Day 9 - Tuesday, May 26, 2009: The University of Vila Velha

by Laura Wakim

After catching up on our sleep, we met at UVV at 10:45 for a second day of academic lectures. Professor Antonio Marcos Machado delivered the first lecture titled: "Brasilian Economy and Culture." Professor Machado's presentation was a comparative juxtaposition of Brasil and the United States. He discussed the stark contrasts between the two nations. One of the most interesting and glaring differences between Brasil and the United States is the prison system. Generally Brasilian prisons are overcrowded one-room single-wide trailer sized buildings. In the United States, we have overcrowding, but not to the point where prisoners cannot lay down to sleep due to the lack of space. Professor Machado did an excellent job of articulating the history of Brasil and the United States and where the nations stand today.

The following lecture was by our very own WVU Professor John Taylor titled “Constitutional Protection of Religious Liberty in the U.S. and Brasil.” Professor Taylor led a conversation concerning freedom of religion. We discussed the lines that have been drawn by the United States Supreme Court concerning religious expression. We also had to prepare an article about the Brasilian Protestant minister Sergio Von Helde. Von Helde was convicted of criminal acts of religious intolerance after he “verbally and physically assaulted” a statue of Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady Aparecida—Brazil's patron saint) on television. Professor Taylor's lecture/ discussion made us realize the differences between how Brasil and the United States deals with religious freedom.

Professor Evelyn Opsommer of UVV presented a lecture entitled "Racial Issues: A Comparative Study of Brasil and North America." The lecture provoked a fervent debate regarding race in both the United States and Brasil. This was a conversation that we very rarely have in America and it was amazing to see all of the different perspectives come out of the debate.

Professor Michael Blumenthal then delivered a lecture: "Poetic Justice, Legal Justice: What the Poet and the Lawyer Might Have In Common." We read a few poems. My favorite was a poem about a juror sitting through a trial. It combines a real life situation with biting sarcasm most lawyers possess.

After a day of classes, we went to Shalom's apartment for a pizza party. The view from his rooftop was so gorgeous that Natalie, Katie, Matt, Penelope, Josh Nightengale, and I decided to take a walk on the beach right outside of his building. We saw night fishermen and little children with their parents walking along the beach on this clear and starry night. It still amazes me that when I look to the heavens I do not see the same sky that I do when I am in West Virginia. Brasil is such a beautiful place. I sincerely hope that I will be able to return to this marvelous country someday.

Day 9 - Tuesday, May 26, 2009: Vitoria, Espirito Santo

by Jonathan Floyd

The most exciting element of study abroad is that learning happens experientially (by doing). Being able to visit a country to meet its people and share its culture has really thrust our group into a whole new level of learning beyond the classroom. An important part of this type of experiential learning is that it happens on different levels, some very large and some very small. Yesterday I had a very small moment that impacted me more than any other so far on the trip.

Our classes were to begin at eleven in the morning so I stayed at home while my host, Daniel, went to his 7 AM class. Early in the morning I heard a knock on my door and when I opened it I was greeted with a cheerful ´´Bom Dia`` from his father, Valdimir. My host father does not speak a word of English, so I exchanged the few pleasantries that I have in my Portuguese repertoire and gave him a big smile. Then Valdimir motioned for me to follow him. When I did we walked to the front door and he handed me a t-shirt. After I put it on, we stepped outside and he motioned to a pair of shoes which I also put on. At this point, I was certain he was going to show me something in the apartment courtyard or on their rooftop garden. When we stepped out onto the street, I still didn’t know where we were going.

Walking through the residential streets of Vila Velha while locals tend to their morning chores is a very exciting activity, even more so when you’re two minutes out of bed and wearing boxer shorts with flip flops. I had no clue where we were going, when we would be back, or even if pink stripes were fashionable in Brasil. As it would turn out, our trip was several blocks across the neighborhood (about a 10 minute walk) to a small bakery where we bought our morning bread. Unfortunately I couldn’t pay…alas, boxer shorts have no pockets.

It was not until the bakery that I realized the true proposes of my morning excursion. The first was very pragmatic in that we needed bread; the second was much more exciting. There had been a feeling around the neighborhood that I felt coming and going from the apartment. In the bakery, I realized that not only were my hosts very excited to be hosting an American, but so was the community. This was evidenced by their reaction when I entered their bakery. I was greeted with smiles, proclamations of ´´Americano,`` and comments on my blond hair (but not on my pink striped boxer shorts for some reason).

That morning I sat with my host father and had a conversation over breakfast, one between two men of different generations, different cultures, and different languages. He told me that he was from São Paolo, and talked about his family and even his dogs. We later toured the five floors of the apartment complex, visiting his dogs and feeding the birds on the balcony outside of his window. I was able to describe Manaus, a part of the Brasilian Amazon that the younger generations have no use for and the older generations are mystified by. I was even able to introduce him to my dog, Dutch, through the magic of Facebook.

My experience with Valdimir was unscripted and spontaneous. Our trip has been a series of events that follow a schedule: we have tour guides, classes, and even certain meals pre-arranged. All of this is necessary to facilitate traditional learning; however, the beauty of studying abroad is that it allows for opportunities like mine to sneak into an individual student’s experience. I feel very lucky to have shared such an experience with my host father and to have visited Brasil and its wonderful people.

Day 9 - Tuesday, May 26, 2009: Vitoria, Brasil (University of Vila Velha)

by Brandon Lucki

Today started our second day of classes in Vitoria but luckily we did not have to be at the University of Vila Velha (University) until 11, which meant it was time to hit the beach for a little bit. The beach scene was so relaxing with the beautiful soft sand, no clouds in the sky, and a coconut water in my hand (the drink is one where they just cut open a coconut and you drink straight from it). A few of my classmates met up with me and we played a game known as fresca ball, but what we would consider paddle ball. I was pretty bad at it but as soon as I started to go from being pretty bad to just bad it was time for class.

Our first speaker was a economics professor at the University, Professor Machado. He discussed a comparative history of Brazilian and American cultures dating from 1900-now. Professor Machado had a great energy and enthusiasm about this topic so it was a fun lecture to follow (he even discussed Frank Sinatra for a bit, how can you not love that!). He made numerous comparisons of each countries´ history through the use of pop culture, politics, war, and other historical events.

