So. Day something or other of being in Ecuador.

God wanted all people to live happily hot showered. That has fortunately been my lot good number of times. I am performing my responsibilities as well.. lets be honest ‘errand boy’ which means lots of free time alone in cities. Puyo, Banos, Quito… at least I can work out in the hostal rooms, access internet and take a hot shower. The jungle is great.

But seriously. I love it out in ‘the bush’. The sound of all the crickets, birds, beetles, bats, monkeys… every thing chirping and making sound. When the sky is clear, which is almost never due to constant rain (hence the name “rain forrest”)… is so piercing. I’ve discovered stars and looked at formations I don’t believe I ever have seen before, or could have seen in the towering skylines of North American cities.

So I have my machete at MUSAP, the jungle base. The first night I brought it in it became very handy. I took the engineers, who I was sent to pick up, a tour of where the bathroom facilities are (note: they are still shitty outhouses). One of the ladies, Rebecca, went inside and was like “oh, there’s a little spider in here…” I, in all my arachnophobia, peeked in and was like. I don’t see any th… “hollyy get the hell out of there, that’s the biggest spider I’ve seen in Ecuador!” So Laura took my machete, womaned up because I was half frozen, and killed an 8 inch in diameter tarantula which looked up at her and wiggled its legs and said “please ma’am you wouldn’t kill me would you?”. Off to the banquet of the ants with you!

I am actually quite disheartened here. I enjoy the jungle in its antithesis of scrolling marquees and giant TV screens (though the Coca Cola signs at 40km on a road in the jungle certainly press upon me how corporations really do rule the world), but feel a lack of inclusion with this team. I am not going to be able to work on the documentary I want, but am instead relegated to promotional video propaganda boy. At least I am having fun working with the engineers and doing some construction, cement spackling on building the water tanks that we are doing for the Shuar communities.

We meet many interesting people. I was at the hospital late last night, we thought one of our crew might have malaria, turns out just an ear infection. We met a “medical missionary”, an American doctor that was full of good gentleness. I his own words “I’ve been living in Ecuador with my wife for 3 years, we make a lot less money and are a lot happier.”

We’ve also run into a few indigeous people who are interested in the project. Yesterday on a bus that was so packed it had 15 people riding on top (we were not among the top riders mom, chill out… though we were being smooshed inside) a man from CONFENAIE (an indigenous rights political organization) sent very bad vibes to both Karis (who I was accompanying with to the hospital with the student due to the pitch darkness of the situation) and I. He brought up a lot of ideas that I am vaguely or very familiar with: previous consent of drawing up accords with indigenous communities before going into them, about autonomy over natural resources, etc.. All important concepts. Yet one thing that has to be taken into account is that there are many indigenous groups, and all of them want to be the ones in which you have these agreements of previous consent, who watch out for certain communities. To put it simply… the groups are fractured and rarely work together. While there is something to say for political diversity and choices… when you take thousands of indigenous communities spread out all over vast and not well connected (by road or phone perhaps, but certainly by spirit and nature) and present one organization over the other to “watch over them” it is like fighting over a kind of sovereignty for these communities. At the same time, most communities do not simply have enough knowledge, resources or ability to serve to impose their own autonomy… it is such a struggle and battle first theoretically to define what is autonomy and second in the practice of all of these groups trying to define it and put their policies into place. The praxis of the two makes a foreigner like myself completely confused as to whom to trust, and the indigenous peoples are already mistrusting of us. This cause a delicate situation that makes me even more resolved that a bunch of gringo students don’t belong here in the capacity that we are.

Well, im off to find some food, give some loved ones a holla’ and back on a 2 hour bus to the roadside jungle ill climb up into and slide around for another week or so.

Here are some pix of the project some other people have taken. I really need to fix my blog so i can upload pictures n what not.. though i dont really have too many. im in a couple of them, on a long hike: http://picasaweb.google.com/DayVidR/EcuadorSummer2007Jackie

The last few days I have passed in Quito. I am feeling super homesick, missing the ones I love and love to be with.

Especially because after living in this city for like more than 6 months, its just kind of.. overbearing yet easily manageable. Being 2 miles high in the Andean mountains makes for pretty scenery – when I can actually look up. Most of the time im trying to avoid hitting other things/people or being hit by cars/bikes/people. The sidewalks are a skateboarders nightmare. The sun is harsh, and with the altitude, one tires quickly when walking.

