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HONORS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROJECT PROPOSAL

Basic Information
Full Name: Christian Bunse
UC Email: Bunsece@mail.uc.edu
College: CES
Major: Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Title of Project: Medical Expedition in the Amazon
Thematic Area: Global Studies
Expected Project Start Date: March 13, 2015
Expected Project End Date: March 22, 2015
Project Information
1. Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
On this trip, I will be travelling to Peru to meet with a local, Jordan Durso, to travel to the Amazon River and
bring medical supplies to rural tribes throughout the region. A group of locals, including some ambassadors
representing the tribes, will lead us through the jungle, and help us navigate to their people. There is a great
need for even basic medicine, as these tribes are disconnected from most of the modern world. It will be a
challenging experience, but very worthwhile, as it will give me an opportunity to help those in need. We will be
surviving mostly on hunting and fishing, and will have to set up camp every night. This trip will teach me about
the diverse cultures of Amazonian tribes, and require me to learn basic medical skills, such as CPR, splinting,
and stitching. This trip has personal meaning because it involves missions work, which has been important to
me since I was a child. Furthermore, I plan to document the trip through a Go-Pro camera and make a
presentation with the footage.

The trip will commence as follows:

March 13- 4: Depart and travel to Iquitos, Peru
March 14: Experience the culture of Perus largest city, Iquitos
March 15: Leave Iquitos and begin expedition
March 15-20: Begin travel through jungle and make contact with the Aguraruna, Bora, Yagua and Zaporo
tribes. Provide needed medical supplies and experience the tribal culture. After this, we will travel back to
Iquitos, completing our expedition.
March 21-22: Depart Peru and travel back to the United States
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
The first learning outcome that relates to this project is that I will participate in a global society and
understand the role of a global citizen. Being more fortunate, it is imperative to realize that I should
participate in the global society by performing activities that benefit the less fortunate. This would be a perfect
way to achieve that. Also, my contact with the native tribes would allow me to interact with individuals from
different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the complex range of experiences
of diverse peoples. This would be a unique opportunity to learn how to appreciate cultures I have not
experienced. I will be able to see, from a first-hand point of view, the way that these unique people act. I will
have to understand and respect their traditions, and find a way to make relationships despite language barriers.
It will require a true sensitivity to their culture, and I will need to learn how to appreciate their customs, despite
being of such a foreign nature to myself. Finally, I will be able to possess global literacy, including
knowledge of geography, history, current world issues and similarities and differences among cultures as
this trip requires me to study tribal culture beforehand, navigate the country while trying to find the tribes, and it

will also connect me with the rich historical culture in the tribal settlements. There is no better way to dive into
these facets of global literacy than to immerse yourself into an entirely new culture, especially tribal culture.

3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)

A. This trip will help me to become a more selfless person, which is a very important trait. As I
travel the country, I will be in situations that may be less than desirable. This will require me to
understand that I am doing this project to help others and not myself. It requires me to realize
that bringing medicine to the tribes is more important than my personal comfort. It will also help
me to become a strong leader, as I may face situations that require me to take charge and make
tough decisions. Overall, both of these qualities will be very important in the business world.

B. Some people believe these tribes should not be contacted, but the group I am working with
believes that they can be contacted as long as the risks are understood and there are measures
taken to protect both sides. I will be reading information on survivalinternation.org about uncontacted Peruvian tribes in order to better prepare myself for the trip. Also, travelling through
the Amazon Jungle is an extremely dangerous task. Because of this, I will be reading a survival
guide found on enjoyperu.com that teaches some of the tactics that have helped expeditions be
successful in the past. I need to learn what plants and animals I cannot come in contact with, how
to navigate, and even how to find clean water. Finally, this trip will require basic medical
knowledge. Therefore, I will be reading, The Medical Preparation of Expeditions: the Role of
the Medical Officer by Marc T.M. Shaw and Jon Dallimore in order to be more prepared for
any medical needs on this trip.

4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity

A unique facet of this project is the fact that it required me to organize my entire trip on my own. I had
to contact Jordan Durso, and propose a plan for this trip. I took the initiative to organize my travel and
housing for this trip. It will also force me to be independent as we travel through the Amazon. I will
have to learn how to protect myself and hunt for my survival. It will require me to rely on my own
strength, and function as a productive member of a group.

5. Reflection
For reflection I will be filming the entire trip on a go pro camera and creating a vlog-style daily video.
After I am home from the trip, I am going to finish a post-trip video that discusses what I have learned,
my favorite parts of the trip, most challenging parts, and also how I have grown. I will then edit and
post this video to my honors portfolio to let people see what I have experienced.
The questions I will reflect on are as follows:
1. How has this experience changed me for the better/worse?
2. What was the most important thing I achieved on the trip?
3. How can I remember the things I have seen, and not forget the moving experiences I had?
4. What did this trip teach me about myself?
5. How did I affect the lives of others on this trip?

6. Dissemination
My dissemination will be similar to my reflection. The best way to disseminate what I have learned will
be to present it in the video form. I will post my blog on social media, and also to my honors portfolio,
in order to give people a chance to see what I have done. It is important for people to understand the true
need of the Amazonian tribes in order to prompt them to see how they can help. It could be a donation,
or even a trip of their own, but I believe that a percentage of the people will want to be involved after
they watch the video and hear about the trip.

7. Project Advisor(s)
(Currently none)

8. Budget (if applicable)

Plane ticket: $500
Go-Pro to document trip: $200
Protective clothing: $100
Food and Board in Peru: $1000
Total:$1800

Works Cited
"HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVAL IN THE RAIN FOREST." Enjoy Peru. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.enjoyperu.com/peru_travel_tours_information/manual/search-water-food.html>.
Shaw, Marc T.M., and John Dallimore. The Medical Preparation of Expeditions: The Role of the Medical
Officer Marc T.M. Shaw and Jon Dallimore (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Uncontacted Indians of Peru." Survival International. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/isolatedperu>.