Our next class was taught by one of our professors, Profressor John Taylor. One of Professor Taylor´s favorite topics to discuss is First Amendment rights, particularly the Freedom of Religion Clause so that is what our class centered around. And guess who got called on first . . . you got it, me. We discussed two cases from America that involved a person´s ability to freely practice their religious traditions without interference from the government. We then discussed how these American cases were similar to a case in Brazil but time ran short and we did not get a chance to finish our discussion.However, I have a feeling he´ll sneak it back into another lecture/seminar at some point.

Following Professor Taylor was another professor from the University who taught anthropology, Professor Opsommer. It was a fascinating discussion of racial issues in Brazil and about the heated debate of using quotas for Afro Brasilian people to be accepted into the prestigious federal public universities. The whole class was heavily involved with student comments and questions. These issues of quotas and racism are openly discussed in Brazil, unlike the U.S. where people are typically afraid to engage in frank discussions of race. It would be rare to hear an American saying something like “affirmative action is absolutely wrong” for fear of being considered racist. Brazil is striving for diversity in the classrooms just as American classes are, but they are just a few decades behind what America has accomplished and they will get there if they keep the fight going.

Finally, after an intense discussion of racism we finished with our final lecture of the day, law and poetry. One of our professors, Professor Blumenthal, led this classroom discussion. Professor Blumenthal has worked as a lawyer, psycho therapist, and a poet. He has a very chilled, relaxed manner of speaking which every law student could appreciate. We discussed some acts of the Odyssey and how they compared with the life of a lawyer, it was a very unique topic. Most of the students on this trip have had Professor cummings or Taylor, but not Blumenthal because he just started at the law school about a year ago. However, there is a growing consensus that a lot of us will definitely be enrolling in some of his classes in the future.

Classes ended, and what better way to celebrate the day then by having a pizza party on top of a ten story condo over looking the beach. Man this place is awesome!

Day 8 - Monday, May 25, 2009: Vitoria, Brasil (University of Vila Velha)

by Dale Harrison

Flying in to Vitoria for classes at Vila Velha University, I was anxious to see and experience how the law is taught and practiced in Brazil. This curiosity was increased after my host, Guilherme, picked me up from the airport and a friend of his told me that she studied law at the University for two years but dropped out because of her frustration with what she described as an inept process.

When I arrived at the University of Vila Velha, it became immediately apparent the differences between our two legal systems. The law school is part of the large university, like in the U.S., except in Brazil there is only one building with all the students of the university intermingling and sharing class rooms. This is due to the fact that a law degree is earned in Brazil by attending a 5 year program without an undergraduate equivalent - law students in Brazil work towards their law degree immediately after high school. The aesthetics of the university also gave a different feeling than one would have in a U.S. law school; for example, the students can be as young as 17 years old, their lockers lined the halls of the building, and there were small desks in all the rooms. All this gave one the feeling that they were in a high school and not a university - to me it even smelled like my high school.

The Rector, which is the equivalent of the President of the university, gave the first lecture, and the difference in perspective between our two countries became evident from the beginning. After discussing the history and culture of Brazil, the Rector began to discuss the recent election of Barack Obama and its impact on Brazilian-U.S. relations and tied this to a discussion on Affirmative Action in Brazil - which is currently one of the most controversial topics in Brazil. The Rector commented that with the election of Barack Obama as the first African American President that racism no longer existed in the U.S. and insinuated that Affirmative action was no longer needed in the U.S. and is not applicable in Brazil because they did not have race issues like the U.S. The Rector also stated that Affirmative Action in Brazil was unfair because admission is based solely on one exam and there currently exists a quota system to ensure Afro-Brazilian acceptance to Brazilian universities. Therefore, individuals with lower scores gained admittance to universities over those with better scores.

Professor cummings (pictured at far right, with Professor John Taylor, middle, and the Rector) pointed out to that the mere election of a African American does not automatically end race issues in the U.S. and making such a statement can be dangerous. He also pointed out that although quotas for admissions in Brazil may appear unfair, in actuality it is not unfair because of cultural bias of “impartial exams” and the unequal education opportunities of Afro-Brazilians at the grade school and high school level. The Rector did not fully address the issues raised by Professor cummings, but he did state that he was simply giving his opinion and that it was a vaild point that racism is not necessarily nonexistent in the U.S. because of the mere fact there is an African-American as President.

After the Rector’s initial lecture, the group traveled to Espirita Santo’s State Supreme Court and a retired justice, Justice Tasso Lugon (pictured, right) gave a tour of the court building and gave a lecture on the work of a Brazilian judge and the process of becoming a Brazilian judge. Many interesting difference was highlighted by Justice Tasso; for example, judges in Brazil are not appointed, but instead earn judicial posts based only on an exam. Other notable differences of a Brazilan judge and US judge discussed by Justice Tasso was that judges in Brazil are not merely adjudicative referees, but instead are dominant actors in the process where the judge asks his or her own questions, and judges in Brazil rule on thousands of cases at all levels of the judiciary. In fact one new feature implemented in Brazil was the “justice on wheels” program, where a judge will travel via bus to more rural areas and will hear cases of those who can not get to cities and have their cases tried. During Justice Tasso’s lecture/tour the class had an opportunity to see the Supreme Courtroom and take pictures of each of us in the class sitting in one of the 25 seats reserved for the state justices - a very generous gesture by Justice Tasso.

After lunch the a series of lectures were given by professors of the law school, the topics included Brazilian civil procedure, economic conditions of the state, environmental refugees, international law on refugees, and the military priorities of Brazil regarding the Amazon and the Amazons reserve of natural resources, like oil and gas.

In the middle of the Brazilian lectures Professor cummings also gave a lecture on the current economic crisis. Unlike Brazilian law classes, which are lecture based, Professor cummings used the Socratic method to model to the Brazilian law students how the law is taught in the US. The first individual to get the “cummings treatment” was Cris Bombard, whose outstanding performance made the rest of us in the group look good in front of the Brazilian students watching.

During Professor cummings' lecture, the positives of the Socratic Method became clear because, unlike the other lectures, it was engaging and enlightening with students´ differing opinions being discussed and considered. In fact, even a few Brazilian students who were watching the lecture took the opportunity to weigh in on the economic impact of the local economy.

After the lectures which lasted from 9 am until 9 pm some students went home to sleep after a long day and others went out to relax and get a meal. My host took me out to eat and afterwards we went back to his home to study for the next day and get some sleep.

