Ecuador
by Alex Leibovitz 2012
Having completed an arduous six-hour hike around a beautiful crater lake the previous day, we dragged our sore bodies onto the bus Sunday morning ready to face everything Ecuador had to offer. Traveling to the remote Andean village of Azama, we were warmly greeted by the townspeople with generous gifts of fresh local fruit splendidly arranged in baskets. At first, we were taken aback by the kindness being offered to a ragtag group of thirty-five St. Bernard's boys and teachers, greasy with sunscreen and exhausted from a previous voyage. We learned, however, that the locals anticipate our yearly visit immensely. They thanked us for the bags of clothes and shoes we give as charity, and they told us how appreciative the community is for the services St. Bernard's has performed in the past. The main street in Azama is called "St. Bernard's Way." Digesting the meaning of our school's relationship with Azama, we were motivated and proud to continue the tradition of community service to benefit the village.
Having completed an arduous six-hour hike around a beautiful crater lake the previous day, we dragged our sore bodies onto the bus Sunday morning ready to face everything Ecuador had to offer. Traveling to the remote Andean village of Azama, we were warmly greeted by the townspeople with generous gifts of fresh local fruit splendidly arranged in baskets. At first, we were taken aback by the kindness being offered to a ragtag group of thirty-five St. Bernard's boys and teachers, greasy with sunscreen and exhausted from a previous voyage. We learned, however, that the locals anticipate our yearly visit immensely. They thanked us for the bags of clothes and shoes we give as charity, and they told us how appreciative the community is for the services St. Bernard's has performed in the past. The main street in Azama is called "St. Bernard's Way." Digesting the meaning of our school's relationship with Azama, we were motivated and proud to continue the tradition of community service to benefit the village.
Some of us planted flowers around the church, and others painted tables and benches of the school. Whether we were on our fours plunging our arms into the earth to plant flowers or inadvertently splattering paint onto our khakis while painting tables and benches, we all experienced a rude awakening from our relatively pampered city lives.
After an honest day's work, the people of Azama held a festival to recognize Father's Day and our visit. We played wild games with the local children involving balloon popping, piggy-back riding, and flag capturing, all to the beat of Andean music. The girls from Azama proceeded to perform traditional dances for us. They looked beautiful in their traditional costumes. One team of girls then gave a far less traditional, more risque dance rendition to modern tunes. Five lucky St. Bernard's boys were even invited to dance with the ladies, requiring more courage for the dance than for hiking all the way up to heaven.
After the festival's conclusion, there was serious business to be resolved, the annual St. B's versus Azama soccer game. This heated, friend on friend match was battled down to the wire, as St. B's was able to hang on for a 4-4 tie, a victory in our eyes, as previous St. B's classes usually lost miserably.
Exchanging handshakes, hugs, and kind sentiments after the match, we felt a special connection with our Ecuadorian buddies. Unfortunately, an ominous storm was darkening our festivities, so we were forced to leave on a dry note. Waving goodbye to our new friends in Azama, we took off on the bus, driven by Jorge, for our next adventure.
Carlos
by Michael Ivkov 2012
NOTE: The travelers were unable to make their flight and could not return to New York on Saturday as scheduled. They were forced to spend an extra day in Miami. Luckily Mme de Haugoubart was adept at dealing with the logistics and the boys took it in stride. She reported, "different hotels, different vouchers, different everything, but the mood is great. The boys love this!" Our adventurers landed in NYC on Sunday morning—all safe and very happy.
(photographs by Virginie de Haugoubart)
Carlos
by Michael Ivkov 2012
Carlos embodies the cloud forest. His lush, yet rugged beard protrudes like a thick canopy, and his warm personality opens the gates to a new undiscovered world, Intag.
After a tiresome hike, we arrived at La Florida. Carlos Zorrilla, a cloud forest veteran and the head of the Intag Cloud Forest Reserve, gave us a tour of the grounds. His warm welcome felt genuine. Carlos stood out to all of us. His love and passion for the cloud forest are "worn on his sleeves," as Mr. Joost said.
We, city-slickers, rely on iPods, the Internet, material things, and possessions to fuel our happiness. Carlos leads a life without electricity, and without any desire for material junk. He is very happy. He finds solace in the beauty of the cloud forest as he looks into the best interests of all its inhabitants, whether they be human, avian, serpentine, or even insect. The vivid complexity of Ecuador's native birds, and the simplicity of raw nature are enough to make Carlos thrilled with life. As jaded New Yorkers, one can only feel humbled in Carlos's presence.
Carlos has sacrificed everything for what he believes in, while fighting for the protection of the cloud forest. His life has been on the line many times. Corrupt and greedy politicians have signed contracts with privatized mining companies so that mineral mining in the Cloud Forest Reserve is allowed. Carlos, along with the local folks, have been fighting those mining companies and his own twisted government for the protection of the reserve. A man who stood up for Intag's wildlife was placed on a "black list," and hunted down by military personnel. What is wrong here?
Our parents and St. Bernard's have given our class the opportunity to meet someone like Carlos. We are all very grateful. He has inspired a whole community to stand up against all odds—international mining interests. He has stood up against the Ecuadorian government for what is right: the preservation of a unique eco-system. Well, he has also inspired us. He has changed our views, our perceptions, and our understanding. To him, we say "thank you."
We are also thankful for knowing Mr. Joost. He, too, believes in what Carlos believes in. We wish him well on his retirement. We will see you at El Refugio, Mr Joost!
NOTE: The travelers were unable to make their flight and could not return to New York on Saturday as scheduled. They were forced to spend an extra day in Miami. Luckily Mme de Haugoubart was adept at dealing with the logistics and the boys took it in stride. She reported, "different hotels, different vouchers, different everything, but the mood is great. The boys love this!" Our adventurers landed in NYC on Sunday morning—all safe and very happy.
(photographs by Virginie de Haugoubart)
