L.J.Sladek Photography L.L.C.: March 2012

I recently came across my pictures that I took during a field study of orangutans in Sumatra, Indonesia in the summer of 2005. That summer I accomplished one of my life goals that I had since I was seven years old. Here is a short story of my adventure that summer.

After I purchased my ticket to Sumatra, reality started to set and I became very excited about going! The thought of flying across the world, being in a different country, trekking in a jungle, looking for orangutans and doing research made me very happy.

Landing in the capital of Medan was an adventure. I did not know what to expect, because of course I did not do much research on the city and culture of Indonesia before I left. When I came off the plane, I noticed a very poor country, I got scared. The only time I traveled to another country alone was when I spent my summer in Germany with my aunt and uncle, and Medan was nothing like Frankfort! So it was an eye opener for me. Many of the native men came up to me ask where I was going and if they could help me. Of course I was confused and wanted to just go where I needed to be. I did not understand most of their questions, so I had a very hard time communicating. They were very pushy, which I was not used to. But it all ended up good in the end, because I got to where I was staying.

Being in Sumatra was a learning experience for me. The people there did not need many material items that westerners have. I went with out a lot of things I was used to. I had the basics, and sometimes not even that. There were no showers, only a well with a pot you used to pour over your head, no toilet paper, no washing machines, a hole in the ground for a toilet, no Internet or TV. When I first arrived, learning how the native people lived was difficult for me to understand. It took a few days of being with out things for me to get adjusted to their lifestyles. After that, it felt nice to be free of the things I thought you needed to live.

While in the field, I learned what it meant to actually trek in a jungle. The terrain was not like I was used to in Michigan. It was like an obstacle course with having to go under trees, around rocks, inside caves and in valleys. The first day in the field we saw a wild female orangutan with her baby. That moment of seeing her was everything I had hoped. I had accomplished one of my life goals. The moment of knowing I had worked hard to accomplish a goal felt more amazing then I could ever imagine.

Many of the experiences that happened to me while I was there have always been with me. The people I met there, I will never forget. Seeing how people recovered from a tsunami the year before was a life lesson, that things do get better with time. The local’s passion for protecting the Orangutans in Bukit Lawang will always motivate me to protect wildlife.

I learned a lot about the world. I also learned that dreams do come true if you work hard, follow your heart and never pass on opportunities.

Below are a few pictures from my adventure! Hope you enjoy!