The constant contradictions of Quito and Ecuador moreover no longer fascinate me as make me resilient in that I don’t belong here… but I belong working in the poor communities in my own countries. I very much hate gringo landia, the part of the city that I am in now… which is sort of midtown.

The landscape is a sprawling 25 mile city with the rich mansion gated communities in the far north, nice malls with every thing American and with plenty of little shops and pockets of poverty in the middle, and continuing to the old city center where from here on out it just gets worse and worse.

Though Gringolandia… with its overpriced shops, non stop nightclubs and drinking would at first seem like a great time. But all the shady people and shit going on (I went out for 30 mins tonight and was approached to buy a prostitute once and cocaine twice).. I have a feeling some of my frat brothers would call this “living the life” – because its all cheap too. Last night some drunkards crashed onto the sidewalk nearby and hit some people. Yeah, the life…

Though what does seem to fascinate me.. or at least give me a sense of time and passage as if when I left there was a pause and I am back and it is all the same. The same burger flippers at my favorite burger stand. The same dudes working the internet/telefone booth place I frequented, the same KFC Ecuadorian style all over… the same elder man selling Ecuadorian flags calling out “Eccc-uuaaa-dooor” in a trite, very unique sort of way.

And yet all I am is missing home, wanting to find a job, learn music, go dancing, feel the rays of my California and prepare myself for many other important things in life.

Atleast while I’m feeling like a tourist, I got some hella cool gifts for brothers, lovers, mamas and myself. I like the arts ad crafts market here in Quito.

As for the reason I am here: a project with the Shuar Health Project.. I feel alienated and out of the communication loop. We’ll see how the next 10 days go… tomorrow morning I take a 7-8 hour bus ride to Puyo and then to the MUSAP homebase in the middle of nowhere Amazonia… at least life there is more tranquil and I am surrounded by beauty in both sound and sight.

And one good bit of news: at least I don’t have diarrhea anymore. O_o

It all started when we, the group of 11 of us, arrived at Musap: kilometer 54 along the bumpy, dirty, quasi-road on the way from Puyo to Macas. These are two small warm and rainy jungle cities. Puyo comes from the quichua word ‘puya’ or rain. We went on a little trek to find the bathroom: two holes in the ground, surrounded by a shelter. Don’t miss when you squat. Don’t breathe too deeply. Do watch out for snakes. Do not fall backward.

Good idea: Bringing baby wipes along because there is no toilet paper.

Bad idea: Wiping yourself with a baby because there is no toilet paper.

And where did my particular baby wipes come from? Indeed, my mama!

Musap, the “observation station” that the Berkeley team I am with has its home base is just a house on a farm.. it is not so much a scientific station as it is a family’s attempt to create extra space and rent it out. The kids are pretty cute, and the bugs don’t bite too hard.

We went on a 5 hour hike through the bush… through a path down to a river basin that is a good 5kms down through red clay deep skin purifying mud and constant greenery, insects, humidity and of course giant spiders and their immaculate webs. As I have little time and the readers really have little interest in reading about my experiences climbing through the forrest, the highlights include: watching people fall their asses down in thick mud and waterfalls, scaring the shit out of the newbs with threats of piranhas and making a spear with my walking stick, which kept me from being one of the peeps falling down. And damn it feels to be so completely covered with dirt and water and not be able to take a warm hot shower and drink a nice cool beer, right? Heellll no.

So, since I need to come to Tena, another jungle city 50 kms away that took me 5 hours to get to and let me get in my “pushing truck stuck in the middle of the road rubble mud” skills to work. The added benefit: the family here is great and takes care of me. I had some catching up to do with them and we did so over a midnight dinner and some cerveza pilsners.

More beer notes: when Ecuadorians drink beer, they always order the big ass bottles and pour into small glasses. Its really deceptive how much you can drink in one setting. Luckily my companero, the son of the family, Maximito, who reminds me of dominic and my cousin Danny gave me some awesome news: hes getting married and has a baby on the way. And he has a sony Erickson EXACTLY like Emy and Cody’s. holly shit it is just providence that I must get this fone and change to Cingular.

