Chenkan

I just got back from one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Since I wasn't learning that much at the tourism office, I got switched to the Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, to work in an Environment and Sustainability program they call there, called Yum Xaan. The first day I was there they gave me my first project which was creating a brochure about saving water. So I was super happy. That was a good sign meaning that it was a good switch. Designing a brochure about an Environmental issue in order to educate people about is exactly what I like doing! So it was perfect. On Friday, they took me to a Campamento Tortuguero called Chenkan. It is a camp in which they are monitoring and taking care of a sea turtle that is an endangered species called "Carey." I was there Friday until today, Tuesday. They want me to go every weekend that's left. What I will be doing is helping them with the conservation of the turtle while I'm there and also I will be writing a research paper about the trash that's on the beach and how it affects the turtles. I will also be looking at the impact that the houses and the restaurant on the beach have on the turtles. Once I am farther into the project, I will be able to describe it better.

Chenkan is the definition of tranquility and peace. Even though it is right next to a highway and there are lots of cars and trucks driving by continuously, when you're on the beach, next to the sea, you cannot hear all that noise; all you can hear is the sound of the waves crashing. The only things that are on the beach are a few houses and a restaurant. The houses are amazing and I can't even imagine living there, right next to the water; how incredible would that be?! BUT those houses have a huge impact on the habitat of the turtles because they are located where they used to make their beds and nests. Even though there are those few constructions, it still looks very natural. I don't think I've ever been to a beach that pretty that doesn't have big all inclusive hotel and resorts.

The main part of the job happens at night time. Four people go out at night, at around 10 pm, on quads, to check if there are any turtles laying eggs or making their "bed" or nest for the eggs. Two people go to one side of the beach and the other two go to the other side. If a turtle is found, they take down all the information (date, time, location, mark number which is in a little metal attached to its fin) and they measure its length. Also, they wait until the turtle starts laying the eggs, and they start taking them. They count them and then they either leave them there and mark the spot of the nest (so that they can monitor them later on) or then take the eggs to a sort of corral so that they are more protected. These turtles, on average, lay about 150 eggs but only a few end up surviving because or other predators in the sea and because not all of them actually come out of the egg. The main reasons why it is an endangered species are that the eggs are often stolen because some people actually eat them! and they are actually very expensive. I learned that some people eat them raw with a little salt and lemon. Also the turtles are used to make jewelry that is also sold at very high prices. But since now it is a protected species, it is illegal to own a Carey sea turtle. Monitoring the nests and taking care of the eggs lowers the amount of eggs that are stolen. Some people that are responsible for the camp, have been doing this for years which really impressed me. It is amazing how some people can just dedicate their lives to help other living creatures. Of course, they get paid for it but they have to live in very basic conditions with very few commodities like the ones that at least I, a middle class person living in a first world country, am used to.

The camp consists of three little cabins. Two of them belong to the university and the other one is for another organization that works in the camp, called CONAMP. One of the cabins is a kitchen with two little "rooms." There are holes in between the wood boards that make the walls and there is obviously no air conditioning or vents. The variety of insects in the area is incredible. There are constantly insects bothering, especially flies. I got bit like 1000 times everywhere in my body. Even though I was constantly spraying insect repellent on me. The cabin is also shared with other species, like mice, which of course I absolutely LOVE .... There is little electricity that comes from three solar panels that are next to the cabin. There is no fridge but there is a small stove in which we cooked. The bathroom consists of an actual WC and a space for a shower but there is no water, therefore when one wants to go to the bathroom he/she has to go get water in a bucket from a will and go back. There is no shower, so to bath we use a bucket of water and a cup to throw the water on our body. The first time was kind of hard, but then one gets used to it. Of course, I couldn't manage to wash my hair the right way with such a limited amount of water. Sleeping in hammocks is something very common in this area. So they made me take a hammock with me to sleep in it at night. I could sleep in one of the beds the first two nights, until the girl who usually sleeps there got there, but then I had to manage to sleep in the hammock. It was so hard to find the right position in which I was comfortable enough to sleep without falling, but the second night was much easier than the first. I actually really like hammocks now! But I still prefer to sleep on a traditional bed. 

Being in a place like that, even if it's just for a few days, makes one realize of how lucky we are to have little things that we just take for granted. Such as a shower, a toilet that we can just flush, unlimited electricity, a fridge, air conditioning, etc. I had such a good time there, seeing the turtles, walking on the beach, swimming, scuba diving and seeing all sorts of fish, meeting new really cool people, relaxing, being made fun of for being Argentinean... and being asked thousands of questions about my decision to be a vegetarian, etc... It is just such an amazing experience that I didn't care that I was dirty almost all day, that flies kept biting me, that I was sweating all the time, and that my hair was all messy (...okay..maybe I never really care about that one anyways haha...). Next time I write I will describe the area better and the people that I've met. Also, hopefully I will have some progress on my investigation project. I am so glad that I got changed to this because it is one of the best experiences in my life. Thanks for reading!
SP