July 11, 2011

Our intrepid teens from Open Meadow, Mt. Scott and Portland Youth Builders are currently experiencing the hot and muggy South as they help rebuild homes and communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina, hear stories from the local people of New Orleans (NOLA) and participate in a week-long teen leadership conference on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain.

Here’s what the students have to say about their intercultural experience so far:

“It was unreal at first. I didn’t realize how different the people were going to be.  I’m intrigued by them and can’t wait to get to know more!” –Mike

“…beautiful and melodic, the aged voice of the South spoke to me through more than just words.  Culture and general southern sophistication…it was beautiful and haunting, shockingly familiar, assuring and peaceful. It was my first taste of the South, and I yearn for more.” –Austin

“At that moment I felt sadness in my heart, it made me think about all the people that have suffered from losing a loved one or even their properties that one day they had called home.”–Lucy

To hear more from our inspiring Changemakers, follow their journey on www.pangaeaproject.wordpress.com 

This is our group with the site supervisors and other Habitat crew members on our last day.

At Sprog, the students did lots of creative things to get their points across. Sage created this mask as part of a skit demonstrating how to mobilize a community around an issue.

Morgan hard at work on some drywall for a project with the Lower 9th Ward Village.

Katie & Daphne & Lake Pontchartrain

Alex representing GCC as he takes a Popsicle break on the job site with Habitat.

We got very familiar with public transit in New Orleans--this is a picture of one of our many streetcar rides.

Tihara and Amber hard at work for the folks at The Community Center of St. Bernard.

This was our first day exploring the streets of New Orleans.

]]> http://pangaeaproject.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/photos/feed/ 0 pangaeaproject Habitat for Humanity Work Crew--Biloxi, Mississippi Sage's Amazing Mask! Morgan shaves drywall! Katie & Daphne & Lake Pontchartrain Alejandro! NOLA Streetcar! Tihara & Amber Pangaea takes New Orleans! http://pangaeaproject.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/learnings-from-the-lowlands/ http://pangaeaproject.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/learnings-from-the-lowlands/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:10:18 +0000 The Pangaea Project http://pangaeaproject.wordpress.com/?p=479 ]]> I asked the group to speak to the strengths and weaknesses they have noted in the last 2+ weeks we have been traveling.  We are at the end of our time on the Habitat for Humanity job site in Biloxi, Mississippi, and I have observed innumerable strengths from this group–teamwork, communication, dedication, determination, a willingness to learn and do things that were previously foreign and/or unknown, cultural acceptance (even if that has meant grinning through construction site humor that doesn’t seem so funny), and the list could continue.

Below they share their own insights and self reflections:

Daphne:

I think my weakness is that I take things too harsh. Small things stay with me and keep from being able to do certain things because I become insecure about them, also that I get frustrated very easily. My strength is that I have a sense of humor to things, but at the appropriate times.

Katie:

I think I’ve realized one of my strengths is that I try my hardest to be as committed to the things I do or need to do. I haven’t always been this way but going through this trip I’ve realized that dedication and commitment are the only way to get through it and enjoy it. My weakness is, I don’t speak my mind enough. I keep quiet about my opinions or things I don’t like. The only people I’ll tell these things to are people I’m comfortable with. So if someone’s having me do something I don’t want to do, I won’t say a word. Or if someone was criticizing me I keep it in. I hope to change that when I return to Portland.

Tihara:

Through this trip I have noticed a different me. I think my attitude is my weakness and strength because it still needs time to get better, for lack of a better term; but at the same time I have changed it a lot as far as controlling it and letting the small things go. Some other strengths are helping others, that’s something I always practice, but here I have noticed that it isn’t all for yourself–it’s all for all. Some weaknesses are letting people get to me and my attitude. Also a strength is not bitching on the work site (besides the heat) and actually getting down to business.

Alex:

Some of the strengths I have realized about myself have been how much I have actually been committed to this whole journey. I could definitely bring this willingness to commit to things back to Portland & I feel like I would experience so much more. Some weaknesses I have realized about myself is that I sometimes lose my main purpose in things, for example, I came to volunteer & sometimes I just want to relax & I may start complaining. I do think my weakness will become a strength as I start to notice it more & more, I feel like I will eventually learn how to stay on track with my purpose, whatever that may be.

Lucy:

I have found a huge strength and that is helping others and not thinking so much on my self; it’s a great strength. A weakness that I found out is that I get really mad if some one is disrespectful to me–I crack and want to do so much disaster, but I am a bigger person so I brush it off. I know I will use my strength for good purposes when I return to home. I really hope that I don’t use my weakness again; it will be all bad like Katrina.

Austin:

Weaknesses are easy. I’m terrible at adjusting to new environments, meaning I have a hard time as we move from place to place. New “homes” often mean lost sleep and lost sleep only worsens my adaptation. I also have a difficult time dealing with people who insist on “riling me up”. I really don’t enjoy being played with. Strengths are more difficult. I think I’m pretty good at apologizing when it’s needed, or even when its not. I’m also decent at keeping people in high spirits…or maybe I just keep myself happy, wish I knew.

Amber:

Weaknesses that I’ve learned about myself are worrying too much about what mistakes I make and how other people will react to them. Also when I step out of my zone or comfort level at times I struggle to not be pushed back into my bubble due to my peers’ reactions. Strengths I’ve realized are that I am knowledgeable at correcting my mistakes and changing my attitude around for the better. Attitudes have been not so great lately, but we’re adult enough to pull it together. I do believe my weaknesses will turn into strengths while back in Portland, because this trip has taught me to think not of what others say but what makes me comfortable.

Morgan:

This trip has brought out many strengths and weaknesses in me, some of which I knew about and have for quite a while, and others of which I wasn’t so sure of. I feel that my main strength that being away from a familiar environment is the ability to take direction. If I’m told to do something, I can do it well and in a timely manner. I won’t gripe and even if I do get frustrated, I won’t speak to it. That alone leads me into my weakness. Sometimes those and strengths can overlap. It’s crazy how that happens, but my weakness is that, for the most part, I don’t speak. If something bothers me, I’ll swallow it in whole. I’ll keep smiling and do as I’m told or take what is said. If I don’t like something but everyone else does, I won’t say anything about it. As long as everyone else is happy, I’m for the most part happy, but there’s still something else there. Being a people pleas-er can only get you so far. When I get back to Portland I feel like my strengths will keep on being strong and my weaknesses will, hopefully, diminish and I’ll be able to keep my bottle capped at a healthy level. I need to know when to open my mouth and when to keep is tightly closed.

