It was nearly dark and we still hadn’t found camp for the night. We had just completed a 5 day trip into the Amazon jungle and we were tired, hungry, and more than ready to wrap up the day. Not a desirable situation to be in. We pulled over to the edge of the road to look at a map and found that we had driven past our intended campsite by fifty kilometres. How that happened, especially when we were only going 20 km/h down that rough road, is beyond me. Fortunately, the unexpected situation we found ourselves in ended up being unforgettable, in all the right ways.
We had pulled over beside a big sports field in the small community of Nuevo Paraiso. As we stood around our motorcycle considering our options we noticed a group of people sitting on the stairs of a large building on the other side of the field. They waived us over, and we thought that maybe we could ask them if they knew of anywhere we could camp nearby.
And this is how we came to know Moisés and Fanny. The group of people was their ten children. The field we had pulled into was their property. And the large building they were sitting in front of was their house.
We explained our situation and they immediately offered us a room in their house, insisting that we stay inside and not in our hammock. One of their eldest daughters got straight to work in preparing a room for us. We were relieved, grateful, and exhausted. While arrangements were in process, Moises sent two more of his children to grab us some chairs and we joined them in the courtyard. The family gathered around us, shy but curious, questions glimmering in their eyes. Until the sun dropped behind the tree line, we explored the details of each others lives. We asked about their family and village, they asked us about our travels and home country. Our intention was to leave in the morning, not wanting to impose on them too much, but by the end of the night Moises had effortlessly convinced us to stay one more.
The following day we took part in helping out with the daily chores. We split up to tackle different tasks. Bren helped build a new chicken coop for the young hatchlings, and I gained a whole new appreciation for rice. I sorted through the dinner pile, enough to feed a small army, grain by grain, picking out the impurities. After a hearty lunch and long rest we walked through the jungle gardens to harvest yuca roots, palm hearts, and plantains for the evening meal.
The work was followed by play, as we threw the ball around with the younger children. Once the older boys were ready, we walked down to the school yard where other local boys were waiting for some competitive volleyball. We played multiple rounds of three on three before it was time for dinner. Among the days harvest was tilapia cooked in banana leaf, and the whole feast displayed professionally on our plates. We ate ate and visited, Moises even making a speech to welcome our arrival. Really? All this for us? The day really made us want to move right in an become part of the family.
During our short stay with Moisés and Fanny we learned that they have been looking for someone to come and stay with them to teach English at the school. Moises is one of the professors and he has taken it on as his personal quest to find a volunteer. Unfortunately, their location doesn’t provide them the opportunity to connect with many outside visitors and it has proved difficult. So here I am reaching out to you, our readers, to share this information, in hopes that together we can find their village the english teacher they need.
You do not need any teaching experience. Knowing some Spanish would be helpful as they currently don’t speak any English besides a handful of words. They would provide food and accommodation, you only need to get yourself there. A long term commitment of 2-6 months would be ideal. This is a great opportunity to take part in everyday life in the jungle, improve your Spanish, and make a difference in the lives of an entire community. Please contact us if this sounds like something you would be interested in and we will pass along their contact information.