Any how, went mountain biking and dove head first into a creek/pond because I lost my balance in carrying my bike across a beam that was about 4 inches long with the current pushing at my feet. but you all know you’d wanna mountain bike along jungle river paths, so its worth the scratches, bruises and painstaking time drying my passport, international medical card and money and other stuff I knew I shouldn’t have had with me (Dad, buy my travel insurance eh?). Don’t worry for interested parties: Mr. Bear and his headdress was not wetted at all.

I so miss bubble tea, a proper gym (theres here in Tena, Maximito and I went but it f*****up my gloves with all the rust)…. and um… my mom’s chit chatty voice.. and what else… looking for a job. Im so going to be broke when I come back.

Off to Quito at 6:30 in the morning to do some documentary planning and pick up some crew members from the aeropuerto.

I fell asleep last night to the third track of Incubus´ “morning view” album for reasons which should be obvious. I mean the track, not the falling asleep… though after 3 plane rides to Quito, Ecuaaaaaadooooorrrr…. a good 14 hour nap was indeed in order.

So I begin again, after a year of shunning this silly blogging space… to record some thoughts, share some memories, and declare my love for squishy little slugs that taste like buttery goodness when fried.

I will miss many of you back in mi patria, my homeland. You know who you are and if you don’t then you’ve got some good stuff in your pipe.

So I feel quite ungraduated from THE BEST MOTHA####IN University in the world, and strangely homeless. Yet my memory of Quito and its streets is impressive to me ::flexes geography brain:: and my little stuffed bear from a certain brownie extra terrestrial keeps me company along with my two knives i wear strapped and a pendent or two for safety.

I’m here to be a sort of transportation, communication and media person SLASH film a documentary (status: ahhhh shittteee).. as part of a team with the Cal Undergrad Public Health Coalition. We’re here to do water sanitation projects in various indigenous communities. For those who want more info: http://bigideas.berkeley.edu/node/44

On to more interesting things: beer.

I drank a couple cerveza nacional ‘Pilsner’s last night. I must say, I think $1 for 22fl oz is a good deal. Tao chicken, one of my KDR bros, would blow a gasket.. its like 44oz heaven for only $2. This beer, pilsner, goes best with anything other than by itself, even cigarrettes make a good companion to wash down the tasty tastelessness. Dude I already miss favorites like Spaten, Pyramids, Becks, and even a mouth full of PBR would bring a little glee.

There was a 10km marathon down la calle Amazonas today. People were like panting and going full speed.. weak sauce? No. 2 miles of elevation makes it harder to breath. I’m just adjusting myself… it doesnt help with shitty smog. Though at least the place smells better than the Kappa Delta Rho kitchen (note to any bros reading this: please for god sakes through out that dead rat on the second floor).

more on beer, other intoxicants, black clouds (perhaps best listed as intoxicant), police officers with erectile dysfunction, papayas, mangos, and as always: latina heinas who ride in the back of ‘chivas’ (big party trucks).

Time to go pickup the pledges.. er… DeCal (read: observers who are liabilities) from the airport. Speaking of liabilities: Dad, buy my travel insurance BEFORE i get hit by a car. it will be more useful then.

Dilip!

I have been busy this past week, working on finding houses and places to see and jobs to apply for. I’ve had one interview already, which went well. The position would start in late May. What is it? My old job before I left. Well, not exactly but close enough… she will be getting back to people in the next few weeks, so I hope I get the job. I’ve sent my resume to a few other places, and have another interview next week.

House hunting has gone ok…. 10 places I’ve looked at so far, and think I struck gold last night. A good deal boarding at a frat house… on the surface it sounds a little risky, but the place was clean and prides itself on having the second highest GPA of all the fraternities. My room would be prorated during th summer, saving me $380 and I have a nice bay view and a deck to BBQ and relax…. hope I can get it.

Last night I went and saw a talk with Daniel Elsberg, famous for the “pentagon papers”, other speakers included former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan who was fired for ratting out the torture being supported by the CIA and MI6, and the former General who was in charge of the penatentaries in Iraq during Abu Grahib, who took the blame. The talk highlighted the human rights and war crimes violations the Bush administration has been going down since 9/11 with specific evidence in Uzbekistan and Iraq, and the U.S. with regards to the Patriot Act.

Other than that, I have just been readjusting, speaking spanish as much as I can when I come accross spanish speakers, hanging out with my buddy Sonny here and trying to not spend much money…. yesterday we both got free pizzas.