Mike:

I feel like I have grown and realized that I’m overall very strong. I have matured 10 fold over the last year and a half. I feel my best strengths are my ability to understand where someone’s coming from (when I want too!). As far as negatives go, sometimes I don’t know when to stop joking or seeing when someone’s in a bad mood. Or the ability to get close enough to figure out how to help. As everyone on this trip knows I’m dedicating myself to helping out people with less. Everyone needs a fair chance in life and I’m going to give it to them.

Sage:

Since this trip has started I have begun to realize just how messed up this country’s priorities are, we would rather go spend billions of dollars a year on a stupid war while the people of our own country are literally starving to death in their homes and on the streets. We always think that no matter what happens someone will come, someone will help, and that is true but it’s not the people who we think will come. I may be just a kid, but I can realize that things are not okay in this world, and not just sit in my house watching cable and eating hot pockets while the people of my city, the people across the country and the people across the world are worried that they might not eat today. I know that I will be a changed person when I get back to Portland different priorities different perceptions.

On Saturday morning, our troupe returned to New Orleans and spent two days working with a community organization called The Lower 9th Ward Village.  Under the leadership of Mack McClendon, this organization is striving to bring back the 75% of community residents that are still displaced from the Lower 9th Ward following Hurricane Katrina.  Our students worked along side other volunteers to restore the interior of a church in the community.  Mr. Mack’s philosophy is that churches bring congregations which bring community–only one primary step in his blueprint to restore the Lower 9th Ward to what it once was.  He also took us on a tour of the hardest hit areas in the Lower 9th and St. Bernard’s Parish, giving us invaluable insight into the purpose behind the work we are doing nearly six years after Hurricane Katrina.  His commitment and drive are something that I wish I could bottle and give as an elixir to every student I’ve ever worked with (and many adults too!).  Our students are asking great questions and working hard.  A few are talking about how and when they will return to New Orleans and how they can and will continue to help rebuild the city.  The people and the city have successfully gotten into the hearts of our travelers.

Today we head to Biloxi, Mississippi, to work with Habitat for Humanity for the next week.  Below, read a few comments from the students about what it’s like living in a volunteer camp, comparing the Northwest to the Southeast, ways they have surprised themselves on this journey, and things they will miss when they fly home next week.

Tihara:

It’s weird living at a “volunteer camp” because there are so many other people that I am not used to. I’m the only child and it’s only me and my Ma at home together so just being with the Pangaea group alone is crazy. It’s also kind of overwhelming because there are joint responsibilities with all these other kids that I don’t know and it’s a bit weird getting used to other personalities that I haven’t been around before. I guess there are a few good things about living there, like: having more space to move around as far as being outside and there are computers and the food is pretty good . Over all its okay though, takes time getting used to, but so far I’m surviving.

Amber:

Some similarities and differences of being in the northwest from the southeast are THE BUGS!! OMG the crickets here are like the size of my hand. We don’t have that in the city!! Also the fact that the climate here is also very bipolar even though it’s hotter than dragon’s breathe. But the people are really kind and generous. It’s a southern hospitality thing.

Lucy:

The similarities and differences between the northwest and the southeast–well the similar things are that there are great people in both and the love to help others is similar as well. There are many different things here in the southeast starting with how people talk, dress, and people don’t recycle.

Katie:

There really aren’t too many similarities to me between the northwest and southeast. Everything seems so new to me here in the southeast. The bugs, weather, people and even the way the buildings look, is different. Everyone has so much passion towards their culture and I don’t see that very much in the northwest. I enjoy both places and I’m glad to be here.

Alex:

I’ve surprised myself by participating in things that I really didn’t want to, not even only participating but opening to people I barely know & telling them things I haven’t told a lot of people. I also didn’t think I would get used to this humidity as much as I have so far. Also, I’m surprised how much I don’t miss home.

Daphne:

I’ve noticed very few similarities between the Northwest and Southeast. In the south there really is a lot of Southern hospitality. People are friendly and pretty non-judgmental. People are down to talk to me on the street. Back in Portland people will talk to you but it’s a very different vibe. People tend to seem like they think they’re better than you in Portland, it’s not like that here.

Austin:

When we fly out I will definitely miss the people; courteous and friendly, they exemplify the best the south has to offer. I will not miss the bugs though. Icky icky icky, I have been bitten more times in the last week than within the past three years accumulated.

Mike:

The northwest and the southeast are so different. But in a great way in my opinion. The northwest’s weather is too bi-polar for me to ever feel comfortable. Also the people in Portland are always in a hurry and don’t have time to have a true conversations. The South is so laid back and I feel at home when I’m in New Orleans. Everyone down here is so laid back and friendly. Even on the bus we must have talked to ten plus people or more. It makes me want to move out of Portland at some point in the near future! We will see what happens. Mike signing out!

Sage:

The northwest is way too different from the south, while the people in the NW are more accepting they defiantly don’t have the same manner of respect and hospitality. Portlanders have this aura of elitism around them (not all but a lot) and it’s really nice just to be with people that are genuinely nice without expecting something back from you. I really can’t put this experience into words especially the information we’re getting and how incredibly angry it makes me that our own government is completely ignoring its own kind over and over and instead of putting money into rebuilding these amazing peoples’ lives they’re more interested in making money off of some bullshit war/company. This is most likely the beginning of a life of activism. I Did not think that this trip would do that to me.

The first day in New Orleans, the students worked at the St. Bernard Community Center handing out food boxes to elderly residents of the neighborhood.  St. Bernard and the Lower 9th Ward lost 93% of homes in Hurricane Katrina, and efforts to return long-time residents to these neighborhoods have been challenging due to limited funds available for rebuilding.  It was a day filled with amazing interactions between the students and the neighborhood residents and the students commented throughout the day about, “how nice everyone is!”.  Additionally, once people hear that our group is here to volunteer, many almost immediately open up with their own stories of Katrina and the devastating impact the hurricane had on them personally, on their neighborhood, and on New Orleans as a whole.  These stories provide a context for the students’ work that is more meaningful than any film or text could be. They are truly getting a feel for what southern hospitality is while experiencing, first hand, the great impact small acts of service can have on people who need it.

This is a fantastic group of young people. They are figuring out the unique dynamics of being 10 very diverse individuals who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences with edgy grace.  Despite coming into our first day of work with little to no sleep, they did what needed doing, expressed gratitude along the way and excitement by day’s end that this adventure was just beginning.

Below please read the students’ initial reactions to getting off the plane Thursday in New Orleans.

