The Changing of the Guard

Changes are happening at Inti Wara Yassi. Cally and I are planning a halloween party for Wednesday which will also serve as the goodbye party for the approximately 10 volunteers (several of them long timers) who are leaving the next day. This exodus of volunteers (about a quarter of the people in the park) is causing much shifting and changing among the volunteers remaining. My Gato partner, Cally, is among the departing, which means that I will have a new volunteer to train and work with starting on Wednesday. It is a bit strange to go from being a trainee myself to the boss in just over a week but I do feel very confident that I know Gato´s trails and can predict his behaviour. Today, Cally gave me the keys to Gato´s cage and I realised that I am now the person in charge of the well-being of a puma. I will also be taking over Callie´s job as new volunteer tour guide. People move into positions very quickly here at Inti Wara Yassi because the volunteer turn over is quite large. If I stay until Christmas (which is my plan) I will be one of the most senior volunteers.

I am going to miss many of the people who are going away. Many of them are the best friends that I have made here and so many are going all at once.