Yep, the life of a hungry all consuming university student resumes… Ecuador seems so far away, and I am finally starting to feel a sense of “normalcy” even though I don’t know if my mind and heart are quite in tune with this version of normal…

Tomorrow, Lan Anh comes home so that means im heading to sac tonight so I can pick her up tomorrow…. wooohooo!

I have been busy this past week, working on finding houses and places to see and jobs to apply for. I’ve had one interview already, which went well. The position would start in late May. What is it? My old job before I left. Well, not exactly but close enough… she will be getting back to people in the next few weeks, so I hope I get the job. I’ve sent my resume to a few other places, and have another interview next week.

House hunting has gone ok…. 10 places I’ve looked at so far, and think I struck gold last night. A good deal boarding at a frat house… on the surface it sounds a little risky, but the place was clean and prides itself on having the second highest GPA of all the fraternities. My room would be prorated during th summer, saving me $380 and I have a nice bay view and a deck to BBQ and relax…. hope I can get it.

Last night I went and saw a talk with Daniel Elsberg, famous for the “pentagon papers”, other speakers included former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan who was fired for ratting out the torture being supported by the CIA and MI6, and the former General who was in charge of the penatentaries in Iraq during Abu Grahib, who took the blame. The talk highlighted the human rights and war crimes violations the Bush administration has been going down since 9/11 with specific evidence in Uzbekistan and Iraq, and the U.S. with regards to the Patriot Act.

Other than that, I have just been readjusting, speaking spanish as much as I can when I come accross spanish speakers, hanging out with my buddy Sonny here and trying to not spend much money…. yesterday we both got free pizzas.

Yep, the life of a hungry all consuming university student resumes… Ecuador seems so far away, and I am finally starting to feel a sense of “normalcy” even though I don’t know if my mind and heart are quite in tune with this version of normal…

Tomorrow, Lan Anh comes home so that means im heading to sac tonight so I can pick her up tomorrow…. wooohooo!

I have been busy this past week, working on finding houses and places to see and jobs to apply for. I’ve had one interview already, which went well. The position would start in late May. What is it? My old job before I left. Well, not exactly but close enough… she will be getting back to people in the next few weeks, so I hope I get the job. I’ve sent my resume to a few other places, and have another interview next week.

House hunting has gone ok…. 10 places I’ve looked at so far, and think I struck gold last night. A good deal boarding at a frat house… on the surface it sounds a little risky, but the place was clean and prides itself on having the second highest GPA of all the fraternities. My room would be prorated during th summer, saving me $380 and I have a nice bay view and a deck to BBQ and relax…. hope I can get it.

Last night I went and saw a talk with Daniel Elsberg, famous for the “pentagon papers”, other speakers included former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan who was fired for ratting out the torture being supported by the CIA and MI6, and the former General who was in charge of the penatentaries in Iraq during Abu Grahib, who took the blame. The talk highlighted the human rights and war crimes violations the Bush administration has been going down since 9/11 with specific evidence in Uzbekistan and Iraq, and the U.S. with regards to the Patriot Act.

Other than that, I have just been readjusting, speaking spanish as much as I can when I come accross spanish speakers, hanging out with my buddy Sonny here and trying to not spend much money…. yesterday we both got free pizzas.

Yep, the life of a hungry all consuming university student resumes… Ecuador seems so far away, and I am finally starting to feel a sense of “normalcy” even though I don’t know if my mind and heart are quite in tune with this version of normal…

Tomorrow, Lan Anh comes home so that means im heading to sac tonight so I can pick her up tomorrow…. wooohooo!

I have been busy this past week, working on finding houses and places to see and jobs to apply for. I’ve had one interview already, which went well. The position would start in late May. What is it? My old job before I left. Well, not exactly but close enough… she will be getting back to people in the next few weeks, so I hope I get the job. I’ve sent my resume to a few other places, and have another interview next week.

House hunting has gone ok…. 10 places I’ve looked at so far, and think I struck gold last night. A good deal boarding at a frat house… on the surface it sounds a little risky, but the place was clean and prides itself on having the second highest GPA of all the fraternities. My room would be prorated during th summer, saving me $380 and I have a nice bay view and a deck to BBQ and relax…. hope I can get it.

