Unexpected Turns

I've never been very good at planning. Even when I think I have a good plan for my life, it never seems to work out the way I expected. Therefore, I am in the ultimate point of go-with-the-flow. Por ejemplo, my plan was to come to Ecuador for two weeks on a journey with Pachamama Alliance, followed by a year of teaching English to an Indigenous Tribe in the Amazon. Here I am though, writing a blog in the office of Pachamama in Quito! Not quite what I expected, but I think it is what I need.

There is so much to write about in what has happened in the last two weeks! I am not sure I know where to begin. Overall there were 14 travelers in our group, 13 women and our male guide, Daniel/Daniella. Who knew that so many different backgrounds and ages could come together to form one solid and impenetrable tribe of Kakaram Nua (which means strong and empowered woman in Achuar language). 

These past few days have been some the most refreshing of my life. Through the travels and learning about Pachamama, I have regained my passion and connection with nature and the world I live in. I'm not sure exactly where I lost it. I probably lost it somewhere along the path when I stopped singing. Now the trip is over and I am singing again! (Sidenote: those who know me, know I never miss a Mariah Carey Christmas or a good Whitney Houston song!)

I figure I will just integrate the stories from the initial trip as they seem to fit into my new experiences here in Quito working with Fundacion Pachamama. I'm really reaching out now for any possible unique fundraiser ideas, donations, and grant-writing skills if anybody has anything to offer.

Currently I am working with Red Transfronteriza, a faction of Pachamama that works with the tribes in the Amazon who have been separated by state borders in recent years. The states we are focusing on is Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia. These state lines have divided indigenous communities and families. With the Red Transfronteriza, we are working to re-open and start communication between these communities, teach them about their human and land rights, create leadership workshops for the leaders of the communities, and lastly gain institutional recognition and respect for collective rights and the ancestral lands of people and nations divided by borders. Pretty cool...

Secondly, I am working with another faction of Pachamama called Jungle Mama's. This is a program that teaches the women of villages about safe birthing practices, hygiene, in some rare cases methods of birth control, and STI's. I am gearing up to help put together some "birth kits" to be given out in some of the communities that have agreed to work with Jungle Mama's. This program really touches my heart because of how much work has gone into getting it started. Historically, women in these villages have up to 10 or more children. Men take on multiple wives as a means to spawn as many children as possible. Speculating, I would say this is because they are a warrior tribe who were constantly trying to increase their numbers for power and strength. After meeting with male tribal leaders for three years, Jungle Mama's finally convinced them to allow them to integrate some new practices into their lives. For example, when giving birth women typically would walk into the woods alone with a machete, give birth, then cut the umbilical cord with the machete. This was mainly because birthing was a sacred process between the mother and child, and partly because it is culturally unacceptable to display emotions. As you can see, this caused high mother and child mortality rates. For the tribal leaders to allow Jungle Mama's to change this way of life for them was an amazingly huge step. 

Besides these two major projects, I am also working on some translations, press releases, fundraising, social media projects, and blogging! So overall I am keeping myself very busy. Currently I am doing a type of couch-surfing...in hotels. Somehow I have managed to figure it out this far! This Sunday I am looking at a studio apartment which I am fairly certain I will move in the same day (considering I have nowhere else to go!). From what I've heard its beautiful and affordable. Once I am established, I am open to visitors and please come! 

Until next time, hope to hear your comments!!! Saludos