When we got to his home, which was two blocks from the beach, I found that his mother had generously washed all the dirty clothes I had from the Amazon and had them neatly folded on my bed. I told Guilherme his mother did not have to do that but he insisted that the week that I was staying at his home I was his mother’s pale/red headed adopted son, and therefore my cloths were going to be washed despite my protests. Although the rest of the class will without a doubt argue with me on this point, I had the most generous and giving hosts. Words cannot explain my gratitude for hospitality i experienced while staying with Guilherme and his mother - They gave me the full experience of being part of a Brazilin family, and for that I am incredibly thankful.

Day 7 - Sunday, May 24, 2009: Vitoria and Vila Velha, Espirito Santo

by Katie Beardsley

Brazil yields many once in a lifetime opportunities. Traveling through the rainforest and associated waterways of Brazil exposed us to the bountiful resources and wildlife that thrives in the Amazonian basin; this was an experience that provided rare, hands-on exposure to the Amazon region. After my first week of immersion in a wholly unfamiliar environment, I found myself wondering how the rest of the trip could even begin to compare. Would Vila Velha or Rio de Jeniero be as exciting as the first week of the trip? After all, living in the Amazonia region for only one week will probably be the biggest adventure of my life. Consider, in just the first week I went camping in the Amazon jungle (admit it, I’m tougher than you), I lived on a river boat and slept on a hammock, I bathed in the Amazon River (no one experienced the mythical toothpick catfish), I visited indigenous tribes, I went fishing for—AND CAUGHT—piranhas, held a crocodile (ok—it was a caimen, but it still counts), and most importantly, I had the honor of meeting the undeniably mighty Amazonian superhero “Anandje.” Understandably, I felt like my professors had made a big mistake by putting the “best” part of the trip at the beginning—I thought we were being set up for disappointment.

After arriving in Vila Velha I quickly realized that each region of Brazil provides unique experiences. The Amazon may provide rare opportunities to interact with nature unfamiliar to most Americans, but living with a host family in a Brazilian city provides cultural experiences that I am positive can never be replicated.

My first full day of cultural immersion in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo began on Sunday, May 24th. After my hosts provided me with a much welcomed soft, comfortable, stationary, non-swinging, dry, soft, clean (you get the picture) bed, I woke up by an alarm clock rather than with mosquitos and the hot sun as is typical in the Amazon. It was a welcomed change. My Brazilian mom fixed a lovely breakfast complete with the best coffee and FRESH orange juice I have ever tried. After these delicacies, my host helped me choose an appropriate “Brazilian” outfit for our welcome barbeque.

The barbeque was a fun opportunity for students from WVU and UVV to meet and mingle. Although strange, I think one of the most interesting aspects of the barbeque was the attentiveness of the wait staff. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the waiters continually circled the party, offering drinks and finger foods at two minute intervals. Service like that in America is only found in the nicest restaurants. At the party, the WVU students gathered in a circle and we were provided with our per diem allowance; we were also told that we could join together in the evening for a group dinner. I, however, could not attend this dinner. I already had plans.

My plans did not consist of what a typical American would picture as an obligatory activity while visiting Brazil; rather, I had plans to attend my first-ever Pentecostal church service. For those who don’t know me, I was born and raised, pure-bred, proud West Virginian. I am aware, probably just like most West Virginians, of the relatively large number of Pentecostals in our state. Pentecostal women are easily identified by their clothing. For example, a typical Pentecostal woman would have long hair and would only wear dresses or skirts rather than jeans or shorts.

I had never attended a Pentecostal church service, and I really did not know what to expect. I wanted to attend, though, because I thought it would provide me with an experience that I would never forget. Indeed, my predictions were very correct. My host family and I arrived at their church at around seven in the evening. I asked my hosts why their church was held in the evening. I figured it had something to do with the hot Brazilian sun during the afternoon. I figured wrong. In reality, the church has a very powerful and efficient air conditioning system. The reason church is held in the evening is because Brazilians like to go to the beach during the morning and afternoon. The Pentacostal church was large and open with many chairs and a stage at the front of the building. A small number of women consisted of the “choir,” and a live band provided music for the service. The service began with a prayer, which is probably pretty typical for a church service. However, this was not a typical prayer (at least by my Baptist standards). The prayer lasted around 15 minutes. This prayer was followed by around 45 minutes of very energetic singing and worship. More prayers followed, and at the one hour and fifteen minute mark the actual sermon began. The sermon was immediately interrupted by a startling shout from the back of the sanctuary. A man was standing in the aisle, rapidly speaking in what I definitely know is not Portuguese. I looked at my host and asked her what was going on, and she just shook her head. I later discovered that the man was “speaking in tongues.” After his five or ten minute interlude, the sermon resumed and the preacher’s voice continually crescendoed over the next thirty minutes. At the end of the sermon, the preacher was practically yelling. After the sermon there was more singing, followed by a group prayer where every attendee said their own prayer. At this point we were at the two hour mark, which is the longest Sunday church service I have ever attended. When the group prayer reached the two and a half hour mark, I honestly prayed that church would not last for three hours. The service concluded after all members who were able to speak in tongues went to the front of the sanctuary and were blessed by the priests.

Even though the service was long by my standards, the worshipers were energetic and engaged until the last seconds. It was very refreshing to see people so engaged and happy about their religion. In my visit to my host’s church, I witnessed a type of joy and sincere praise that I believe many American churches lack.

When the service concluded, my host family took me to a local fried chicken and french fries restaurant. The restaurant was packed when we arrived at around 9:45, and we had to wait for a table. Keep in mind that this was on a Sunday evening—most sit down restaurants in West Virginia are closed at this hour on a Sunday. After consuming a delicious meal of fried chicken, fries, fried polenta, and coca-cola (which, interestingly, is made from cane sugar in Brazil rather than high fructose corn syrup as in the USA), we returned to my Brazilian home for the night.

Although I joked about attending a nearly three hour long church service in Brazil, I believe the experience was amazing and fascinating. I encourage travelers who are serious about “absorbing local culture” to not only visit the typical tourist attractions, but also to try to engage in local practices such as attending a church service or even visit sites that are off the beaten track. It seems like these types of cultural experiments often provide the most interesting views of local culture.