Last night I went and saw a talk with Daniel Elsberg, famous for the “pentagon papers”, other speakers included former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan who was fired for ratting out the torture being supported by the CIA and MI6, and the former General who was in charge of the penatentaries in Iraq during Abu Grahib, who took the blame. The talk highlighted the human rights and war crimes violations the Bush administration has been going down since 9/11 with specific evidence in Uzbekistan and Iraq, and the U.S. with regards to the Patriot Act.

Other than that, I have just been readjusting, speaking spanish as much as I can when I come accross spanish speakers, hanging out with my buddy Sonny here and trying to not spend much money…. yesterday we both got free pizzas.

Yep, the life of a hungry all consuming university student resumes… Ecuador seems so far away, and I am finally starting to feel a sense of “normalcy” even though I don’t know if my mind and heart are quite in tune with this version of normal…

Tomorrow, Lan Anh comes home so that means im heading to sac tonight so I can pick her up tomorrow…. wooohooo!

Michael here.

Well, Lan Anh and I are back. She is, precisely, in Albuquerqie New Mexico, I am here in Berkeley, California. She is participating in the world youth JAM with “youth for environmental sustainability”. I am here in Berkeley feeling very unaccustomed… missing Lan Anh a lot… out of my place… as my place for the last few months was Ecuador and Cuba. The words on the wall seems alien but somehow I understand it all. I was quite busy the last few weeks in Ecuador… which is why I didnt update for the 20 days I did not. I suppose ill either update some thoughts, definately put pictures up… in the next few weeks.

Ill be here for a few days… going to stay with Sonny…. and try to read and write a lot in spanish.

Today I have 2 appointments. one with my PEIS major councelor… one to see an apartment. Ill also be working on my CV and resume to try to find a job… thinking of my dad, who is going to see my grandfather in North Carolina..

America feels too big, too fast right now… i got used to being surrounded by lations and now im giggling at seeing so many people who just look different to me. i guess i probably look like I fit in, but I dont feel like I do.

Michael here.

12 mosquito bites. And they bite hard here in the jungle. We have been here for a little over a week, and I have been keeping busy. Mostly just reading and working on the things I need to turn my time to when I go back to the U.S. in a 20 days. “El tiempo toca al fin” in english… the time is coming to an end here. It is hard to believe that 8 months have gone by. Including the time I was in Viet Nam, I’ve spent the last 9 months outside the U.S. I have felt homesick here and there, but I am glad to be here. I wouldn’t mind staying another month…. But duties call and I must answer.

Summer school for me it looks like. Plus I need a job. And a place to live in Berkeley. I need to beg one of the deans to stay another semester, or else either risk not graduating next spring or burning myself out with 22 units and a thesis (ANNNND A JOB) next fall. Well, trying not to let that put me too much in bad spirits. I’m happy continuing my studies of Spanish… and reading for pleasure. I am immersing myself into Ecuadorian politics through a book called “Un Pais Entrampado“ (An entrapped country) as well as going through Karl Polanyi’s Great Transformation again. And of course, I wouldn’t mind a few more adventures in Ecuador

So back to the mosquito bites. This past Sunday, Lan Anh and I went to another farm, more of a little cabin jungle resort than a farm though. We went with Bertha and Maximo, the owners of this place being friends of theirs.

In short, the experience has made me realize how I am such a “city boy”… the insects just bite so ferociously and I am always paranoid about the spiders… big and colorful some of them, but nonetheless give me fright. The forest seemed to both enclose around us and also at the same time felt quite open with the river sagacho flowing on the western face of the land we visited.

We ate heartily and healthy, a kind of chicken wrapped in a leaf that soaked up the natural flavor released by the leaf when cooking over the open fire… fried yucca… mini banana fried in flour called “niños envueltos” or “kids all wrapped up” as it sounds best, I feel, in English. Bertha taught Lan Anh how to swim a bit… it was great fun watching her kick and paddle in the current holding onto a rock. We plan to return to the farm next Sunday to learn how to make chocolate and coffee, which is one of the cultivations on the farm. This time I’m going to accept wearing some insect repellent…

The only other thing to report, though would be much better if I could get a picture of it, are the thunder and lightening storms that happen here a few times a week during the night. The day before last the shaking of the earth because of the thunder sounded like armaments being exploded over the town as if an invading force was bombarding its way through. Replete with windows shaking and the power going out after a boom that sent a shock of terror through my own spine. Never have felt frightened because of thunder and lightening here, but even the lightening is so powerful it lights up the entire sky and you can see it lance out as if a laser bolt aimed for you. Yeah, a picture would be much better.

