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From Essex to Ecuador for British woman and rainforest shaman | From Essex to Ecuador for British woman and rainforest shaman |
(about 3 hours later) | |
This is a love story and the ending is simple - Mari Muench, from Epping in Essex marries Amazonian shaman and community leader Patricio Jipa and they live happily in Sani, Ecuador. | This is a love story and the ending is simple - Mari Muench, from Epping in Essex marries Amazonian shaman and community leader Patricio Jipa and they live happily in Sani, Ecuador. |
But exactly when it began is far less clear. | But exactly when it began is far less clear. |
It might have started with the closure of Mari's go-karting business. This was the trigger for her trip to South America. | |
Or was it when he offered her his hand for a dance at the Sani community centre? | Or was it when he offered her his hand for a dance at the Sani community centre? |
Then again, it might have started decades ago, when a 15-year-old Patricio had a vision of Mari whom he would wait years to meet. | Then again, it might have started decades ago, when a 15-year-old Patricio had a vision of Mari whom he would wait years to meet. |
The 49-year-old Mari, who was a Goth in her earlier years, says their story is "completely ridiculous". | The 49-year-old Mari, who was a Goth in her earlier years, says their story is "completely ridiculous". |
She found herself in Sani - a land of forests, creeks and lagoons which is nine days' walk from the nearest town - on the back of a recommendation from her niece. | She found herself in Sani - a land of forests, creeks and lagoons which is nine days' walk from the nearest town - on the back of a recommendation from her niece. |
"It was beautiful and different and I just started to have what I thought would be a normal few days in the rainforest," she said. | "It was beautiful and different and I just started to have what I thought would be a normal few days in the rainforest," she said. |
"On about the third day I began to have this really weird feeling that I was going to live here. | "On about the third day I began to have this really weird feeling that I was going to live here. |
"I thought I was having a mid-life crisis and I told myself to pull myself together." | "I thought I was having a mid-life crisis and I told myself to pull myself together." |
The next day, Mari was out on a walk and ended up in the Sani community centre. | The next day, Mari was out on a walk and ended up in the Sani community centre. |
'Squirming in my seat' | 'Squirming in my seat' |
There she met a man who "looked nice and friendly". That man was Patricio. | There she met a man who "looked nice and friendly". That man was Patricio. |
Later, at a dance, Mari was praying in her head not to be asked to dance. | Later, at a dance, Mari was praying in her head not to be asked to dance. |
"Then a hand came out and it was Patricio. And that was that. I thought 'I'm going to live here, I'm going to live with him and I'm going to have a baby'. | "Then a hand came out and it was Patricio. And that was that. I thought 'I'm going to live here, I'm going to live with him and I'm going to have a baby'. |
"There were no signs from him, it was all very formal." | "There were no signs from him, it was all very formal." |
Convinced her mind was playing tricks on her, she went off to the capital Quito for a while. | Convinced her mind was playing tricks on her, she went off to the capital Quito for a while. |
A few months later she met up with Patricio for a fruit juice to talk about her business ideas for the Sani lodge - a tourist lodge run by the Sani community. | A few months later she met up with Patricio for a fruit juice to talk about her business ideas for the Sani lodge - a tourist lodge run by the Sani community. |
"At the very end of the conversation," said Mari, "he asked me what the real reason was for the meeting. | "At the very end of the conversation," said Mari, "he asked me what the real reason was for the meeting. |
"I was squirming in my seat with embarrassment and I had to go to the ladies' for a break but when I came back I said 'it was because of you'. | |
"He put his hands on his heart and said 'I knew I would spend the rest of my life with you - now we we will just have to find a way'." | "He put his hands on his heart and said 'I knew I would spend the rest of my life with you - now we we will just have to find a way'." |
Patricio made sure Mari knew what she was letting herself in for - that he could offer little financially and that her life would be challenging. | Patricio made sure Mari knew what she was letting herself in for - that he could offer little financially and that her life would be challenging. |
"He said he could not offer me anything that I couldn't buy myself. He said 'all I can promise you is that if you die before me, I will hold you in my arms'." | "He said he could not offer me anything that I couldn't buy myself. He said 'all I can promise you is that if you die before me, I will hold you in my arms'." |
Patricio says although he had met other women over the years none matched the vision of his future wife he had in his teens. | Patricio says although he had met other women over the years none matched the vision of his future wife he had in his teens. |
Until, that is, he met Mari. | Until, that is, he met Mari. |
Mari's mother Doris Dowsett was at home in the UK. | Mari's mother Doris Dowsett was at home in the UK. |
"I got a telephone call when she (Mari) got into the nearest town," said Mrs Dowsett, 91. | "I got a telephone call when she (Mari) got into the nearest town," said Mrs Dowsett, 91. |
"She said 'you know I love you' and I said 'oh no, what have you done?' and she said 'I'm getting married in two minutes' time, and she went back into the jungle." | "She said 'you know I love you' and I said 'oh no, what have you done?' and she said 'I'm getting married in two minutes' time, and she went back into the jungle." |
Although she missed the civil wedding, Mrs Dowsett flew to Ecuador and spend three hours in a canoe to attend the village wedding. | Although she missed the civil wedding, Mrs Dowsett flew to Ecuador and spend three hours in a canoe to attend the village wedding. |
And she can now understand why her daughter fell in love with the people and the place. | And she can now understand why her daughter fell in love with the people and the place. |
'Offended daily' | 'Offended daily' |
Three years have now passed since Mari first stepped foot in Sani. | Three years have now passed since Mari first stepped foot in Sani. |
Patricio, Mari and their 18-month-old daughter Samai live in their own plot of land in Sani. | Patricio, Mari and their 18-month-old daughter Samai live in their own plot of land in Sani. |
Their nearest neighbours are a 40-minute walk away. | Their nearest neighbours are a 40-minute walk away. |
"It is the hardest thing I've ever done," she said. "Everybody helps me although I'm a bit useless at carrying loads and crossing on bridges which are nothing more than planks. | |
"I wish I had practised the beam more at school. | "I wish I had practised the beam more at school. |
"Culturally, it is like being slapped around the face 30 times a day. | "Culturally, it is like being slapped around the face 30 times a day. |
"But nobody gets offended here. | "But nobody gets offended here. |
"You just say what you think at that moment in time, which means you hear a lot of home truths. I feel offended on a daily basis. | "You just say what you think at that moment in time, which means you hear a lot of home truths. I feel offended on a daily basis. |
"Overall, it is wonderful, though tough." | "Overall, it is wonderful, though tough." |