Austin:

The windows had fogged up with moisture as hastily as my excitement waved goodbye and left me solemnly. People herded themselves out of the plane, happily chatting as they absentmindedly followed the parade of people; a constant game of follow the leader with an ever changing drum major. Marching on dutifully, they arrived at the baggage claim, sweat perspiring on their foreheads, like blood from a thin precise wound, as the beastly humidity tore at them with its hot muggy claws. As I stood about shooting assurance texts to my closest relatives,  making catty remarks about the airport’s tacky appearance, and observing my travel worn features in a bit of reflective metal; I noticed something that waded me into my immersion pool of comfort–the accents. Beautiful and melodic, the aged voice of the south spoke to me through more than just words. Culture and general southern sophistication dabbed with a fine hint of trailer park living and rough times, the voices melded into a tantric backdrop. It was beautiful and haunting, shockingly familiar, assuring and peaceful. It was my first taste of the south, and I yearn for more.

Amber:

When I initially landed in New Orleans the first thought that came to mind was “LET ME OFF HERE SO MY EARS CAN STOP POPPING!!”, but after that I was really excited because its been going on five years since I’ve been  back home in the south. So many memories came to mind, it almost brought tears to my eyes. Stepping off the plane it was really muggy, but I didn’t have any excuse to complain because this is what I grew up in.

Mike:

The first smell right as we stepped off smelled like a straight swamp. I noticed the windows were all steamed up and I didn’t realize how bad the humidity was until I took that first step out of the airport. It felt like I got glazed over immediately. It was unreal at first. I didn’t realize how different the people were going to be though. There accents were from a movie about the swamp. I’m intrigued by them and can’t wait to get to know more!

Lucy:

My first reaction landing to New Orleans was scary I didn’t see enough lights, but when we got off the airplane I felt like some one had opened an oven door. When the cab came to get us the exploring began. I saw houses destroyed and they had boards on the windows. They had a big sign in them that said keep out. At that moment I felt sadness in my heart, it made me think about all the people that have suffered from losing a loved one or even their properties that one day they had called home. Driving down the interstate and going into the street made me think about people’s good and sad memories.

Morgan:

My initial reaction to landing was that it felt like the locker room in a public swimming pool. It was muggy and just smelled of stale water, but it wasn’t all too bad. I have a feeling that it just felt bad in comparison to the air conditioned plane that we had just been on for four hours. In the airport, as well as around the city now that we’ve been here for almost 24 hours, I noticed the reoccurring theme of the fleur de leis (sp), which I immediately recognized as the symbol for the New Orleans saints. This is a city, I have noticed, which takes pride in their culture and things like their football team. The air just felt like a blanket, like a greenhouse, like something hot and wet and muggy, but overall it wasn’t intolerable. I actually kind of liked it. When we would see the rain, though, it was a little bit trippy. I’m used to stepping out into the rain and having it be colder than inside, having it be an escape, but instead it was hotter every time. It worked in my favour, though, because I could step out and get wet and go back inside and it was colder than before. Overall, I actually really like it. It’s warm, yeah, but I really like it.

Alex:

What I felt as soon as I landed in New Orleans was relief, I was glad to finally be here after the long wait. My second feeling was regret, kind of. I did not enjoy the humidity at all, mainly because it was 2 in the morning and I knew it would get way worse. It smelled like I was in a sauna, it felt like that as well. We didn’t hear much since we landed at 2 am.

Tihara:

When I got off my initial reaction was ‘OMGEE I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M HERE!’ I felt the heat when I first walked out the airport, but the palm trees I saw were beautiful. I may not be able to see my family but I get to experience something different and get the feel of it. I always feel sticky and clammy all over but it’s a good sticky and clammy. Even today it still doesn’t feel REAL. It feels like a dream, I’m just waiting to wake up.

Sage :

When I first got off the plane it was weird because all I could think about was the humidity change and the smell. It felt like I had just been dunked in a swamp and that’s really the only way I can describe the smell as well. The volunteer camp is weird I feel like I’m gonna shout something obscene and get us kicked out but as long as they don’t try to push anything I wont try to push back. SEEEWW-WOOOP

Katie:

My first reaction was WOW, this is hot! But it was awesome because there were thunder storms happening! The smell was pretty weird? It’s like you can actually smell the humidity in the air? Like every breathe felt and smelled hot compared toPortland. There isn’t anything specifically I’m glad I left behind, I’m just over all excited to be out of my comfort zone and trying new things.

Daphne:

My initial reaction to arriving in New Orleanswas that it was VERY muggy and humid. The air smelled like a swamp. In the airport there was a picture that described a very typicalNew Orleans, a painting of a marching band with trumpets and such. The first thing I saw when I got out of the airport was a giant spider that was nested in a corner of the building. It was a nice greeting.

How do you feel upon returning home?

Max Clark:

I’m back from Ecuador. And I don’t know what to do with myself. You wouldn’t think that culture shock was possible for your own home, but it is extreme. Last night I went to dinner with my friends at Produce Row and got a veggie burger- something that does not exist in Ecuador. You know how they were remodeling it? Well what was once a lovely hole in the wall, imaginably a comfy place to go get a beer, is now the, what looks like, ‘hip’ TGIF.  The fries are still amazing though.

I woke up at six this morning. Tap water has never tasted so wonderful. I was supposed to text Catrina last night when I got home, but I passed out shortly upon arriving. I feel bad. Now, the thought of owning a phone is weird to me. I went without it for a month, why do I need it now? It’s like a burden. Ecuador was a bit hot in certain places, being the Ecuator and all, but Portland has never felt hotter. Turns out, I’m just as tan as everyone else here! I would really like to go meet my friends at Potatoe Champion, (they’re closed on Mondays or else I would have gone there straight from the airport) but my bike is in Eagle Creek, no one is home and I don’t want to ride the bus - let alone I don’t even have money for the bus or food.

Just now, I thought I heard a squeeling pig outside, but I think it was a squirrel. Another thing I haven’t seen for a month! I feel like I have super lungs now. Sure, Quito was high- up in the Montains. But try our homestay in Yunguilla. 8,000 feet above sea level, that’s past Timberline Lodge. And don’t think Cloud Forest was just a neat name, at any given second, you could be eaten by a cloud. It’s odd, seeing the sun over to the side of the sky rather than directly above yourself. It seems smaller too.