Day 6 - Saturday, May 23, 2009: Manaus to Vitoria, Brasil

by Whitney Nightingale

Our group spent nearly a week roughing it on a riverboat floating along the Amazon! Needless to say this was a great departure from out normal lives which are usually spent in the comfort of our homes watching television and spending hours on the internet. After only a day or so on the boat we had transformed entirely. We had become a new breed. Gone was the customarily well-groomed, hygenic group of law school students that had arrived in Manaus days earlier. We had adapted to our new environment. Most visibly this could be observed in our appearance and our smell. We had developed an outer-layer, a second skin of sorts, composed of SPF, DEET, sweat, and river water. This glistening layer served as our primary defense mechanism. It became essential to our survival (or maybe only our comfort). However, this smelly glistening sheen was not the only adaptation we had undergone. We took to bathing in the tea stained water of the river. We ceased all use of make-up and perfume. We stopped attempting to tame our untameable locks. We became masters at maneuvering around strategically placed hammocks in the dead of night. We learned to make plates from leaves and we all learned a thing or two about jungle first-aid (this skill was honed toward reviving weary jungle travelers struck down by heat exhaustion). We all learned a thing or two about environmental law, deforestation and environmental justice. In a short period of time we had truly adapted!!

And then, our jungle adventure concluded. On our final night in the rainforest the group took refuge at a Jungle Lodge. While this lodge would likely be described as rustic in normal circumstances, to us, it was more posh than the Plaza! We finally were able to take real showers with scalding hot/ ice cold water and sleep on matresses! When we awoke we indulged in a second shower, which felt necessary in order to fully rid ourselves of our semi-permanent DEET, sunscreen, sweat layer. Revitalized and refreshed we strode back out into the jungle air. We had transformed once more; we now had our usual clean smell back and had applied for the first time in nearly a week our usual war-paint (make-up). We felt like ourselves once more.

We said farewell to our home on the riverboat; we said goodbye to the people on the boat that we will forever think of fondly and journeyed to the second leg of our adventure. A final rainstorm, two short flights, and a gate-change later and we were reintroduced back into the modern world where new friends were anxiously awaiting our arrival. Our hosts greeted us with open arms into their homes that night and have done everything possible to make us feel at home in a strange place. These hosts will surely become life-long friends.

Aside from examining the differences in ourselves in these contrasting atmospheres, the most striking difference that we observed was probably in the people we encountered and their lives we observed. In the Amazon we saw people who were working incredibly hard day in and day out just to survive and feed their families. Their tireless spirit was amazing! They graciously allowed us to take a peek into their everyday lives and we gained an invaluable fresh perspective from them. Although none of us will likely be in their shoes, for an hour or two we were able to share in their struggle. These hard working warriors of the Amazon have lived their lives struggling with much much more than we got a chance to experience for the short week we spent on the river.

This daily struggle is in stark contrast to the lifestyles of those we encountered upon entering Vitoria. Arriving on a Saturday night in Vitoria, it became apparent that the city was absolutely buzzing with carefree people whose main objective was to have a good time. Instead of shoeless natives, we saw hundreds of carefree people dressed to the nines. It is hard to imagine two more opposite places and mindsets. . . however, both are uniquely Brazilian and we are greatful to have experienced them both.

Leaving downtown Manaus for the airport and Vitoria/Vila Velha

Day 5 - Friday, May 22, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

After studying environmental justice for the past several days, students were very interested in learning about the perspective of Brazilians who had grown up in the Amazon. Our exceptional tour guide, Anand Pooran (pictured at right), answered questions posed by the WVU Law students:

QUESTION: The Brasilian Government has an agency that is charged with enforcing Brazil’s environmental laws, IBAMA. How is IBAMA perceived by residents of the Amazon?

ANAND POORAN: Lately, IBAMA has been pressuring the Caboclos to leave their villages and lands. The Caboclos are not indigenous people; they have mixed blood: both indigenous and European ancestry. But they have lived in the Amazon for a very long time. IBAMA is telling the Caboclos that they must take their homes and communities and move to a different place.

QUESTION: Why is the Brasilian Government through IBAMA making Amazon residents leave their communities or villages and move?

ANAND POORAN: The Government is turning tributaries and river land into national parks and national reserves. Once the lands are turned into parks and reserves, IBAMA goes to the Caboclos that live on the river in these new parks and tells them that the law no longer allows for them to live in these areas. The Caboclos may no longer live, fish, timber, or grow manioc on the land in these new protected areas.

IBAMA tells the Caboclos: “no fishing, no camping, no logging, no tourism.” There is a group of islands in the middle of the river called the Anavilhanas Islands. Six communities that depend on the Islands are now forbidden from fishing, logging, and camping within that area. IBAMA will seize the boat, fishing nets, and anything used for fishing, logging, or camping if anyone in those six villages tries to fish, log, or live within that area.

QUESTION: Why is the government creating new reserves and parks in areas where individuals live?

ANAND POORAN: They would say they are protecting the forest, but “saving the rainforest” often hurts the local people. European countries sending money does not help “on the ground.” Often the IBAMA agents throwing people off their land are from Rio, São Paulo, or other big cities; they don’t come from Manaus or the villages. They don’t understand how the local people live, and whatever new jobs IBAMA creates are going to outsiders.

I’m not for deforestation, I’m against it. But the Caboclos aren’t the people causing deforestation. Most of the deforestation takes place in other states -- Mato Grosso and Para, for example – not along the Rio Negro. The pressure from IBAMA is in the wrong place.

QUESTION: Why is the deforestation primarily in these other states and not along the Rio Negro?

ANAND POORAN: For one thing, the soil here is very poor and doesn’t have as much potential for soy growing or even cattle ranching. But a big reason is also that labor is very cheap in these other places as compared to Manaus. Para is an extremely poor state and deforesters can hire people very cheaply to do the work of clearing, burning, and planting soy. They plant soy for several seasons, then graze cattle. In Manaus, you go to the grocery and spend $R 800 for a month of food. They would have to pay people more here.

There is also very little police presence in Para, and illegal deforesting is hard to prevent. The government has gotten better about enforcing laws against deforesting in the last few years, but they still have a long way to go.

QUESTION: You’ve been talking about the Caboclos. How do the environmental laws impact the indigenous people of Amazonas?

ANAND POORAN: IBAMA doesn’t hurt the indigenous people nearly as much as it hurts the Caboclos. The indigenous people have another government agency, FUNAI, which protects them. No one protects the Caboclos.

QUESTION: If the real problems are in these other states, why is IBAMA giving the Caboclos a hard time?

