INTAG!

I got back from Intag on Tuesday afternoon and it was SO MUCH FUN! I actually learned a lot too, about the mining situation there, and cultural differences, class differences, and biodiversity. But that´s not the fun stuff.

We left Saturday morning about 8 am and after walking into Intag on a trail for about an hour, got to the huts and the house at about 3 pm. We stayed in cabins and the girls shared two and the guys stayed in one. The first afternoon we heard a talk from Carlos, the director of DECOIN, a non-profit organization in Ecuador which I think is focused on protecting INTAG (which is an area of land), the indigenous groups who live there, and the biodiversity in Ecuador in general. He told us all about the mining situation there.

Pretty much, a Canadian company, Ascendente, was trying to put a mine in Intag, but the people there did not want it becuase it would have been extremely harmful to the watershed there and to the environment in general. Carlos got extremely involved so people were threatening him. I guess he had an anonymous source who called him 2 minutes before 19 police arrive at his door who had plans to take him to jail and kill him. Luckily, becuase of the tip, he was able to run for a few months until everything was settled. It was so crazy to hear the story first hand because it sounds like something out of a movie, but it was real! Ascendente has now been pushed away from digging the mine, but it sounds like this fight will continue for a long long while.

After his lecture, we had our first dinner at Intag. OMG the food was so good. All home grown, and they grow their own coffee!!! (don´t worry mom, i got 4 lbs that will be ready right about when you guys get here!! it´s SO GOOD) the food was all natural and so delicious.

on sunday, we were split into groups and my group had an art lesson. although it sounds silly, it was really fun. we had to draw leaves, but we weren´t allowed to look at the paper, only at the leaf. we had to follow the outline of the leaf... then we moved to people. i drew my friend audrey and she turned out looking like a monster pretty much. it was a very attractive drawing. lets just say i have NO idea how i drew such a good picture of mom when i was only in SECOND grade. i think my artist skills have sky-dived lol.

Monday, my group went on a 4 hr hike through the cloud forest. We saw some AWESOME stuff: poisonous snakes, weird insects that looked like thorns on a rose bush, salamanders, butterflys, and lots of waterfalls. It was actually a pretty hard hike, but really fun. I have TONS of pictures and filled my memory card. I´ll try to post them soon.

In the afternoon, a women´s group came. They make purses and other crafty things out of a plant from the rain forest. The purses were gorgeous and there were a ton of other things too. Waterbottle holders, place mats, bags, wallets, hot pads for the table, etc... and they were so inexpensive. it was insane and really cool to hear their story because normally women aren´t allowed to work and make money but have to stay at home and do things for their family (don´t get me started on my opinion of this lifestyle).

On Tuesday, we left and went to Otavalo, an indigenous city where there is a huge market. There was so much amazing stuff, but the annoying artisans make me so mad when they try to take advantage of me and up the price because I´m a gringo! I´m planning on going back during evals and buying a GORGEOUS hammock for denver... it´s gonna be GREAT!

I´m about to head to a puppet show that Faba, my academic director, suggested we go to. It´s at a café at the mall and has a political theme. I don´t think I´ve been to a puppet show since like third grade and this one is in Spanish, so it should be interesting. haha.

anyways, hope all is well.

chao!