The Monkey poop and the baby

As I've described in previous posts, part of my job is to collect urine and feces from the monkeys we're studying. Prior to our departure, Mackenzie, the phd student we're working for, tried to describe her excitement upon collecting pee and poop samples in the forest, and at the time I quite honestly thought she was just a tad crazy! I mean who in their right mind gets excited about catching pee and poop?! Well, two months into my time here, I do!

So we're out one day last month and things are business as usual. I was following under an individual for samples, when she squats over a branch, much to my delight. Positioning myself directly under her, I decide to encourage her as I prepped myself for what was to come. My excitement bubbling over I began to chant "come on, give it to me, GIVE IT TO ME!" as she readied herself for her delivery. Well let me tell you, she gave it to me alright, all over my face! Contrary to the trend that seems to be developing here, we're not actually suppose to be collecting the samples with our faces, we're given butterfly nets, covered in plastic, instead to do this for us. I dare to be different however. Lucky me!

So once again, I found myself in the forest with my face covered in monkey shit! The only difference this time, however, was that I had people around me to assist me in it's removal, or so I thought. I quickly asked for someone to hand me a leaf, so I could wipe the shit off my face. I'm bent over, eyes squeezed shut, waiting patiently for my leaf to appear but it doesn't come! "How can this be?" I think to myself, I mean all I want is a goddam leaf! Many things went through my mind at this point, during what seemed like an eternity with shit on my face, some of my thoughts went something like this: "Why aren't you people listening to me?" "I mean how long does one have to stand here in front of you jackasses, with monkey shit all over their faces, before somebody tears a leaf off a tree and HANDS IT TO ME?!?" "WTF!!! I'm not asking for a kidney here people! I just want a #$%^&# leaf!!!" After a good 2 minutes, I did manage to get someones attention and I got my leaf, and after cleaning myself up, I stood up, opened my eyes and realized that the groups only dorsal baby had fallen off it's mother about 15 feet from the ground, and landed quite literally at my feet at the exact moment I got shit on, explaining quite justifiably my co-workers neglect.

The baby turned out to be fine, momma immediately jumped down and gathered him up no worse for wear but needless to say, I felt like a bit of a jerk. No amount of monkey poop compares to the safety and well being of a little one. So it seems I have come full circle at this point, once again I find myself learning life lessons from a face full of monkey poop.