Running for gold

Posted: January 29, 2025

Spanish teacher’s life filled with adventure, resilience

You are running through the Amazon, gold in hand, scared of who and what lies ahead. You think you hear voices, where will you go? What will you do? Your life may be in danger. This is how Spanish teacher Julio Bustamante spent one of his summers as a child.

At just 15, Bustamante depended on himself to support his family after his father passed away. Growing up in a small town in Ecuador, it was traditional for women not to work. Early in the morning he departed for the Amazon, making an income off of mining gold on his own.

“When people went to the mines they became rich,” said Bustamante.

Although the gold was enough to pull people into the Amazon, there was a dark side.

“People kill for gold,” said Bustamante.

It’s still a problem, as criminal gangs fight for territory and control of the illegal gold mining business, according to Amazon Watch.

Working only that summer due to the danger aspect, young Bustamante was very careful hiding his gold far from where he slept, constantly scared of who and what was lurking ahead.

Keeping himself financially stable throughout the rest of the year, Bustamante would find various jobs that paid well and kept him busy.

“Because I liked to have things I used to go to Peru and Colombia and work,” said Bustamante.

Working in import-export, Bustamante would buy and then resell things from Colombia that were expensive like coffee. This was due to the different price gaps between products, from this he was able to make a profit.

“Our currency used to be stronger and I used to take advantage of that,” said Bustamante.

As he grew up, he continued to save money, founding two bakeries in Guayaquil, Ecuador which led him to be able to afford private college. Bustamante was also hired into various positions like a travel agent, Spanish tutor, or clerk, and even working in Spanish institutes throughout college. These side jobs gave him the opportunity to support himself and purchase the things he wanted.

“I was very smart with money,” said Bustamante.

Teaching children the language he had grown up with was natural to him but also surprising that large populations yearned for the knowledge of the Spanish language.

“My language is money, and I didn’t know that,” said Bustamante.

Finding joy in spreading his culture, Bustamante continued to teach the language throughout his 20s.

“I liked working with people who wanted to learn the language, it made me happy,” said Bustamante.

Bustamante then made the difficult decision to leave his family, his culture and the life he had always known, and move to Nepal. This was for a better income and a fresh start, with an opportunity to teach Spanish with his friends. But Bustamante’s exciting new chapter didn’t make up for the pain of leaving his loved ones.

“When you leave your family you cry,” said Bustamante. “But I started to think positive I’m not going to give up, I am going to do it.”

Leaving Ecuador, Bustamante had little but was eager to start this new chapter of his life.

“I left my country with a plane ticket and $200,” said Bustamante.

As Bustamante arrived he experienced the pollution of the country but also the kindness of the people.

“They are happy and humble even though they have little,” said Bustamante.

As he adjusted to the new culture, Bustamante worked for an international school, Unicef and United Nations, teaching Spanish to individuals.

“I did a lot of things there, I met great people but I didn’t have anyone. Even though I felt at home, it wasn’t quite the same,” said Bustamante.

Being away from his family for large amounts of time left him feeling reminiscent of his childhood and early life.

Bustamante was able to explore Asia, India, the Taj Mahal, Laos, Thailand, and more as he worked in Nepal, admiring the beauty of the world while spreading his linguistic culture.  Working in smaller schools in Nepal, Bustamante could tell that the kids wanted to learn and be there.

“Most of the students were from the United States, like Marine children,” said Bustamante.

What he didn’t know was that working with Americans would eventually lead him to America, but through a life-threatening experience.

While leading a field trip of children around the mountains of Nepal, they stopped to set up camp for the night.  As the sky grew dark, the group was attacked by extreme Maoist terrorists armed with knives and various weapons. Emotions were high as the children didn’t know what would happen.

“I had to be the one in control, even though I wanted to run,” said Bustamante, who was the only adult male in the tour group.

Bustamante watched as the Sherpas, hired individuals who carried bags and guided them around the mountain, fought off the Maoists with kukri knives, sticks, and rocks. Taking action, Bustamante cared for the badly wounded, some with stab wounds and others with cracked heads. The next day, army helicopters arrived to rescue the children and group directors, taking them to safety.

Bustamante later received a visa as a thank you due to the child of a United States ambassador being in the group that was attacked. Connecting with important people as a result of the event, Bustamante was met with new opportunities.

“The visa opened the door for me,” said Bustamante.

Following his working in Nepal, Bustamante then decided to move to the United States with his visa as some of his family was living in San Antonio, Texas.

“We cried,” said Bustamante.

As years passed without seeing his family, his siblings grew old, and almost unrecognizable.

“My sisters were tiny, now they were married and having kids” said Bustamante.

This surprised Bustamante as he reflected on the quickness and fragility of time.

“It’s like you miss a part of your life,” said Bustamante.

Back together now, Bustamante was able to spend time with his family and make up for lost time with the people he loved most.

“Somehow it was sad but at the same time I was happy to see them happy,” said Bustamante.

Bustamante settled in Seattle, after choosing between Santa Barbara and Seattle, he was now ready to start a new life.

“I discovered people from all over the world,” said Bustamante. “There was a lot of diversity and that made me feel safe.”

Receiving his first teaching job in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bustamante quickly discovered the challenges of supporting himself in the economy of the United States.

“I didn’t like it, I discovered that the United States is difficult,” said Bustamante.

Slowly adjusting to the United States, Bustamante decided to finish his education at the University of Washington. Back in college, he continued to teach Spanish, and even salsa dancing as Bustamante was taught from a young age.

“Since you are born, you dance,” said Bustamante. “It’s part of the culture.”

After meeting his wife Melissa while salsa dancing, they managed long distance, and busy schedules. Creating a family and life for themselves, Bella, their daughter was born in the spring of 2009.

Amidst quarantine, they decided to make the move to Minnesota where many of Melissa’s relatives lived.

Through teaching at various schools and organizations, Bustamante was introduced to the private school system.

“I discovered the private school system was different,” said Bustamante.

Continuing to feel the difference in atmosphere between private and public school, Bustamante was later led to Minnehaha where he is able to be with his daughter and continue to do what he has done since the beginning, spread his love for the Spanish language.

“He cares a lot about his students,” said Bella Bustamante, a sophomore at Minnehaha and the daughter of Julio Bustamante. “At home he really puts a lot of time into making sure his grammar and teaching will be entertaining for the kids.”

Although Bustamante is new to the community, it has not taken him long to adapt to the ways of Minnehaha. Integrating his own techniques in the classroom, he is able to bond with the students and create connections.

“He’s patient, and wants everyone to learn, and grow to the best of their ability,” said sophomore Katie Jane Guild. “He also makes sure the classroom is a good learning environment.”

Getting to hear the retelling of his stories regularly and in detail, Bella Bustamante is still left in awe at the thought of a young Julio scavenging through the Amazon for gold.

“No way the guy in front of me sitting in his house watching TV is the same guy who did that,” she said.

Throughout Bella’s life, Julio has been able to travel and show Bella the beauty of the world. Going to places like the Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Hawaii, and most importantly, Ecuador where they visit their family, the Bustamantes are able to share their appreciation for exploring, and keep Julio’s love for travel brewing strong.

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