Oil in the Oriente

Going into the trip, one of the locations that I anticipated the most was the trip to the rainforest or Oriente. I could not wait to learn more about the rainforest, and the problems associated with the industry present in the rainforest. After doing some research, I learned of the prevalence of oil companies in protected land and the effect of these production sites on the local indigenous populations, some of which are still living in voluntary isolation away from any civilization or industrialization. After flying into Coca, and taking a two and a half hour boat ride into the Amazon, followed by another two hour bus ride, I was shocked to be seemingly so far from civilization and development, and to see the development brought by the oil companies. Driving through the rainforest and passing oil wells and camps frequently was a disappointing sight. The company Repsol seemed to be everywhere, and appeared to develop all of the roads and infrastructure in the area. It was incredible to see the dirt and dust that surrounded the road and oil camps, along with the obvious deforestation and clearing of trees close to the road and the camps. I had heard of PetroEcuador going into the Amazon, but it was interesting to see a Spanish company that was primarily owned by Chinese with such a presence in the area. As we made it to the military checkpoint, everything was made by Repsol or developed by them. It is fascinating to consider the influence that such a large company could have over such sovereign matters as a military checkpoint. Even the guides in the Tiputini Field station wore shirts with Repsol stamped on the sleeve. Trans-national companies are clearly stretching to all corners of the world, and affecting everything they go near.  In an area as undeveloped and far removed from civilization as the Amazon area, that level of help certainly has the potential to bring support or at least less resistance. Knowing little about the company, it is difficult to know the reasons behind their assistance, whether it is for the good of the area or profit. Despite this, this is an example of the effect a company such as Repsol can have, and if they are well controlled, can provide much needed assistance to the people and to protecting the environment. Considering the importance of oil in Ecuador, and the volume found in the Oriente, it is unlikely that development will slow. This increases the necessity of green practices and efforts towards sustaining the Yasuni National Park and surrounding areas.

The Old and the New

One of the most striking aspects of Ecuador is the seemingly two different Ecuador’s developing side by side. The old and the new.  Coming from the United States, which is a highly developed and regulated country, and going to a country such as Ecuador, the differences were clearly visible. Seeing the indigenous women all over the city selling their food, handicrafts, and tending their stores alongside the a typical mestizo Ecuadorean is quite striking. It seems as though the city and Ecuador is developing around many of the indigenous peoples and the more traditional culture. This can be seen with the omnipresent street vendors and typical panaderias and the market. But the similarities between the young people of the United States and the young people of Ecuador are amazing. Having the new Blackberry is very important, along with the nice new shoes or clothes. It is amazing to go to a giant market and walk through and see vendor after vendor selling North American clothes and brands at prices that are often much higher than in the US. One thing I have learned from the people here is the false perception that the only brands that are worth buying or are of good quality are from the United States or Europe. This is not limited to clothes. All of the popular brands of shaving cream or deodorant are everywhere and at much higher prices. It is interesting to see globalization first hand everywhere you look. Because much of the technology and goods are imported to Ecuador, there are high taxes on many of the electronic goods. It is common to see goods that would be relatively cheap in the United States for more than double the price. Thinking about the cost of these perceived necessities is very sad considering the typical person only makes about 250 dollars. The force of consumerism is certainly powerful and likely hurting many people who are required to take out loans and spend incredible amounts of money for things that they believe they need. With this shift, it is interesting to notice the merging of old and new. Change does not happen over night, so there is still an incredible level of uniqueness and a glimpse into what life was like in the old days. The interesting aspect of globalization and change in a less developed country is the mixing of old and new, and the gradual but profound change that occurs as time goes on. It is a unique experience to leave the United States and see common products being highly sought after being so expensive. Globalization is certainly a powerful force. 

The Cloud Forest

After a short stay in Quito, we headed to the cloud forest.  After leaving early in the morning, we began a three hour bus ride towards the Intag Valley and Junin. The bus ride toward the cloud forest was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Going through the mountains in a large tour bus was a bit of a sublime experience. As we traveled up dirt and gravel roads thousands of feet up in the mountains with a few feet of room separating us from the valley floor, there were more than a few frightening turns and views. The severity of the peaks and valleys and the vast green terrain was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was also remarkable how remote and removed these mountains were from seemingly all civilization. As we reached the point in the journey where our bus could no longer make it up the mountain, we loaded up in an open air truck and began the second part of the bumpy journey on even less developed and narrower roads. After another hour or so, we finally made it to the Junin area and walked to our eco cabana. The terrain was absolutely incredible, and the place we stayed was amazing. After settling in, the group went for a long hike to a coffee and banana plantation, and then made our way to the village of Junin. It was incredible to see people from the movie Under Rich Earth in person, and the location in which it was filmed. What quickly became apparent was how nice these people were, and the unfortunate situation this remote community was in the middle of, with a multi-national company attempting to move in and potentially destroy their land and way of life. After playing soccer with some of the local kids in the village, and seeing the beauty of their village and surroundings, it really made me think about how important certain things really are. These people live life in a very simple yet fulfilling manner. They have managed to maintain the beauty of their surroundings without allowing outside influence to corrupt their lives. Rather than selling out to outsiders, they have learned how to utilize their resources such as coffee and cocoa and sell them on the market. Also utilizing skills in weaving and crafts in order to create products to sell in Otavalo. I really appreciated that level of entrepreneurship and willingness to learn what works and what does not work. The people of Junin seem to have really found their niche and the potential for sustainable growth without the presence of a mining company. Junin should serve as an example for how to grow and provide jobs without ruining your way of life. The ability to see such a unique community is an experience I will never forget.

Bienvenidos a Ecuador

I was incredibly excited going into the trip, and had no idea what to expect, this being my first time out of the country. As we waited in the airport for the flight, it began to be more real. Flying in at night made it hard to see where we were, or what was around us. All we had was a small screen in front of us periodically showing us our progress and how close we were to Quito. All of the sudden the lights of a huge city appeared in the mountains, and we were right there. Flying in to the airport was much different than anything in the United States. We seemed to be surrounded by buildings and it was as if we flew right into the city. As we got off the plane, it was an amazing feeling to be in a different country for the first time. The language barrier quickly became apparent, and I knew what it felt like to be the foreigner for the first time in my life. Going through airport security and customs was also quite an interesting experience. I was prepared for a thorough questioning and a long wait, but I simply had to give him my passport and wait as he talked to his amiga in migracion. We made it through and loaded on to the bus that was waiting for us. Quito was unlike any city I had ever seen before. The city was very cramped and there were very few buildings over 3 or 4 stories high. It also quickly became apparent that the traffic laws were quite different than in the United States, if not completely nonexistent. Driving through the city and arriving at the hotel really made the reality of being in a different country for over two months set in.