ANAND POORAN: I think the government is under a lot of pressure to look like they are doing something to save the Amazon. They ask for and receive some foreign money to help save the forest, and they want to show that they are making progress. But it’s hard to make progress against the land bandits who cut down trees in Para and Mato Grosso. They have guns and they are hard to find. It’s easier to focus on the Caboclos, who aren’t in a position to resist. I wish IBAMA would spend all its time on the real sources of deforestation and leave the Caboclos alone.

Day 5 - Friday, May 22, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

by Brant Lowe

I woke up this morning to the sound of whispers coming from a group of hammocks near me. Apparently some people had not slept as well as I did. It was around 5:30 and the sun was just beginning to make its way through the rainforest canopy. We had survived the night camping out in the Amazon jungle.

The others began to wake up as the jungle came to life with its unique sounds growing louder and louder. Everyone packed up their hammocks and we began the hike back to the boat. After taking baths in the river, we departed and made our way to another stopping point where we took canoes out to look for butterflies.

We saw several butterflies, and Professor cummings had one land on his hand. We returned to the boat and started heading towards the jungle lodge where we would be staying for the night. We crossed a very wide section of the river that was at least 5 times bigger than any lake in West Virginia.

After crossing the river, we made our way through a narrow channel full of wildlife. A few pink dolphins could be seen swimming near the boat as we entered the channel, and we passed by a big jungle lodge where Bill Gates once stayed. I saw a large caiman that quickly disappeared when the boat passed.

We were able to see howler monkeys, a squirrel monkey, a sloth, and many different birds. The captain of the boat managed to move the boat directly beneath the sloth, which was hanging from a tree branch that extended out over the channel. The abundance of wildlife in this one channel was a perfect example of the diversity found in the rainforest.

Late in the afternoon, we stopped to fish for piranha. The guides had made fishing poles and prepared small pieces of meat to use as bait. The group was very successful with the fishing, though the piranhas were small and some of us caught more fish than others. We also caught a sardine and two catfish.

When we finished fishing, we left on an excursion to find caimans. It was dark, and our guide used a spotlight to see the caimans’ eyes in the water. The guide was able to catch three caimans, and he allowed everyone to hold them. Professor cummings, being the outdoorsman that he is, dropped the first caiman when it was handed to him but the guide was able to recapture it before any limbs were lost. (I should acknowledge that this description of the caiman-dropping incident is disputed by Professor cummings. Historians will have to judge.)



After the caiman hunt, we arrived at the Posada Amazonia, a jungle lodge where we spent the last night of our Amazon trip. The real beds at the Posada were very nice compared to the hammocks on the boat, and everyone enjoyed their first hot showers in nearly a week. Some people gathered in the game room at the lodge and played ping pong and pool, but others retired to their rooms. Just another spectacular day in the Amazon Rainforest.

Day 4 - Thursday, May 21, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

The Brasil Study Abroad 2009 group on our riverboat, the "Alves Lima".



I'm on a Boat Feat. T-Pain


The group adopted "I'm On a Boat" as its theme song for their week aboard
the riverboat.

Day 4 - Thursday, May 21, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

by Sarah Rose Anderson

We had a very full day today with the two major highlights being the visit to the indigenous village set right on the edge of the Rio Negro River and sleeping overnight under the canopy of trees in the Amazon Rainforest.

After breakfast on the boat, we arrived at the indigenous village of Nova Esberenca, boasting 120 members. As we walked up, the first little building we came upon was the school house. We were invited in and it was perfect timing. The children had just lined up for their lunch of rice, minced beef, and manioc. Manioc is made from a root and is a staple of the diet of people living along the river. Many of the children smiled at us but were more concerned with eating than the mostly light skinned visitors that invaded their school house. Some of the children came over to let us take pictures. We showed them their image that was instantly produced on our digital cameras. Jonathan Floyd even showed two little boys how he recorded a video of them dancing. The inside of the classrooms reminded me of a smaller version of an American elementary school with little desks, all the letters of the alphabet on the wall, and boards displaying the children’s art work.

We left the schoolhouse and walked through the village to look at houses and vegetation. Trees and bushes that grow papayas, garlic, guava, lemongrass and some other natural medicinal remedies were spread throughout the village. They also had a garden. As we walked through we saw the village pet monkey and bright green parrot looking bird. Both were free to roam around. The village also had the same kind of pet dogs we had seen often in the days before.

Before we left, our group stopped by an open market where a few of the residents had set up shop with trinkets they had made by hand including jewelry, blow guns, and wood carvings. I bought my mom a necklace made with seeds from plants in the village and my dad a hand crafted blow gun.

Besides a well, gasoline, and the school lunches all provided by government, the indigenous village was self sufficient. With the nearest hospital hours away by motorboat, the villagers must know what to do when someone is sick or breaks a bone. It was odd to be in a “town” where I did not see a car, electric pole, or even a road. I did, of course, see a soccer field which is a necessity for all villages however big or small. As we left, some of the law students kicked around a soccer ball with several kids in front of the school house. Even though the kids did not know any English and most of us didn’t know any Portuguese, everyone understood when they started to play the game.

We got on the boat and headed to the next spot down the Rio Negro. Our boat was parked at a spot that looked like a postcard with two old canoes tied up to huge palm trees. After a lunch of fried catfish, beans, rice, papaya, and watermelon I went for a swim/bath. It is quite a task to tread water, wash your hair, scrub up, and then shave your legs. Hey, we may be in the Amazon, but a girl has to stay clean.

In the afternoon, most of our group packed up a bag to take out into the rainforest for our overnight stay. I have to mention that this was quite the opportunity for our group. None of the previous WVU students had the opportunity to sleep out in the Amazon, but our guide Anand (pronounced an-non-gee) offered and most of us gladly accepted. A few were not up to the challenge of a full night out in the open jungle. We packed up our hammocks we had been sleeping in the nights before and lots of deet. A lot of us found that deet became an adjective in that we had to “deet up” everyday, i.e. put on a lot of bug spray.

As I left off the boat following our guide, Anand, I had to seriously wonder if I was going to ever be seen again. If the jungle hike the day before had taught us anything it was that there are a great deal of dangers in the Amazon. I found my dad’s advice for this trip ringing in my head…”Sarah, don’t take any unnecessary chances.” This was my first trip out of the country and not a great occasion to not take dad’s advice. I decided that Anand was probably the best guide in all of Amazonia and that it was also a once in a lifetime experience. I trekked on.

