RECENT VISIT TO EMBREA

                            Civilization is Encroaching 

            I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to an Embrea village 17 years ago. The hour ride up the Sambu River through the Darien Jungle was a delight early in the morning. It was authentic.

            Progress sometimes makes me sad. I’m not sorry I made a visit to another village  recently, as it was a chance to introduce my grandchildren to an entirely different life-style. But seeing ‘civilization’ encroaching on the native tribal customs gave me pause.

          This village was easily accessible as it was located right on the river bank, close to our rainforest hotel. American capitalism had built concrete steps and iron rail from the river edge up into the village. I appreciated the easy access, but couldn’t it all have been done in a more rustic approach

to blend in with the village? And really did we need to have a toilet installed near the main structure? If a toilet was such a necessity how about a low profile chemical one. Give me a break!

New Construction

       Women now covered their torso with a beaded minimal halter top. I noted a new motor boat in the back of the village—however a native cayucu was pulled on the shore in the front of the village. A new building under construction was large, had ordinary steps and obviously lumber from the lumber store was being used. Maybe because trees are not supposed to be cut in the rainforest---I’d like to think that was the reason, but it did seem the building looked out of place with its metal instead of thatched roof!

         I would guess that fast food had entered their diet as their bodies were hardly lean. They obviously understood a good deal of English. Their handicrafts are still well made, but many tourist-type trinkets have been added, like woven bracelets available everywhere one goes.

     My daughter and I discussed these changes and I had an extensive conversation with our guide about them. If I had not made a previous trip would I have been so keen to notice the changes? Knowing me, probably, or at least questioned them. I did not mention any of the above to my 18 and 20 year old granddaughters. I did not want to spoil their excitement and adventure. 

        The small children were adorable! The girls had great fun talking to them and playing. The little ones obviously are used to interacting with visitors. I wonder when these youngsters will want to go off to a ‘better life’ and how long before the culture will just disappear. I didn’t see any cell phones, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there. Sometimes progress just makes me very sad!