People here drive slow. I would have done my laundry last night, but there’s something about using 55 gallons of water for my clothes that makes me feel guilty. I’ve got a few washboards, maybe those will do. No one is trying to sell me candy or ciggarettes out of their shoulder cart on the street. EVERYTHING HERE IS SO EXPENSIVE. Never again, will I be able to buy something with change. In Ecuador, I could go to a convenience store six times in a day, and still be rich. I wish I had brought back some Ecuadorian change! (They use the American dollar, btw.) While I was there, I ate so much junk food and drank so much glass-bottled Coke. I don’t eat candy or drink any soda at home or at all in the states. Everything in Ecuador just tastes so much better. Especially the guinea pig. Not that I’ve eaten guinea pig before, but there’s no comparing these to the ones at PetCo. It tasted reminescent of chicken, but was very hard to eat due to all the tiny bones. The skull is buried in my backyard right now!

I feel alone. Where are the eight other people I called my family just two days ago? Well, they’re home with their real families. I’m already eager for the Pangaea meeting this Wednesday. What is it going to be like? Being with all my friends, not in Ecuador? All I know now is that I am extremely grateful it doesn’t just end here. That wouldn’t make any sense. And I’m extremely grateful we did the essays while in Ecuador. They enabled us to further analyze the situations and issues within certain communities, that some people wouldn’t have otherwise thought about a second time.

I’m grateful for a lot of things, a lot of simple things that most people would otherwise take for granted. I know I took them for granted before the trip. I also know I’ve stressed this many times before, but drinking water out of a faucet. Its amazing, it tastes like candy. Bottled water should not exist in the states, let alone where we live in Oregon. Bull Run supplies some of the best natural drinking water in all of the West coast. So why do people drink bottled water here? They are oblivious. Why do people drink bottled water in most other places in the world? They need it to survive. Another thing, toilet paper- think you can put  it in the toilet everywhere, right? No, North America is near exclusive to this damn miracle. What about family? Having a place to come home to every night. Its a wonderful feeling.

What about oil exploitation? You haven’t heard? Because you live in the United States. People are dying. Oil companies move in on indigenous people’s land with no respect to the families and dump their waste. In Lago Agrio (translated means “Sour Lake”) we visited oil pits. One oil pit was in the process of being cleaned, 20 yards away from this massive hole was someone’s home. Regardless of this oil pits cleanliness, or lack there of, all the surrounding soil, this black dirt, is no longer able to produce crops. The next pit we visited was abandoned, it hasn’t been in use for twenty years, yet nothing has been done to clean it up. Worse, this pit leaks into a river that runs to the community’s water supply. They drink it, because it’s all they have, contract cancer and die. The third pit we saw was in full commission, behind it loomed huge towers of fire that reflected in the murky mess of thick goopy oil. While we were there, a truck pulled up planning to dump oil waste but would not do it in front of us. It was as if the man in charge of the truck couldn’t admit to what he was doing. Like he didn’t believe himself. If all of Ecuador was expoited, we would have oil for 20 to 40 years, no more would the most bio-diverse area in the world exist, and by 2025 there would be wars over clean water.

I know you’re probably all wondering how my trip was, which I didn’t talk about for some reason! And I hate to end this note on such a bad note, but I will continue it later and tell you all about my trip then as well as what people are doing to help these issues in the country and outside the country of Ecuador. I hope those who have made it this far enjoyed the reading. Thank you!

My feelings about leaving Ecuador are mixed good and bad then happy and sad. The bad part is when I leave I won’t have the opportunity to just wake up and say hi to my host family or the awesome cool new people who I have gotten to meet here nor will I be able to participate in the day-to-day activities that I was just getting use to doing here. It’s like right when I started to get use to this place and enjoy it, the plane awaits me. Another thing I know is there are problems and headaches awaiting me back home that I do not wish to travel back to. One thing I am sure to miss here is the cheap prices and great views! I know I will miss my Quito massage a lot! On the other hand, I feel happy because I do miss my country. For a full month I have been without the food I’m use to. I have been without my bed that is truly mine. I have been without my family. I have been without my friends. Recently one of my good friends is back in Portland and I am excited to get back to see him. Also, I will be glad to get back and have phone and Internet service quick and easily accessible.

Tiana Woods:

I am extremely nervous, scared, excited and all around an emotional wreck about returning to what I think I know is home.  After experiencing all that we have in the last 31 days, my life before this makes no sense.  Not that it was a completely unrealistic lifestyle, I realized, however, that the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind,” rings some truth after all.

I still can´t believe how much we have seen and done in these four weeks.  I could have never imagined all of this, let alone being able to experience it first hand.  It will stay with me for the rest of my life, I know that after this and going back to my home, things will be different.  I just hope that I will be able to cope with my emotions and turn any negativity into positive actions.  I hope that this experience will empower me to do more and be more progressive.  Hopefully, it will help me to become a better individual.

Morgan Olsen:

As we prepare to leave Ecuador, I feel a bit odd.  This whole trip feels a bit like a lucid dream.  If I didn´t have my journal I would have no recollection of the first few days.  I don´t feel like I´m returning home from another country, I feel like I’m waking up.

I have done and seen so much.  Rivers, mountains, forests.  I picked coffee beans by hand.  Rode a horse.  Went to an open market.  Met shamans from two different areas.  Almost ate a live grub.  Saw waste oil pits.  Listened to how people protect their land.  Things I may or may not have done already back home.

As a person before this trip I already put thought in what I did and the consequences of my actions.  To say I will put even more thought in what I do would be a lie.  Instead I will admire what I do have even more.  Water, hot and cold.  Computers with an internet connection.  Short telephone numbers.  Max and Trimet.  Things I take for granted.  To me, a 4-mile walk is to kill time, to someone else, it is a path they walk daily.

Deavon Snoke:

It is our last full day in Ecuador and I am so ready to go home.  I realized this when we were on our way back from our homestays in Yunguilla and I referred to the Arco Del Sol hostel in Quito as “Home”.  I have had an amazing time but there is no place like home.  It’s raining right now, a thunderstorm actually, and it is making me even more homesick–yes, I miss the rain.

I have come to many conclusions on this trip.  One of which being that this couldn’t have happened at a worse or better time for me.  Sarah told me that this trip is a gift.  I can come with all my baggage and leave it here, and I’m not talking luggage, people.  That’s not as heavy as what I plan on leaving behind…

I have learned that this world and this life is so much bigger than I gave it credit for.
I learned that every second I spend dwelling on mistakes, regrets, and hardships I have faced is a moment I can never get back.
I learned that every negative decision I have made, has in some way or another, brought me here.  To a country that most people will never see.  To a place that is so beautiful, full of culture, and life that I will never be able to fully describe it.
I learned that despite the things I wish I could change, I am so lucky and I have so many privileges I have taken for granted.
I learned that I am strong.
I learned that family doesn’t have to mean you share common blood.
I learned how important my family is to me.
I learned that just because I am making changes doesn’t mean that everyone is.  I learned that some people never will.  I learned that is not my fault.
I learned that I have a voice and that I have things worth saying.
I learned that no matter how stubborn the old dog may be…I can learn new tricks.