We hiked about a mile into the rain forest until we reached the spot. I felt helpless standing there with my backpack while Anand and his helpers sprung into action making camp. They all wielded big machetes (which I found is a must for the rainforest) chopping palms for the fire shelter, gathering wood, and making fire. They showed us how to tie up our hammocks in small trees. I found out that putting your hammock in two big trees is a bad idea because jaguars can climb the big ones.

Just as every hammock had been hung, it hit. Our group was caught in a typical torrential downpour of the rain forest. Most us grabbed up our hammocks and crowded under the palm fire shelter and a tarp. Some of the guys stayed out in the rain to help the guides. Its hard to explain what a rain storm in the Amazon rain forest is like. It is exciting and electric. (See for yourself by viewing the clip below.)



After the rain finally stopped those of use hiding under the shelter put up our hammocks once again. Anand got the fire going while the rest of us reset up for the night.

We had been eating very well all week on the boat thanks to our cook Antonia, but that night, I officially had the best chicken I have ever, ever tasted. The chicken marinated all day and was brought out to the forest in a big trash bag. I was wary. Anand cut some 3 foot long stick skewers and put the chicken and bananas over the fire. Meanwhile we all made our dinner plate out of big green leaves. When dinner was ready Jenny Flanigan and I parked in a hammock together to share our big chicken skewer and eat. Jenny’s method was to eat the chicken off the skewer, while I used the stick like a shish kabob. We lost out prim and proper ways long ago.

After dinner it was already dark. I went to my hammock while some others sat around the fire talking about politics and racial inequalities. To get ready for bed I hung up my shoes and backpack, got in my sleep sack wearing shirt, socks, pants and jacket, armed myself with my head lamp and camera, and then got into my hammock. Rain drops trickling down through the forest canopy kept landing on my head so I cover my face with my rain jacket. At first I kept turning on my light to make sure nothing was in my bed. I thought all of the night sounds and the fear of being eaten, stung, or bit by some creature would keep me awake. However today was a long, long day and I fell asleep rather fast.

Morning came quickly. When I woke up to the daylight, it was 6am. I felt really rested and with no bugs in my bed. I know my mom would really crack up if she knew I got up at 6am voluntarily. We all packed up our hammocks and cleaned up camp then headed out. When I hiked out of the forest and saw our boat, a sense of accomplishment came over me. I had just done something few people in the world will ever have the chance to do, sleep all night in the Amazon. Plus, I lived.

Day 3 - Wednesday, May 20, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

By Kurt Doiron

The Amazon is a mysterious place. After watching programs about it on the National Geographic channel, my perception of the Brazilian rainforest was rather skewed. I have always thought of it as a place teeming with life, and that a walking through it could easily prove to be deadly. So, in preparation for my visit, I invested in four hundred dollars worth of shots, pills and first aid items to protect myself from the dangers of the forest. However, after paying a visit to the forest myself, speaking with our Amazon guides and reading about deforestation in the region, a grim reality dawned on me. I am more of a threat to the forest than the forest is to me.

Today I awoke from my hammock to the smell of fresh coffee and a smorgasbord of eggs, bread, cheese, ham, and fruit juices. As I sat on the deck of our riverboat, I sipped my coffee and looked out on the great Rio Negro, one of three rivers that make up the Amazon Basin. The river is the color of iced tea, brown but translucent. It has flooded the lower tributary of the forest, and it looks as though the trees have grown up underwater with the tree tops just above the river’s surface. The sky is clear and a genteel breeze flows through the open-air cabin as we chug-a-lug down the river with the dense jungle on either side. We are on our way to a spot where we can enter the forest and soon we will embark on a jungle trek through the Amazon.


Jon Floyd and Professor John Taylor in the jungle.

The river boat pulls into an inlet and docks in front of a small house. Although it would be considered uninhabitable by American standards, the house is in better shape than most I have seen along the Amazon. Jason, my guide, calls to the house and a man emerges equipped with a sharp machete and thick rubber boots. As I contemplate my pocket knife and ragged tennis shoes, it occurs to me that I may be a little unprepared. The man is older than Jason, but despite his age, Jason concedes the lead to him as we begin our journey. For a brief time, our trek took place along a beaten path with little need for machetes or even boots. Jason began to talk about various insects and I thought to myself, “Ok, I guess this is going to be a Disneyland tour after all.” But just then, as if provoked by my thought, we suddenly turned off the path and enter the dark wilderness of the jungle.

I always thought that walking through the jungle would be like walking through a hot and humid zoo of animals, with poisonous plants and deadly insects. However, the Amazon forest was rather cool and breezy; the plants were not unlike the vegetation I have experienced growing up in Florida, and there were no an animals in sight. In fact, after not seeing a bird or a snake for an hour, I began to question the accuracy of the Discovery Channel. Suddenly Jason stopped in front of an unassuming tree. He took out his machete and dug it into the tree trunk until a white
sap came oozing out. “Taste!” Jason said, as he dipped his finger in the sap and licked it off of his finger. “This is a very important medicinal plant for the people in the forest.” He went on to say how the plant helped to treat various diseases like tuberculosis and other stomach illnesses by drinking the sap. As we continued through the forest Jason would point out trees that can be used for everything from snake bites and respiratory infections to perfumes and candles. It seemed that in our mere two mile trek, almost every other tree had some practical purpose. Jason’s story of the Amazon forest was truly fascinating, but it had a bitter end. While all these plants in the forest still contain benefits, some of which have not yet been discovered, deforestation by the various occupiers of Brazil have all but eliminated many of these most prized resources. The birds of the forest began to sing, and a pungent smell filled the air. “Smell that?” said Jason, “that’s the monkey smell; they’re hiding and waiting for us to leave. Do you hear the birds? That’s the rain bird, weather predictors for the Amazon!” Then, as if on queue, it started to rain. Jason and his companion guide walked us through the forest for another hour or so, showing us the bountiful forest and then brought us back to the river boat.

After a quick dip and wash in the river, we ate and gathered around the top deck of our riverboat for our nightly class. Tonight, class began with a red sunset behind the Amazon and picked up with a burning question from the discussion the night before. “Is the Amazon’s deforestation the fault of Brazil? Whose responsibility is it to correct the situation, and how can deforestation be stopped?” The answer is evenly divided. On the one hand, Brazil is a developing country looking to liquidate the forest in order to reach the status of other developed countries that have already done so. On the other, developed countries are urging Brazil not to destroy the forest because it contains one fifth the world’s fresh water supply; it consumes greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, and holds the world’s highest concentration of biodiversity. Simply put, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest holds great consequences for the rest of the world. Without it, the many species of animals and plants including the quality of the Earth’s fresh water would be lost without the support of the Amazon’s ecosystem.

