First Interview

While Thomas and Carl busy themselves getting cameras positioned and ready, I settle into my surroundings for conducting our first interview in Ecuador. By pure chance we stumbled upon a lovely guesthouse yesterday that is run by a gentleman called Lars Klassen, an Amercian who has been living in Latin America for the last 30 years. After a round of introductions and of course, a shot of tequila (Lars did not participate in this) he agreed to let us interview him for our documentary.
So here we are, Tres Amigos in Ecuador, setting up tripods, wiping off tables, figuring out last minute questions and all working as a team. No questions, just getting to it.
Now, I am no Barbara Walters but I have to say that Lars was a pro (he had obviously done this sort of thing before). He provided us with an enormous amount of information about his background in the US from serving in the Vietnam War to graduating from Berkley College to watching JFK's inaguration in Cathloic school on a television the nuns brought into the classroom (the first television ever brought into the school). Working for the US Government in Latin America, Lars participated in many initiatives to help develop underpriveleged countries from infrastructure to education. He offered us a unique perspective that hours of research in books and the internet simply could not offer. He sits on the board of directors for South American Explorers, one of GAP's partners while in Ecuador. He shared that the education system not only in Ecuador, but in all of Latin America is in serious need of help. The most stable force in maintaining the system is a teachers union that runs through entire Latin America. His serene observations and calm acceptance of the current educational situation though was coupled with a passionate interest in the possibilities for growth in the place he now calls home; Quito, Ecuador. Our last question to Lars was, does he think one person can change the world? His answer: ¨Absolutely.¨

Lars is the owner of Big Sur guesthouse in the Mariscal area of Quito. He is originally from California and his new restaurant boasts beautiful scenic pictures of Big Sur, a competent rival with the picturesque views of the Andes right out his back door.
Tres Amigos enjoyed visiting Big Sur so much that this morning we packed our bags and left the old town to check in with Lars and his friendly crew. Muchas Gracias Big Sur! To find out more information about Big Sur you can email Lars at:
suesca977@hotmail.com