About Robert Eby

Robert Eby I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas with a BS degree in Environmental Science and Forestry. I live in San Marcos, Texas with a job at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality "TCEQ" in Austin. I also play the bagpipes for the Capitol City Highlanders Pipe Band. I eventually want to get my Masters in Tropical Forest Conservation. I want to be a conservationist in the rainforests of Africa and/or South America. Tree planting and sustainable forestry is one way to balance forest conservation and meet the demand for tropical timber. I also want to bring viable ideas for a sustainable lifestyle to the native peoples of those places so that they can care for and live in harmony with the rainforests instead of destroying it for unsustainable agriculture that provides only minimal provisions. I also want to bring the Word of God in Jesus Christ to the people that they may know the Lover of the World and have Peace eternal. I don't believe that following God is exclusive of maintaining cultural identity. I don't believe that keeping the traditional ways of life is exclusive of knowing God. I do believe that cultures and traditional ways of life can be preserved while changing the hearts of the people to focus on the One True God.

Robert's Posts:

Estoy in mi Casa.

March 14th, 2010 by Robert Eby

I made it home, with some complications, but all ok.  I’m still a little sick in the stomach from Quito and I’ve lost a total of 16 pounds during my trip.  I guess I’ll have to eat that much more to make up for it!  My adventure was an adventure, I’m glad to be out of Ecuador, and I learned many things.  Here’s a TOP TEN list of what I learned from Ecuador.  
10. Bananas grow in large bunches on long stalks, upwards. 
9. Termites create these raised tunnels of soft wood where they march and create giant, bulbous colonies along the [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Un Presentación

March 9th, 2010 by Robert Eby

I plan to make a PowerPoint presentation upon my return from Ecuador.  It will be comprehensive with lessons learned, trip highlights, and lots of pictures.   It will take some time to prepare, so please be patient.  There are a LOT of pictures and I have to go through all of them first.

Posted in Ecuador

Regresso de Baños

March 7th, 2010 by Robert Eby

So I have returned from an enjoyable but expensive time in the ever popular and very touristy Baños.  This is the cleanest and prettiest city I have seen in Ecuador, and it is made so by the large gringo presence (and $$$).  Friday night we arrived in good order after a long bus ride and partied the night away at a discotech.  We even got a free ¨Bienvenidos shot¨.  Saturday some of us rented some mountain bikes and we rode down the mountain road towards Puyo which is filled with waterfalls and scenic views.  That was one of the best [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Voy a Baños

March 5th, 2010 by Robert Eby

Besides shoveling a whole lot of mud out of a water collection pit, work this week has been rather boring.  Last weekend I went to some far away place called cascada de latas and saw some beautiful waterfalls.  There was much cliff jumping involved as well.  The water felt great!  On wednesday, 34 Masters of Biodiversity students from Quito arrived for the next 10 days to study.  There´s about 50 people at the station right now.  Mealtime is a fiasco!
This weekend I go to the famous town of Baños, where there´s an active volcano, a cool road to bike down [...]

Posted in Ecuador

¡Soy vivo!

February 26th, 2010 by Robert Eby

On Saturday, we went rafting down the Lower Misualli Valley River, and it was so incredibly gorgeous!  There were many giant waterfalls everywhere.  It did rain the most since I´ve been here, but that was not much water compared to what the river provided!  The rafting trip included quite a long hike through the forest, in the rain, as well.  It was an intimate look at primitive jungle.  The trip took all day and was the most fun I´ve had in Ecuador so far.  Not only was it my first rafting trip, but the scenery was so wonderful.
I have just [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Dios es Amor

February 19th, 2010 by Robert Eby

The title of this post come from the writing on the back of the bus I took into town.  Although everyone claims to be Catholic, the practice of true Christian values is underrepresented.  I think the people would be very receptive to a revival of the love that Jesus Christ has for them.  I often see images of sanctified babies, I suppose to be Jesus.  They know who Jesus is, and they have heard about the love of God, and I believe there are many who truely know His love and mercy and grace, but for the most part it [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Mis Compadres

February 14th, 2010 by Robert Eby

Today I made my own bracelet from Amazonian seeds.  A local Quichua (the native tribe near here) lady teaches every Sunday morning.
I suppose I should talk a little about my fellow volunteers.  There are 12 total volunteers, plus two cooks, and about 4 or so workers.  Including myself, 6 of the volunteers are new this week.  All the staff are Ecuadorian or Quichua.  The volunteers include one guy from Philladelphia, one guy from Minnesota, myself from Texas, a Polish lady, an English lady, a Sweedish guy (who is my roommate and an Arnold Schwartzenager lookalike and soundalike (without the bulky [...]

Posted in Ecuador

En La Jungla

February 13th, 2010 by Robert Eby

I made it to the Jatun Sacha in one piece with all my luggage intact.  The Bus ride from Quito was incredibly long, and the bus ride from Tena to Jatun Sacha was incredibly crowded and hot.  The weather here is about like Houston in June.  I´v spent more time on a bus and in the city than I have in the jungle so far, but it is everywhere, and it is incredible.  The diversity is so huge – especially the insects!
On my first day of work (and only so far), I got to replant 6 tree saplings that were [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Mi dia fin en Quito antes La Amazonica

February 9th, 2010 by Robert Eby

I´ll try to keep this shorter than the last one, but this will be my last regular post.  I´m sure I´ll keep very busy in the Amazon and I have no idea how much time I´ll spend online.
I went on the Teleferico, which is a sky tram that goes to the top of the Pinchuan (sp?) Volcano just west of Quito.  The views were great once the clouds dissipated.  I did get lots of pictures.  I met a lot more of the Herbalife people, too.  In the afternoon, I had my orientation with the Jatun Sacha Foundation  – it was [...]

Posted in Ecuador

La Ciudad de Quito

February 8th, 2010 by Robert Eby

So today was my big Quito adventure.  After a breakfast of toast and eggs and oatmeal at the hostel I was on my way to see Quito.  Just me, my daypack, my Vibram Fivefingers, and my very limited knowledge of Spanish.  Fortunately, there are many helpful people here and some of them even know a little English!  I was ever so grateful that the person in charge of the tourist info center knew English.  The map and information I gathered there was invaluable.
Quito is an interesting city with much history, very colorful but poor and dirty.  The pollution from all [...]

Posted in Ecuador

Es mi primo dia en Ecuador

February 8th, 2010 by Robert Eby

¡Hola mis amigos y mis familia!  Estoy bien.
Although I had to travel all over the United States just to get out of the country, my trip has gone well thusfar.  I flew on a commuter jet from Austin to Dallas and on another commuter jet from Dallas to Savannah to Miami.  Contrary to American Airlines’ reputation, that have all been on time and my baggage arrived with me in Quito.  My flight from Miami to Quito – Ecuador´s capital city and the world´s second highest capital in elevation (next to La Paz, Bolivia) – was 20 minutes late, but that [...]

Posted in Ecuador

An Introduction

January 31st, 2010 by Robert Eby

It is exactly one week before I leave on my grand adventure to Ecuador.  By this time, 7 days from now, I’ll be flying somewhere over Central or South America.  I am excited, but there is still so much to accomplish.  I have yet to pack, although I have all my gear together.  I also have this big project at work that must be finished before I leave.  It is behind schedule and I have several appointments this week.  But whatever happens, I’m getting on the plane next Sunday and heading away from EVERYTHING I have known for the past [...]

Posted in Ecuador

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