Another important consideration is the affect of Brazilian nationalism. While it is easy to advise Brazil about the importance of conservation from an American perspective, Brazilian’s who desire the same benefits and luxuries as Americans find such intrusions hypocritical. Many Brazilians believe that the forest is their resource and that they should be free to do as they please with it. However, as an international consciousness for environmental conservation grows, the value of resources provided by the Amazon has also become greater. The question then becomes “how do we preserve the Amazon and its rainforest while allowing for Brazil to industrialize? While it seems clear that a balance must be struck between the two positions, it is hard to imagine that there is room for further destruction of the forest. Even today, miles of the Amazon are being deforested by the hour.

I don’t pretend to know the solution to this problem facing the Brazilian government. It is difficult to contemplate the decision between Brazil’s need for preservation of such a great environmental resource and the need to protect the livelihood of its citizens. Furthermore, enforcement of regulations already in place is problematic to say the least. IBAMA, Brazil’s regulatory agency is underfunded, and corruption is rampant as demand for Brazil’s hardwoods grow and logging the forest becomes more and more profitable. Resources for environmental protection are also rather marginal. Brazil has allocated one helicopter and just over a dozen agents to patrol thousands of square miles of forest. Given this skeleton crew of protectors, it is easy to see how cattle ranchers, loggers, and other land-grabbers are almost unencumbered in slashing and burning large tracts of land along the Transamerican Amazon highway.

Despite the problems posed by the Amazon’s vast expanse of forest, its need for foreign direct investment, and the world’s insatiable appetite for money, there is some hope for Amazonian preservation. Sustainable cutting and land use can be done to accommodate the demand for industry and the need for conservation. It just requires that regulations be followed and that proponents on both sides of the issues negotiate and come to an understanding. Today, President Lula has begun various programs such as the REDD program to help make environmental preservation both effective and rewarding. Furthermore, by drawing attention to the dilemma posed by Brazil’s need to industrialize and a global dependence on the resources provided by the Amazon, it is becoming clear that preservation of the Amazon is a global problem, and not just Brazil’s. Therefore, a global decision must be made to save the forest and every country must do its part to protect it. Nevertheless, as I look at the sunset beyond the trees, I can’t help but think about how little I understood the Amazon before experiencing it the way I have the last few days. I can only hope that the World wakes up to the need to preserve the Amazon so that its true value can be realized, and the myth that this forest is worth more cut down than standing is eradicated forever.

Day 2 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

By Ngosong Fonkem

Today, I woke up quite early, about 7:30 a.m. or so. Last night, I slept in a hammock on a riverboat. It was the first time I had ever travelled on riverboat, or slept in a hammock. So it was a very educative, but also an adventurous experience. I woke up, brushed my teeth, ate a quick breakfast and then joined the rest of the team.

We began our daily activities with a canoe ride down the Amazon River. It took us through some river paths into the jungle. Our guide Anand Pooran was very informative and we saw a wide variety of indigenous plants, birds and a few animals. Some of the plants were growing right out of the river, while others were so tall and large that it seemed quite surreal. The boat ride must have lasted about an hour to two hours. When we returned to the riverboat, we went into a gift shop which was also floating on the Rio Negro.

After the looking over the Amazonian arts & crafts, we returned to the riverboat and had lunch of fish found in the Amazon river and local vegetables. We then hit the books where we read articles and readings on the Amazonian rainforest, deforestation, and environmental justice.

About 4:30 p.m. we visited an indigenous homestead to further learn how Manioc (Cassava) is made (a staple food of the area) and also how the indigenous life can be along the Rio Negro. After visiting the indigenous family, we walked down to the bank of the Rio Negro for a quick swim.

We returned to the riverboat, ate dinner, and began our first “classroom” seminar where we sat on the deck of the boat at sunset and discussed our earlier readings. Following a vigorous discussion about the environmental problems in the rainforest, we enjoyed the descending night sky and sounds. We played a game called Mafia until bed time. Overall, my second day in the Amazon was quite exciting. I was able to see and do things that I had never envisioned doing at this time.

Day 1 - Monday, May 18, 2009: Amazonas, Rio Negro

By Natalie Thomas

Ah, Brazil. The fear instilled in me by my parents, friends, and doctors that I would simultaneously be robbed, acquire malaria, and be eaten by alligators was quickly allayed upon our arrival. After our flight, we were kindly greeted by the owner of Swallows and Amazons- the river tour guide company- who then guided our bus through Manaus to our riverboat home, the "alves lima" (pictured, right). Before embarking on our Amazon journey, our guides led us through a quick trip to the markets across from the port. The guides were so friendly, knowledgeable, and protective that I immediately knew I was in good hands and that my prior expectations of disaster would not occur.

Just after our boat left dock, we passed over the Meeting of the Waters. At this point (pictured below) where the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers meet, we viewed dolphins jumping out of the water. The next few hours were spent in awe. The brilliant blue then orange and red sky, fresh air, lightning storms and lightning bugs, and trees of our riverboat trip seemed surreal in comparison to my usual surroundings.

Our evening came toward an end with an unexpectedly extraordinary meal of pasta, roasted chicken over rice, fruit, and salad. With full bellies and jetlag, we claimed hammocks and fell asleep to the sounds of frogs and insects and the smell of bug repellant.

Giovanna Valli Calmon Pitanga

Giovanna was born in Vitória, Espírito Santo. She is studying Law at Universidade de Vila Velha-UVV, where she is beginning her fourth year of five years to graduate from Law School. She has worked for Arcelor Mittal conducting research in Environmental Law and as a trainee in a Criminal Court House for Vila Velha-ES. Previously, she lived for one year in the United States. Giovanna lived for four months in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (Work and Study Exchange program for university students, she worked at Bradley International Airport). She also lived for six months in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Currently, Giovanna works as a trainee in Brasil Federal Court- Vitoria-ES 2nd Region of TRF. She enjoys business law, tax law and international law. After she graduates, she wants to practice law and be a professor of law. She would love a career in diplomacy, as well.

Tianna Mays

Tianna Mays is a second year law student from Charleston, West Virginia. Her hobbies include hang gliding and international travel.