Michael here.

12 mosquito bites. And they bite hard here in the jungle. We have been here for a little over a week, and I have been keeping busy. Mostly just reading and working on the things I need to turn my time to when I go back to the U.S. in a 20 days. “El tiempo toca al fin” in english… the time is coming to an end here. It is hard to believe that 8 months have gone by. Including the time I was in Viet Nam, I’ve spent the last 9 months outside the U.S. I have felt homesick here and there, but I am glad to be here. I wouldn’t mind staying another month…. But duties call and I must answer.

Summer school for me it looks like. Plus I need a job. And a place to live in Berkeley. I need to beg one of the deans to stay another semester, or else either risk not graduating next spring or burning myself out with 22 units and a thesis (ANNNND A JOB) next fall. Well, trying not to let that put me too much in bad spirits. I’m happy continuing my studies of Spanish… and reading for pleasure. I am immersing myself into Ecuadorian politics through a book called “Un Pais Entrampado“ (An entrapped country) as well as going through Karl Polanyi’s Great Transformation again. And of course, I wouldn’t mind a few more adventures in Ecuador

So back to the mosquito bites. This past Sunday, Lan Anh and I went to another farm, more of a little cabin jungle resort than a farm though. We went with Bertha and Maximo, the owners of this place being friends of theirs.

In short, the experience has made me realize how I am such a “city boy”… the insects just bite so ferociously and I am always paranoid about the spiders… big and colorful some of them, but nonetheless give me fright. The forest seemed to both enclose around us and also at the same time felt quite open with the river sagacho flowing on the western face of the land we visited.

We ate heartily and healthy, a kind of chicken wrapped in a leaf that soaked up the natural flavor released by the leaf when cooking over the open fire… fried yucca… mini banana fried in flour called “niños envueltos” or “kids all wrapped up” as it sounds best, I feel, in English. Bertha taught Lan Anh how to swim a bit… it was great fun watching her kick and paddle in the current holding onto a rock. We plan to return to the farm next Sunday to learn how to make chocolate and coffee, which is one of the cultivations on the farm. This time I’m going to accept wearing some insect repellent…

The only other thing to report, though would be much better if I could get a picture of it, are the thunder and lightening storms that happen here a few times a week during the night. The day before last the shaking of the earth because of the thunder sounded like armaments being exploded over the town as if an invading force was bombarding its way through. Replete with windows shaking and the power going out after a boom that sent a shock of terror through my own spine. Never have felt frightened because of thunder and lightening here, but even the lightening is so powerful it lights up the entire sky and you can see it lance out as if a laser bolt aimed for you. Yeah, a picture would be much better.

Michael here.

12 mosquito bites. And they bite hard here in the jungle. We have been here for a little over a week, and I have been keeping busy. Mostly just reading and working on the things I need to turn my time to when I go back to the U.S. in a 20 days. ?El tiempo toca al fin? in english? the time is coming to an end here. It is hard to believe that 8 months have gone by. Including the time I was in Viet Nam, I?ve spent the last 9 months outside the U.S. I have felt homesick here and there, but I am glad to be here. I wouldn?t mind staying another month?. But duties call and I must answer.

Summer school for me it looks like. Plus I need a job. And a place to live in Berkeley. I need to beg one of the deans to stay another semester, or else either risk not graduating next spring or burning myself out with 22 units and a thesis (ANNNND A JOB) next fall. Well, trying not to let that put me too much in bad spirits. I?m happy continuing my studies of Spanish? and reading for pleasure. I am immersing myself into Ecuadorian politics through a book called ?Un Pais Entrampado? (An entrapped country) as well as going through Karl Polanyi?s Great Transformation again. And of course, I wouldn?t mind a few more adventures in Ecuador

So back to the mosquito bites. This past Sunday, Lan Anh and I went to another farm, more of a little cabin jungle resort than a farm though. We went with Bertha and Maximo, the owners of this place being friends of theirs.

In short, the experience has made me realize how I am such a ?city boy?? the insects just bite so ferociously and I am always paranoid about the spiders? big and colorful some of them, but nonetheless give me fright. The forest seemed to both enclose around us and also at the same time felt quite open with the river sagacho flowing on the western face of the land we visited.

