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It was one of the most grueling, exhausting experiences I had ever been put through. I, along with 7 others, had come to the depths of the jungle to catch and measure hummingbirds. Who would have thought that such graceful, delicate creatures could live in such a harsh place? The first thing you notice about the rainforest, is that everything is wet. The sweat on our bodies would never dry, but stay on our skin for hours, sticky and uncomfortable. Mold grew on our clothes, our gear, our luggage. There were even days I would wake to find green and foreign markings on my arms. A tough terrain called for tough people. Interns, volunteers, and researchers came from all stretches of the world. Germany, France, Colombia, Britain, and America. All of them were unique and talented. Katrin spoke five languages, Lydia was a kickboxing maniac, Georgina and Brandon were wilderness veterans, and perhaps most impressive amongst them was Amelie. She was French, funny, and untamable. Before the rainforest, she trained in Africa to be a safari ranger, where she battled vicious predators and scorching heat. Her very appearance was the epitome of wild. Amelie had dreadlocks, tribal tattoos, bangles, beads, and – a giant machete that she was never without. She would often walk up to you and say something like “Rebecca! Look at dis picture of me in my boots!” To which I would reply while hiding my eyes “Amelie! You’re only wearing boots in this picture!” “What? You cannot be naked in America?” What can I say? She was wild. Truth be told, working with these impressive people, I didn’t know what I brought to the table. Maybe, self-debilitating humor? Oh well. I guess every chain needs a weakest link. The thing is, seeing Amelie swinging her machete, I wasn’t quite sure I belonged. No one else seemed to have as much trouble as me. During our eight-hour long hikes, the others never once complained. I thought, if no one is complaining then they must think this is easy! And I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t want them to know how much I was struggling. During a particularly taxing hike, Amelie started to bring up the rear. It was normal for her to stop and take pictures, so I went on. But after ten minutes had gone by without her catching up, I turned back to check on her. I found her, kneeling, face wet with tears, and at the sight of me she said three things “I can’t do it! It’s so hard. I’m not strong enough.” I was stunned. Amelie, tough, crazy Amelie had said the very words that had been getting me down for the past several weeks. I realized, I wasn’t alone. Everyone else felt just as exhausted, just as out of breath, and just like me, they had kept it to themselves, thinking no one else felt the same. I swore to myself that I would remember that moment. Because I wasn’t the weakest link, and we weren’t parts to a chain. We were people. It seems to me, that it is common for people to isolate themselves from the world. We forget that we are never the only ones struggling. I know eventually I will forget as well. If only we could remember not to keep our mouths shut.