Near Death on the Amazon: Part 1, Leticia

Letica
(I would like to alleviate the fears of my mother and to assure my blog readers everything did work out well.)

The bow of the boat

 We left the village at 6 in the morning to buy supplies. It helps to leave early as the sun is not yet that intense and the wind tends to be less strong (therefore less powerful waves) earlier in the day. Most of the stores at which we supply open early in the morning and close at noon for a 2 hour lunch. I am not sure why a two hour lunch is needed or what everyone does, but it is the custom in the city of Leticia. Gustavo, an experienced river and jungle guide like to leave the city at noon to return to the village well before sunset. To navigate at night without lights is very hazardous.

Gustavo was at the helm of the boat and his 9 year old son Hector at the bow. The brisk morning air and wind was chilling to the boy, who had placed his arms inside his t-shirt where they remained for the majority of the 90 minute trip downriver. Gustavo was constantly on the lookout for floating sticks, logs, and the occasional tree trunk which was also, slowly, making its way downstream.

We arrived in the port city of Leticia a little after 7:30. Over 100 small and midsized boats are docked at floating barges or on the shore. Many others arrive or depart with a rhythm that reminds me of working honey bees. After docking and securing our craft we spend the next 5 hours buying things for the kitchen construction which is scheduled to begin the following day. Slightly after noon we found a good deal on a 4 burner stove. We spent the next two hours getting the associated propane tank, connections, hoses, and more cookware. While we knew we would leave later than usual, the sun was strong, winds clam, and only a few soft, pillow-like clouds were in the intensely blue sky.

At a little after 2 pm we left Leticia to travel back to the village. Our arrival time would be around 5 pm, well before nightfall. It would be an easy trip, we thought….

Click to read the next part -Near Death on the Amazon, Part 2: The Propeller.

Monkey with dog.  Not directly related to the story, but very cute.

Arrived in the village two days ago!

I arrived in the village last Wednesday.  I have met with groups of people three different times and all are very receptive to the project!  Much different from last year.  I am in the city of Leticia today to buy what we need to finish the kitchen construction.  Sarah, our current volunteer, is bush teaching English and doing music activities with the villagers.

More info, and pictures, in the next post.

Fundraiser a success!

Our Fundraiser at Billy's Tavern Raised Over $2,900

Thank you to all the people who attended, the band Primo Cubano, our business sponsors Brooks Trap Mill, Billy's Tavern, and Strout Payson, P.A.

Primo Cubano

Primo Cubano rocked the house!  At times there was standing room only at the tavern.  We had periodic raffle drawings for prizes ranging from Colombian emeralds, exclusive Colombian coffee, handmade Amazonian jewelry, to piranha skull necklaces and Amazonian blowguns!

Suggested donations accepted

A big thanks to the Brooks girls for covering the door during the first hours of the event and to Nohora for the later hour.  A thanks also goes out to Mark for supervising the blowgun trials and to Pat for busing the tables!

auction and sales table

Julie and Dana did an excellent job of selling raffle tickets, t-shirts, and answering questions about the silent auction and overall project goals.

mom n friends

My mother, sporting a fashionable Amazon Pueblo t-shirt (available for sale on our website) and her friends enjoying the festivities!

two happy patrons

These lovely women are enjoying Mojito cocktails.  This drink and the Cuba Libre were the specialty drinks of the night.  $1 of the cost of each drink was donated to the project!

raffle winner 

Congratulations to Beverly Pacheco, the winner of four cut emeralds valued at $1,500!  She was very happy.  Please come to our next fundraiser for a chance to win your own Colombian emerald!


My next post will be from Bogota, Colombia.  Tomorrow I start my journey back to the Amazon village of La Libertad!

Our Fundraiser's Program for this Friday

Hope to see you there!

Click HERE for more information about the fundraiser.

Emeralds for the Amazon

Only one week before our first major fundraiser!  Here is a look at some of the emeralds that will be available for raffle and silent auction throughout the evening June 14 at Billy's Tavern in Thomaston, Maine.

Thank you to Dan Chambers of Chambers Jewelers in Thomaston, Maine for donating his appraisal services.

Lot 4, 2.41ct. emerald gem

Lot 5, emerald earrings

Lot 7, rough emerald

Lot 5, emerald crystals

Lot 6, four matching emerald cut gems

Lot 2, three deep-medium green gems

Amazon Pueblo T-Shirts!

Here it is!  The original Amazon Pueblo t-shirt.

Made from 100% organic cotton.  The logo was designed by Simmons Ardell of Portland, Maine and printed at Maine Printing and Embroidery in Warren, Maine.  We have them just in time for the dance event at Billy's Tavern, June 14.