Kayla Ellis:

Last day here in Quito, and I got back from that experience with my homestay family.  I loved it toward the end, I have to admit it was way hard for me at the beginning, toward the middle of the trip it was amazing because I got to know so many great people who made me happy, smile, and more comfortable to be there.  I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life.  It was more than words could describe.  Ups and downs will always be something that happens when dealing with anything that’s just the way life is.  You live and you learn.  Sometimes its hard, sometimes its easy, sometimes its important and sometimes it’s not!  The point  is, you learn something on your path and you carry it with you – whether you notice it or not, it’s there.  I honestly believe everything happens for a reason and if there’s a will there’s a way.  I’m waiting for my country to snap out of its stupidity.  There’s no chance for our youth unless we get our act together. I believe I have changed since I made the choice to enter this class.  That was the end of my old life and a beginning to a new life.

Ethan Arfer:

As we get ready to leave tomorrow morning and I think about all the stuff we’ve done and seen, such as Lago Agrio, Intag, Yunguilla, and the social justice issues that went along with them, I just wanted to help with every single one.  By only seeing the issues and not really helping makes me a little bit frustrated, but knowing about the awareness is good too because before this trip I didn’t know about these major companies trying to take over little cities’ big lands.  When we return, I plan on doing some kind of volunteer work in my own city because of how this trip has opened my eyes that every city needs some kind of help even if they’re rich or poor.

Patrick Maher:

As I prepare to leave, I’m both excited to be home and disappointed that I have to leave so soon.  I wish I could spend more time with my host family.  But they reminded me of my real family so much that it made me miss them a lot more than I already did.  I wanna go home and hangout with my family.  But mostly, I want to go home and hangout with my two brothers that I haven’t gone a month without seeing them since I was in sixth grade.

Sierra Lock:

My month in Ecuador, as corny as it may sound, has been the most amazing experience of my life. I have learned things I never could have learned in school, seen things I never would have dreamed, and met the most extraordinary people. I am incredibly sad to be leaving and am already anticipating my return to Ecuador.  I return home an adult.

Brendan Reiner:

My trip so far has been a very positive experience, so far I have learned a ton. I’m glad I have had the opportunity to travel abroad and learn about social justice issues that affect me back in Oregon. I have always known about these issues but have never known the full picture about what is actually going on with the oil pits and copper mining. I now have a good understanding of what is going on and what people are doing to stop it. There are actually things we can do back in the states and I am glad that I know I can make a difference. I am really thankful to Pangaea for giving me the chance to travel abroad and to learn all I can. I hope that others get this amazing opportunity to do what I did.

Christian Ayles:

I have been in Ecuador for a whole month, and in some ways it feels longer and for others it feels shorter. I have seen many things during the month that I have been here. So many of them are going to stay in my mind for a very long time. I feel that I have been exposed to the oil issues and it really makes me think about how I can contribute less to this problem. I can do a couple of things like riding my bike and drinking water out of the faucet more. Our water is going to taste so sweet to me when we get back it’s going to be such a privilege. I leave Ecuador hoping that we have helped out here at least a little bit with all the things we have done, helping out the eco-tourist communities  just by staying there, such as Sarayaku, Yachana, and Yunguilla. I feel like this trip has made me have a different look on life. I am going to try to not complain as much, knowing that people have it way worse than me. I am going to appreciate what I have a lot more. I am also very thankful for this trip.  Thank you Pangaea!

Maxwell Clark:

It has been a very long month in Ecuador, yet at the same time it has gone so fast. I would have had no idea we could do as much as we did in the past thirty days. I have mixed feelings about  returning - as excited as I am to go home, I feel like it shouldn’t be over. As if it can’t be, like there is so much more to see and do and learn. Aside from those thoughts, I no longer take certain things for granted. Drinking water from a faucet, for example - Americans are so extremely lucky to have that. Bottled water should not exist in the states, even more so where we live! Portland’s Bull Run watershed supplies some of the best natural drinking water in all of the west coast. And toilet paper, who would have thought you couldn’t flush it down the toilet? Not in Ecuador.

Another thing we take for granted is our freedom. Similar to many residents inArizona, several Pangaea students were stopped by the police who demanded they show their legal documents or be taken to jail. Ecuador’s struggle to protect its forests from the oil companies, has changed the way I look at things. The struggles I go through every day and how miniscule they are compared to this country’s problems. If we were to exploit all ofEcuador, there would be oil for twenty to forty years and by 2025 there would be wars over clean water. I will never again think I have it tough, as the time we have spent in Ecuador has changed me for the better. I have grown as a person and learned to respect all that I have - physical and emotional, my possessions, my family and friends, and the simpler things in life. Like being able to flush your toilet paper down the toilet.

Morgan Lyon:

As we spend our last day in Ecuador, I’m reflecting on almost all of the thingswe’ve done. I wouldn’t mind coming home for a while, then coming back here. I feel like this has been an amazing experience and an opportunity that has knocked at my door. It was pretty short-lived, but felt like we’ve been here for a life time. I feel like I’m going to return to a different life that I’m not so used to anymore. It’ll definitely take some adjusting to, but I can do it. I can also do it in different ways, from what I’ve learned from here. I feel like we’ve changed. I’ve talked to other people about it, but they just can’t pinpoint what has changed about them. Just like I can’t. I can just feel it, and I’m excited to share it with my family and friends at home, once I can find words or actions for it.

Eliza Roddy:

I don’t know how much Pangaea has changed Ecuador, maybe we altered a few opinions of Americans, but we haven’t changed much around us. What we have changed is ourselves. Everyone on this trip has grown as individuals, as friends, and as a group. We have developed greater appreciation for our homes, educations, families, friends, and all the opportunities waiting for us in the future. I will return home a more responsible, mature, and globally aware individual. I will always be grateful to Pangaea for this opportunity, and I will never forget the valuable lessons I have learned here.