Jonathan Floyd

Jonathan Floyd is from Summerville, Georgia. He graduated from Berry College with a degree in Government and Economics. Jonathan has also earned a master's degree in Kinesiology at Georgia College. He is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law. Jonathan has worked as an outdoor adventure counselor and intends to practice outdoor education law. He will work this summer in Rome, Georgia at the District Attorney's office in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.

Kwame Samuda

Kwame Samuda is a rising 3L at the West Virginia University College of Law. Kwame is originally from New Jersey. He attended Monmouth University before working for the State of New Jersey as a tax auditor prior to enrolling in law school. This summer, Kwame will work in Washington D.C. as a Labor Law Fellow.

Matthew Chapman

Matthew Chapman was born and raised in Cross Lanes, West Virginia (whose claim to fame is Kathy Mattea, T.D. Jakes and a wonderful casino gaming center and resort). His father is a truck driver and his mother is a nurse. He went to Nitro High School in Nitro, West Virginia. He graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in Political Science from West Virginia University. As a 3L, Matthew has yet to find exactly what he wants to do, but he is leaning towards coal, oil and gas law and/or litigation.

Steve Broadwater

Steve Broadwater, a rising 3L, was born and raised in Charleston, West(by god) Virginia. He graduated from George Washington High School in Charleston, WV, in 2003; Bethany College with a B.A. in Political Science, Cum Laude, in 2007; and plans to graduate from WVU College of Law in 2010. Steve spent the two summers before law school working for the West Virginia Public Defender Corporation’s Appellate Advocacy Division. He wants his legal career to focus on litigation and plans to hone his skills in criminal court after graduation.

Josh Nightingale

Josh Nightingale is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law and hails from Wheeling, WV. He earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at WVU. This summer he will clerk for the attorney general’s office in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

LG Jackson

LG Jackson is from Hamlin, West Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in accounting. LG is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law. He will spend the summer preparing for the CPA exam.

Adam McCoy

Adam McCoy is a rising third year law student at the West Virginia University College of Law. Born and raised near Burnsville, West Virginia, Adam has been a Mountaineer all his life. After graduation, he plans to pursue a law career with the hopes that one day he might live abroad and further the cultural exchange fostered by programs such as the Brazil Study Abroad program at the WVU College of Law.

Joshua Sheets

Flavio Gonçalves Maciel de Figueiredo

Flavio Gonçalves Maciel de Figueiredo was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is graduating in International Affairs at the Universidade Vila Velha. During his time at UVV, he had the opportunity to do an internship at the UVV’s International Office. After college, he is planning to continue his studies in Social Science. He lived in Norway for one year and is very interested in learning about other cultures.

Jenny Flanigan

Jenny Flanigan is a rising second-year law student at WVU. She graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and a minor in Theatre and Dance. On the trip to Brasil, she has discovered that she loves and appreciates soft bedding, hot showers, and traveling; though she now realizes that it is not feasible to have all three of these things simultaneously.

Tyler Williams

Tyler Williams is a native West Virginian and has lived in Morgantown since 2004. He completed his undergraduate education in 2008 with a B.S. in Business Management from WVU. Tyler is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law. He loves to play soccer and has formerly worked as a soccer coach with Valley Soccer Academy in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Kevin Watson

Kevin J. Watson is from South Charleston, West Virginia. He attended undergraduate school at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he served as the Student Body President. After receiving his bachelor degree in 2006, he worked as a correctional counselor for the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority in Logan County, West Virginia. Kevin is a rising 2L and interested in various areas of law and government.

Tricia Sparks

Tricia Sparks is from Culloden, West Virginia, via Bridgeport, West Virginia. She is a graduate of Concord University with a B.A. in political science and a minor in legal studies. She is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law and will be working this summer at McNeer, Highland, McMunn, and Varner in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Shalom Confessor de Aguiar do Amaral

Shalom Confessor de Aguiar do Amaral was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He graduated in International Relations at Universidade de Vila Velha, Brazil and holds especialization in Policies and Strategies Studies at the Superior War College Graduate’s Association. He took a semester of classes at the West Virginia University College of Law and has been distinguished with many awards and medals for honnors and relevant work in his country including the Medal of the Real Order for the Cultural Merit Dom João VI, from Portugal and the Dragões Reais das Minas Gerais’ Medal. Currently he is the General-Coordinator of the Superior War College Graduate’s Association and Founder and President of the Instituto Política Global, Brazil (Global Policy Institute).

Katie Beardsley

Katie Beardsley was born and raised in South Charleston, West Virginia. She attended West Virginia University and majored in Political Science. She began law school after graduating from WVU in 2007, and will enter her third year at the West Virginia University College of Law in the fall. Katie hopes to practice energy law after graduating. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, playing with her dogs, gardening, and, believe it or not, cleaning!

Crystal Bombard

Cris Bombard is from Fairmont, West Virginia. She is a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.A. in political science and a minor in sociology. She is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law and will be working this summer at Gianola, Barnum, Wigal & London, L.C. in Morgantown, W.V.

Laura Wakim

Laura Wakim just completed her second year at the West Virginia University College of Law. She attended Middlebury College in Vermont for her undergraduate degree in political science. She is planning to return to Wheeling, West Virginia for the summer to work for Paul Harris, Esq. Her passion is now criminal law after working on the defense side of a murder-for-hire case.

Dale Harrison

Dale Harrison is from Martinsburg, West Virginia and graduated from Shepherd University. He is currently a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law.

Brant Lowe

Brant Lowe hails from Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He graduated from West Virginia University with an accounting degree. Brant is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law with plans to pursue a career in business law. He will work for professor andre douglas pond cummings during the summer of 2009.

Brandon Lucki

Brandon Lucki is from Wheeling, West Virginia. He is a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.A. in marketing and a minor in political science. He is a rising 2L at the West Virginia University College of Law and will be working this summer with the U.S. Attorney´s Office in Wheeling, WV.

Whitney Nightingale

Whitney Nightingale is from Glen Dale, WV. She attended John Marshall High School and West Virginia University. She graduated from WVU with a degree in political science. Whitney completed her first year of law school at West Virginia University College of Law this spring. This summer, Whitney will be working at the United States Attorney´s Office in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Anand Pooran

Anand Pooran was born in Manaus, Brasil. He has worked as an expert
tour guide for Swallows and Amazons for more than eleven years. He has
traveled the length of the Rio Negro, from the Venezuela border to its
joining of the Rio Solomoies (Amazon River). he has guided extensively
up and down the Rio Negro and the Rio Solomoies.