually dry, hot summer. Scientists along the way convinced us that the conditions were sadly no longer considered unusual but the new normal. The most disturbing image which lingers in my mind was the plastic debris in the river and along the shores. Apparently even the most remote places on our planet have not escaped the tendrils of plastic.

Plastic pollution in the river.

The trip concluded in Cusco to tour Machu Picchu, which met all expectations and beyond, although Cusco has adjusted to the tourist trade. It could have been any major European city. I had a chance to recover from the challenges of the Amazon with a plethora of creature comforts!

I am so glad I went. It broadened my perspectives more than I can identify here. My faith in 20-somethings was renewed, and most people everywhere are wonderful. I hope we can preserve the Lungs of the World long enough for our great-great-grandchildren to enjoy our beautiful planet. Mother Nature will take the reins, but we do have input into what happens.