Taylor Welch:

There’s a change in me, but I know it’s for the better, it always is. This trip had been amazing. I’ve learned a lot about myself and even grown as a leader. Ecuador is a beautiful place with extraordinary people who are so friendly! It’s made me reflect on myself and how I interact with others. I’ve learned patience from working with others in the group and long hikes in the rainforest. In Yungilla, at our homestay, I really learned my limit of independence and reliance. The family was so sweet and nice, it made me miss home, yet it also created a strong bond that I will always have. I’ve learned to be grateful for what I have, even the smallest things, and to take one day at a time. I’m on the Ecuadorian time scale now, thirty minutes means an hour plus… Plenty of time to stop and smell the roses.

Kiet Tang:

Today we just got back from Yunguilla. The place we spent ten days with my homestay. At this moment, I have the mixture of feeling. I feel shame and I feel proud of myself. I feel shame because a ten-year old girl beat me just by walking on the mountain; even her skinny dog is faster than me without eating anything in the morning. I thought my life was tough because I didn’t have automatic rolling windows in my Honda, but the people here spend 3 hours of walking and 4 hours farming on the downhill, no flat road at all. I bet that girl and my neighbor’s dog could fly if they were in U.S. What have I done in LA Fitness during these years? Anyway, at the same time I am proud of myself because I tried to get the jobs done in the farms. I tried harder and I did it. I did it twice. Not even half of their jobs though. I am proud of myself because I saw and have done something incredible that none of my family or friends did.

Today is the last day we have in Ecuador. I’m excited that I am going home, but at the same time I am sad, because I haven’t really had a chance to get to know the city, which is Quito. During this month I’ve learned tons of stuff and accomplished a lot. There is a Chinese saying: “walk ten thousand miles better than read ten thousand books”. I totally agree with that. When I get back, I might still be a regular quiet student, but I feel more confident in life, because I’ve done something amazing in South America. I don’t know when and how, but all of a sudden I miss my family so much, that I never have so in my life. I want to see and talk to them. I think this is one of the most valuable things I got from this trip. Thank you Pangaea.

Describe one change you think you will make in yourself or in your life as a result of this journey.

Kelsey Collins:

Since I’ve been in Ecuador I have found out a lot about myself, more than I ever had in 17 years, and I have only been here for what, 2 weeks? I realized the decisions I was making before I came I thought was just having fun but in reality it was just ignoring the bigger picture that everyone should be concerned with. I never really thought that much about how I was impacting the planet but more what everyone else was doing. When I get back to Portland I am sure people will see a new me. I am still crazy Kelsey but crazy Kelsey that cares about a lot more than just herself. Also, I’v realized how much I do rely on people in my life. Every family that has helped me out in anyway in the past, I still think about you all the time, so many people will listen to my story and help me in anyway they can from a place to stay the night or a place to live and even a family I like to think I have several families because I do. I hope to find the courage  to apologize to some people for being selfish in the past, just believe me when I say that Ecuador has changed me as a person and I will never look at anything the same again. I’v cried because of you, I’v laughed because of you and I have made relationships with people (and mended some) that I would have never been able to make anywhere else, thank you Ecuador and thank you Pangaea you have changed me.

Brendon Reiner:

As a person I have changed a lot. I think the biggest change so far is seeing the oil pits. Plus seeing what the side effects to oil drilling. Today we saw a slide show that pretty much told the gist of what big oil companies have done and what people are doing to change this. I have seen little changes in myself through the trip but after this presentation I have really been thinking about the way I see things. I have liked alot of the way I see things but then again there are lots of things I haven’t had the whole story told to me. I have only been hearing the good things and everything else people told me used to just be labeled as stories, but after having seen what is happening to people first hand. I’ve made some changes to me as a person.

What is something you are learning about yourself on this journey?

Christian Ayles:

I have learned many things about myself on this trip. I think the most important thing that I have learned was something that I learned recently talking to Josh. I learned that sometimes I just need to think before I do something, just sit back and assess the situation before I react. I learned that sometimes I just need to keep to myself and be quiet. Josh was talking to me about how I act toward some of the other students right before we went on a 5 hour hike. During the hike all I could think about was how I was treating people and I need to just chill out sometimes. I thought long and hard during the whole walk. I pretty much kept to myself the whole walk. I am very glad that Josh and I had that talk at the beginning of the hike cause I just let it marinate the whole time and I think it REALLY sunk in this time. I am going to try really hard to think before I act now.

Taylor Welch:

Throughout this trip, I feel like I’ve grown alot and even learned new things about myself. I’ve realized the importance of who you travel with and how everyone has different personalities and traits. Traveling with a group is a great experience and can create amazing bonds that are impossible to break. With everyone here, I feel like I have my own, personal relationship with them. I’ve learned to let the little things go and just let the adventures come as they may. We’ve been learning about the social justice issues that Ecuador is facing. With all the things I’ve learned, I am going to take all this knowledge home and inform others on the issues at hand. I never realized that I live such a privileged life. I’ m going to be more conscience of the things I use from now on…

Describe a time you experienced culture shock on this journey.

Eliza Roddy:

A time that I have experienced culture shock on this trip was in Sarayacu, and it was because of the dogs in the village. In Portland I have never seen an underfed or wounded dog go untreated because we consider dogs pets, but it’s very different in Sarayacu. The people there don’t abuse the dogs, but they don’t feed the dogs. The dogs fight for food or fight animals in the jungle and their wounds are ignored. It was really difficult for me to deal with but there was nothing I could do. It would have been culturally offensive for me to try to change it. The dogs seemed to be happy just chasing animals out of the village and sleeping. Maybe someday there will be enough food for them too.

Describe the most memorable thing you have witnessed so far.

Morgan Lyon:

The most memorable thing I have witnessed so far is the incredible family time that’s spent within the communities. Especially when we were in Sarayacu. The women stay at home together and prepare meals and the men go out for the day and work or hunt, but they always come back together in some parts of the day.

It made me realize how important family time is to me, and how much I badly need it in my life. Especially since  this is the longest time I’ve been away from my mom. I feel like when I get back, some serious quality time is needed. Even if it’s just for an hour out of a day. It’s a start.

Amelia Johnson:

Her height barely coming up to my navel, she stares up at me with these deep brown eyes, felted traditional hat, half smile and a sprawl of colored threads draped over her arm. “Five dollars, so beautiful.” I make small conversation about the scarves. Saying one´s for mi mama, and how amazing the colors are. We talk with smiles on our faces, and eye contact. Her mother laughs kindly at our conversation as we stand outside the tall intricate old church made of stone, painted with gold on the insides. Our conversation slows and eventually ends. As our loud group walks away, I see her casually follow out of the corner of my eye. I´m not sure if there´s a picture of me painted in her memory the way she is in mine, but I´m sure I won´t forget the warm face staring at me with full attention.