We ate heartily and healthy, a kind of chicken wrapped in a leaf that soaked up the natural flavor released by the leaf when cooking over the open fire? fried yucca? mini banana fried in flour called ?niños envueltos? or ?kids all wrapped up? as it sounds best, I feel, in English. Bertha taught Lan Anh how to swim a bit? it was great fun watching her kick and paddle in the current holding onto a rock. We plan to return to the farm next Sunday to learn how to make chocolate and coffee, which is one of the cultivations on the farm. This time I?m going to accept wearing some insect repellent?

The only other thing to report, though would be much better if I could get a picture of it, are the thunder and lightening storms that happen here a few times a week during the night. The day before last the shaking of the earth because of the thunder sounded like armaments being exploded over the town as if an invading force was bombarding its way through. Replete with windows shaking and the power going out after a boom that sent a shock of terror through my own spine. Never have felt frightened because of thunder and lightening here, but even the lightening is so powerful it lights up the entire sky and you can see it lance out as if a laser bolt aimed for you. Yeah, a picture would be much better.

Michael here.

12 mosquito bites. And they bite hard here in the jungle. We have been here for a little over a week, and I have been keeping busy. Mostly just reading and working on the things I need to turn my time to when I go back to the U.S. in a 20 days. “El tiempo toca al fin” in english… the time is coming to an end here. It is hard to believe that 8 months have gone by. Including the time I was in Viet Nam, I’ve spent the last 9 months outside the U.S. I have felt homesick here and there, but I am glad to be here. I wouldn’t mind staying another month…. But duties call and I must answer.

Summer school for me it looks like. Plus I need a job. And a place to live in Berkeley. I need to beg one of the deans to stay another semester, or else either risk not graduating next spring or burning myself out with 22 units and a thesis (ANNNND A JOB) next fall. Well, trying not to let that put me too much in bad spirits. I’m happy continuing my studies of Spanish… and reading for pleasure. I am immersing myself into Ecuadorian politics through a book called “Un Pais Entrampado“ (An entrapped country) as well as going through Karl Polanyi’s Great Transformation again. And of course, I wouldn’t mind a few more adventures in Ecuador

So back to the mosquito bites. This past Sunday, Lan Anh and I went to another farm, more of a little cabin jungle resort than a farm though. We went with Bertha and Maximo, the owners of this place being friends of theirs.

In short, the experience has made me realize how I am such a “city boy”… the insects just bite so ferociously and I am always paranoid about the spiders… big and colorful some of them, but nonetheless give me fright. The forest seemed to both enclose around us and also at the same time felt quite open with the river sagacho flowing on the western face of the land we visited.

We ate heartily and healthy, a kind of chicken wrapped in a leaf that soaked up the natural flavor released by the leaf when cooking over the open fire… fried yucca… mini banana fried in flour called “niños envueltos” or “kids all wrapped up” as it sounds best, I feel, in English. Bertha taught Lan Anh how to swim a bit… it was great fun watching her kick and paddle in the current holding onto a rock. We plan to return to the farm next Sunday to learn how to make chocolate and coffee, which is one of the cultivations on the farm. This time I’m going to accept wearing some insect repellent…

The only other thing to report, though would be much better if I could get a picture of it, are the thunder and lightening storms that happen here a few times a week during the night. The day before last the shaking of the earth because of the thunder sounded like armaments being exploded over the town as if an invading force was bombarding its way through. Replete with windows shaking and the power going out after a boom that sent a shock of terror through my own spine. Never have felt frightened because of thunder and lightening here, but even the lightening is so powerful it lights up the entire sky and you can see it lance out as if a laser bolt aimed for you. Yeah, a picture would be much better.

Finally got around to doing it this morning… there are some pretty inteesting pictures… so don’t watch while eating!

Here is a link….

(or if that doesnt work)

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jedimike/cherryonchocolate/finca/

lost of protesting. Lan Anh and I have missed most of it, because we have been wokring on her documentary. Right now, it is at about 70% compressing… we started it last night at 10pm. Cant wait to get a compressed final cut! We are both sleep deprived and tired of tooooo much pizza.

As well, I wrote an article (at Lan Anhs suggestion) about the events going on in Quito…. submitted it to a few newspapers and news sites

Here it is:

The Last Round for Ecuador

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jedimike/cherryonchocolate/?page_id=48