Peru: Zelin Shen (Public Transportation in Tarapoto)
Program: SFS Biodiversity & Development in the Andes-Amazon, Spring
In my program, whenever we have a chance, some of us would group together to travel to nearby cities to both explore and attend events. For example, every Sunday in February, a lot of people in Peru celebrate Carnival. Yesterday, two other friends and I decided to embrace the local culture and travel to the nearby city of Lamas to attend the Carnival. From the center out, we took a tuk-tuk, which is a motorized tricycle, to a local “transportation center”. The ride was around 10 minutes and cost 7 sols for the 3 of us, which is equivalent to around 2 dollars.
Me and my friends on a tuk-tuk
Next, we spoke to the bus drivers, stating that we wanted to travel to Lamas and waited for the bus to fill. Local buses like this go on a very flexible schedule, where they will only depart when they have enough passengers. Despite expecting a long wait, we departed only 10 minutes after our arrival. The ride was 30 minutes, and each passenger had to communicate with the driver where exactly in the city they wanted to be dropped off. After some initial confusion due to our poor Spanish skills, we were able to get to the tourist center where the carnival moves around in nearby streets. The ride cost 30 sols for the three of us, around 10 dollars. Overall, the transportation here is extremely flexible and cheap. Their way of transport does not rely on mobile apps like Uber but more on in-person communication. The drivers, sometimes even strangers, are extremely willing to communicate and help us work out where we are trying to go.
Zelin Shen
Program Name: SFS Biodiversity & Development in the Andes-Amazon
Major: Entomology & Statistics
Hometown: Dalian, China
This scholarship allows me the ability to put my focus on developing my skills as an entomologist and a photographer, providing me the financial freedom that I had not been able to have in the past. Thank you for your generosity and believing in students like me. Your support has truly made a difference in my future, and I hope to pass your kindness forward.
I hope to enhance my skills in field work in the tropical area, practice my skills in both artistic/documentational field photography, challenge myself outside of my comfort zone, and explore the possibility of pursuing a future research career in the tropics.
I most look forward to experiencing the diversity in the Peruvian Amazon, as it is one if not the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet. I’m also looking forward to connecting with locals, meeting researchers, and building an understanding on the country as a whole.