Describe something that has surprised you on this journey.  It can be about the place, the people, yourself, your group, the food…anything surprising.

Max Clark:

The food here is amazing. No matter where we might be, regardless of the meal- breakfast, lunch or dinner- it is phenomenal. In Quito there is a nameless hole in the wall-esqe, eatery-style restaurant. $2.50 for a massive plate that contains your choice of meat with either beans or lentils and a big load of rice. While staying at Intag, every meal was started with a steaming bowl of soup, in addition to some fried yucca, plantains and delicious chicken. At Yachana Lodge, I had the most delicious fish of my life. Tilapia is a freshwater pond fish that lives in abundance by the Yachana Tech High School. With this we had nettle soup, palm hearts, yucca and to top that off, a bowl of fresh fruit for dessert. Ecuador is the place to eat.

What is the most memorable experience you have had thus far?

Ethan Arfer:
So far on this trip, the most memorable thing is going on the toxic tour
and seeing the destruction on land with people living there.  The toxic
tour is going to this city in Coca where the oil companies came to extract
oil.  While there we went on this little hike to a spot where there was
this pool full of oil mixture that they couldn’t use.  Standing by that
pool there was this methane burner with the flames coming out and you
could just feel the heat on your face from the burner.

Deavon Snoke:
His name was Negro (black) but I called him Kitty, and I rode on his back
to the top of a mountain.  Calm down you psychos, he was a horse.
Anyway, during my horse ride I was provided with plenty of time alone
with my thoughts, mostly because Kitty would walk at a snail´s pace and
abruptly stop, refusing to stay with the group.  Most of the ride I was
either lost in my own head, or trying to reason out loud with my so called
horse (I am convinced that I got the mule, not Sarah).  I was slightly
oblivious to my surroundings because of the heat, the pain in my butt
(literal, not talking about Kitty), and the bug bites I couldn´t reach on
my ankles.  At one point, Kitty stopped walking for no reason, and just
stood there, looking around.  I told him to go, sternly, first in English,
then I thought about it and realized that Kitty doesn´t speak English.  So
I told him to go in Espanol.  Nothin.  I asked nicely.  “Vamanos por
favor, bien caballo!” Nothin.  So I was like, “Ok Kitty, what the heck are
you looking at?!”, out loud.
He didn´t answer.  Duh.
I finally looked up and became aware of what I was dealing with.  Holy
crap guys.  This place is no joke.  It was THE most amazing view I have
ever seen.  Endless blue sky, huge mountains that seemed to never end,
fields growing things I´ve never seen—palm trees, flowers, and the winding
path fading away below me.
“Oh, gracias Kitty.”, I said.
He huffed and kept going.
Honest to blog.
P.S. Afterwards Kitty and I went and got chalupas.  Oh, wait.  I dreamt
that part.

Bronson Enos:                                                                                                                                 I have a few memorable things. One vivid memory is when I was approached by a young girl that didn’t know much English. She would follow you every where trying to sell scarves she said to me, “dos dolares, amigo” and made a sweet puppy face she was definitely a good seller. When I tried to show and tell her I already bought a scarf another person was selling she would say, “oh but amigo these colors are prettier and different.”  That has been very memorable for me.

Another memorable thing was when we watched this movie. There was this lady who got in front of a loaded gun to defend her community’s rights.

Something else that is memorable is all the taxis that try to pick you up in Quito and the way they beep their horns, then I remember Sergio and all the cool stuff he showed us in the amazon rain forest, I remember the young kids canoeing in the water, I remember when we first got to the airport and all the people were waiting on their families and friends, I remember all the bananas, I remember taking that small plane to Sarayaku, I remember the market in Otavalo, I remember getting my face painted with the paint that a fruit produced, I remember riding horses, I remember being scared to go to sleep in the bed in Sarayaku because of roaches, I remember the spa I went to and the massage.

I remember.

Morgan Olson:                                                                                                                                 I think the most amazing thing I’ve seen so far has been the view from the mountain passes as we descended from El Rosal after the sun had set.  The small lights that dotted the landscape, just something about it I can’t explain.  Like watching stars reflect over the ebb and flow of the ocean.  Something about it fills me with the essence of tranquility, muting out the loud music in the background.
Amazing.  Tranquil.  Awe.  Peace.  Calm.  Relaxing.
Like floating on top of water, you hear nothing but your thoughts.

What is something you have learned about yourself?

Brian Lewis-Carter:
One of the things I have learned about myself is how much I care for, not
just myself, but my family also.  Every time I see little kids playing
with each other the first thing that comes to my head is my sister and
brothers.  I haven´t had this feeling for this long ever.  Even when I was
locked up for six months.  So that shows me I have a lot more feelings for
my family then I tend to show.

What is something from this trip that reminds you of home?

Describe one change you think you will make in yourself or in your life as a result of this journey.

Describe the most memorable thing you have witnessed so far.

Eliza Roddy:

The most memorable thing I have witnessed so far on this trip has been
the oil pits at Lago Agrio. It is common practice for PetroEcuador
(and Texaco/Chevron before they left) to dispose of the unusable
by-products of oil extraction by digging a pit, filling it with
chemicals, and then burying it.  These pits are frequently dug in the
middle of small farms with no permission or respect for the people
that live there. This makes the land and water in the area toxic and
no longer safe for food production or drinking. We visited three sites
in Lago Agrio, one being cleaned, one abandoned, and one being heavily
used. At the pit being cleaned workers were slowly extracting barrels
of toxic waste from the ground. The soil was black, and our guide
explained that the area would never be safe for farming even after
they were finished “cleaning” it. The oil was not visable at the
abandoned site, but the large grove of dead trees was. The chemicals
were leaching up from underground into a stream running through the
area that later joined the water supply of the local people. Animals
also drink from the poisoned water and die. The final pit we visited
was the most memorable and horrible. It was like a small lake, only black
because it was oil and chemicals instead of water. The oil companies
began dumping there 35 years ago, and have used it heavily ever since.
While we were there a truck actually arrived to dump more waste, but
the workers refused to begin dumping while we were there. As soon as
we began to leave they opened the valve and spewed a truck full of oil
directly into the ground. This contamination is actually inside of a
nature reserve.