If you would like one please follow this link to our website.  Each purchase includes a donation to the cause.

They make great gifts!

Our first major fundraising event! June 14 at Billy's Tavern, Thomaston, Maine.

Enjoy yourself while helping to strengthen the village of La Libertad.  The event starts at 7 pm, Friday, June 14.  We will be holding raffles and silent auctions of exclusive Colombian coffee, emeralds, handmade jewelry, and an authentic Amazonian blowgun!

After months of planning it is finally happening.  A special thanks to our board of directors for helping to plan the event.  We also would like to express our gratitude to our business sponsors, Billy's Tavern, Brooks Trap Mill, and Strout & Payson.

The very popular band Primo Cubano will be playing during the evening.  Advanced ticket sales ($10 suggested donation) are available at: benangulo@amazonpueblo.org.

Special Tribal Member tickets may also be purchased in advance or at the door.  These exclusive tickets are priced at $50 each and include admittance, an Amazon Pueblo t-shirt, choice of handmade jewelry from the village, and entry into a limited raffle for emerald earrings or a blowgun (winner's choice).

If you would like to donate but cannot attend the event, please try our new PayPal Donate button below!

If this link does not work please send me an email at benangulo@amazonpueblo.org

Amazon Pueblo at Oceanside High School West

The Amazon Pueblo project is working with Gretchen Jordan's Spanish 1 and 2 classes at the high school.  The students are studying the sustainability problems of the villagers of La Libertad.  They will then identify simple solutions to help with the problems and communicate these solutions in Spanish.  The students will be making brochures, booklets, computer presentations, web pages, or videos messages which will be brought to the villagers when we visit this July.  ¡Buena suerte chicos!

If you would like to see the lesson plans/directions for the whole project, please visit the website: http://www.amazonpueblo.org/student.htm

New logo for Amazon Pueblo!

The Amazon Pueblo project is pleased to announce our new logo! We have been working with Jessica and Rand from Simmons Ardell, a graphic design company in South Portland, Maine. They have donated their time and effort to help bring us our logo. We are already to order new business cards, brochures, and t-shirts.

For t-shirts we are working with Maine Printing & Embroidery, from Warren, Maine. We hope to have our first shipment of shirts in May. I will create a webpage on our project’s website where the t-shirts may be ordered. Check our site in late May to be one of the first to have our shirts!

Once again, thank you to Jessica and Rand of Simmons Ardell. I would also like to thank our board of directors, Mark, Julie, Pat and Adam for their help with the design.

Going Forward in 2013!

Trip to the Amazon June 25!  The date is set, tickets bought, planning being made.

Our Newest Volunteer

At this time I would like to announce our next volunteer in the pueblo, Sarah Blackman.  Sarah and I have been friends since we were trip leaders at Tanglewood 4-H Camp in Lincolnville, Maine.  Sarah will be teaching English and helping the villagers recognize and record their traditional music.  Sarah is a singer/songwriter from New York City.  Please visit her website to learn more and hear her incredible voice.  Thanks Sarah!

Revolver Underground interview with Sarah

STUDYING!

It has been over a month since my last post.  I have been busy with college and exams.  Thankfully my two CLEP exams, in business marketing and business management, went well.  I am taking a course in computer networking (which will hopefully help me to troubleshoot and fix the village’s generator-powered computer systems and satellite internet link) and a technology integration course.

Amazon Pueblo at Oceanside High School West?

As part of my technology integration course I am working on a project with a local high school’s Spanish class to do a technology-driven project which helps Amazon Pueblo’s mission.  We are still working out the details.  If everything goes well I will post an update within the coming months.

My Emeralds Were Sold!

It was hard to box then up and ship them off, but I sold almost all of my emerald collection.  I hope the new owner enjoys them.  However, I am putting the proceeds to good use, Amazon Pueblo!  I have loaned money to Gustavo to buy an 11hp motor for his 7 meter boat.  This should allow him to do well this tourist season.  When he returns the money I hope to reinvest in other villager’s small business projects.

Gustavo in a small boat

Other News:

Pancake Fundraiser
We are looking at having our first fundraising event, a pancake breakfast, at Applebee’s Restaurant in Thomaston, Maine, in late May or June.

Biofuel for Business
Jen, a geography teacher in an international school in Prague, may be visiting La Libertad this summer.  I first spoke with Jen last year.  She wrote her dissertation on growing biofuel crops in Colombia as an alternative to illegal drug crops.  It would be great if she could lend us her expertise!

New Logo and T-Shirt
Simmons Ardell, Inc., of Portland, Maine, is designing our new logo and t-shirt.  There will be a post shortly to announce the new design.  We are excited and grateful to have their help!