Max Clark:

The most memorable thing I have witnessed so far on our trip would
have to be the Lago Agrio oil pits. Discovered in the 1960´s, the Lago
Agrio pits are known internationally for the serious ecological
problems that oil development has created there, including water
contamination, soil contamination, deforestation and cultural
genocide. The first pit we arrived at was in the process of being cleaned.
Sitting next to an indigenous farmer’s home, easily two hundered feet
wide was a murky cesspool of oil waste. A few yards off, we found a
barren patch of land spotted with ditches they would use as landfills.
All around was black soil. This land will never be able to produce
crops again. Next we drove to an abandonded oil pit. Out of comission
for nearly 30 years, and no one ever bothered to clean it up. From the
abandoned pit runs a river that flows the local indigenous peoples’
water supply. They drink the water because it’s all they have, and they
die. Not only this, but animals drink from the river. They don´t know
and they die as well. The last oil pit we came upon was in full use.
In the middle of a nature reserve was a  dark, black mess. No water
here, just a fat pool of oil. Not only the smell, but being aware that
this is happening- seeing this disaster hurts. It’s a sick feel one
gets deep inside. Shortly after ariving at the third pit, a truck
pulled up with plans to dump more waste into the bubbly mess. They
wouldn´t do it in front of us, it was as if they were embarrased- like
they couldn´t even stand what they were doing. I feel like most people take for granted their oil. No one thinks of where it comes from, there are no oil pits in Oregon- not everyone can just see this. When it’s right there in front of you, it means a lot more. A lot more than what comes out of that can and into your car. But what is there to do about it?

Brendan Reiner:

The most disturbing issue I have been faced with is the big oil pits.
It really shows how screwed up and greedy the big oil companies are.
What they are doing is desroying the land and making it imposible for
local farmers to work off their land to feed their famillies. Plus,
there are really disturbing side effects toward the waste they leave
behind after drilling. Some of these side effects include water
pollution, food poisoning, death, and deforestation. When we went to
the big swampy pond of all the waste they dump, it was so strong I
could taste it. You could see in the distance there were long tubes
that went straight up and were burning the waste. As we were staring
at this big pond full of waste, we were talking about how there were
still fish living it the pond, and a big semi truck backed up to the lake.
It said poison on the side and was dripping liquid from the back. Most
thought that they were there to suck up the waste but I know that
wasn’t why they were there. Once they had backed up to the edge of the
pond the people got out and were not happy. Our in-country cordinater
started talking to them. We found out that they were there to drop off
wastes but they wouldn’t do it till we left. So we finished up and
drove up. Shortly after we left we saw them dumping the waste into the
pond. Before this experience I never really understood all that was
going on in the oil industry but now I have a lot better of an
understanding on all the bad oil companies are doing. This experience
has affected me greatly and I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it.

Kelsey Collins:

The most surprising thing about this trip so far is how close I have
grown to everyone. I find myself having very emotional conversations
with people I would have never expected. Also something that will
stick into my mind is the oil pits we visited in Lago Agrio. It was so
unreal to see something we have been talking about for months.
Everything has been so amazing even puking more than I have ever in my
life…I guess it’s a learning experience. I feel so thankfull to be in
this program and I think everyone here has already been changing into
different people, in a good way! I´ve realized how much I depend on
my friends and family, and I definitely appreciate all the love I have
waiting back in Portland for me, and I hope everyone knows I love and
miss them too!

What is something you are learning about yourself on this journey?

Kiet Tang:

This is the 12th day of the trip in Ecuador. Already I feel like I
have been here a month or so. So far this trip not only gives me the
Ecuadorian culture knowledge; it also reflects my true materialistic
life style, and has helped me to understand what is means to be an
American. It gives me the further understanding of an Asian with my
origins. I am looking forward to improve my adaptability and
flexibility through the rest of this trip.

Morgan Lyon:

The thing that I’m learning most about myself is to be more flexible
and open to any situation. For example, my group was trying a big
larvae at Yachana Lodge, alive or cooked. Being the vegan of the
group, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and eat the cooked
one. It’s mostly just little things, but with the big things it’s
different and a little more difficult. The biggest one is, I’m
learning to get along and interact with people in positive ways. This
will definitely help me at home, and for the rest of my life.

What about this place reminds you of home? Now that you have been away from home, what is familiar? What is home?

Christian Ayles:

We recently visited Yachana Lodge and at the lodge they have a service
learning high school. Their high school reminds me alot of Portland
Youth Builders(PYB) which is the school that I graduated from before I
left Portland. PYB has a two-week rotation, two weeks you’re in
education working toward your diploma or GED and then the next two
weeks you’re on a worksite gaining work experience. At Yachana, the students
stay at the school for three weeks working at the lodge and learning
about sustainability, and then one week at home. Both places are going
green and care alot about the environment. PYB is a certified green
school and Yachana was created as an alternative revenue to show the
oil companies here in Ecuador that they don’t need the company’s jobs.
Yachana reminded me alot of school back home.

Describe a time you experienced culture shock on this journey.

Amelia Johnson:

I haven’t found many things shocking in Ecuador, however I have found
many things that are a beautiful change in comparison to Portland, OR.
When I walk down the street I feel an aura of humbleness. When I look
into most people’s faces I see something warm inside them. I feel like
many people in Portland build a wall around them, almost like it’s
this shell built from avoiding vulnerability. How does being pleased
with yourself, and being warm towards others translate into something
to be afraid of? I see the people of Ecuador as unscared souls, like
if you have no wall around you, here it doesn’t mean you’re showing
weakness. I feel this is unconsciously well-known, a culturally wide
identity.
Something I found shocking is when we travelled to Lago Agrio,
when my feet first hit the ground and I looked around, my eyes were
not met with any others. However when I did look at their eyes many
seemed distant, tired, unfulfilled, like a fire had gone out. The air
felt different, like there was a slow bleakness rolling through homes,
and the streets. I believe these feelings and bodies were not always
like this, I believe they were built through working for oil, through
feeling the pain of destroying their land to live. I believe everyone
there knows this, and I would feel hopeless, unimportant, unimpactful.
This cycle of oil is rampant, and I want the people of Lago Agrio to
regain their strength, instead of reaching for the dream of
westernization that is everlastingly getting farther from reach. I
want the knowledge of self sustainability to touch many, to teach, and
become strong, rebellious and smash the oil industries that have
abused their culture, practices, land, water, agriculture and trapped
spirits.

Taylor Welch:

After our stay at the Yachana Lodge, we saw the difference between
classes when we traveled to Lago Agrio. There were three oil pits; one
abandoned, one being cleaned and one still in use. It was shocking to
not only see, but smell and feel the radiation coming off it. Carlos
and Gabby, our guides, enlightened us on the issue at hand. An oil
tanker showed up to dump more waste. The workers refused to continue
with our presense there. Just as we pulled away, they opened the tanks
and let the toxic sluge flow….
This is something I will never forget….