Diane Dew, CITTI Project Media Specialist, writes of her experience with a new culture.
This is my first trip to a South American country. For me, every moment is filled with wonder. I’ve learned that Ecuador has three distinct areas which are completely different, not only in climate but apparently also culturally and socially.
We are in the Andes, which I understand to be very different from the coastal area to the west and the jungles to the east. We’ve spent most of our time so far in two large cities (Quito and Ambato), and had a glimpse of the countryside when we traveled between them. (picture: Diane makes friends with Alfanso in Huambalo.)
In many small and large ways, I noticed things that are different from what I’m used to in the US. Life seems to move at a slower pace here. If we have an appointment to meet with people, they may be there on time or they arrive there several hours later. In restaurants, waiters may take your drink order before the food order, but the drinks don’t show up until you’ve finished eating.
The exception to the slow pace is the traffic – drivers speed down narrow, crowded streets, frequently giving small horn toots to warn people to get out of the way. Pedestrians definitely do not have the right of way.
There is a very high presence of heavily armed police and security guards in the cities. You see trucks full of police with very large guns, and many stores have an armed guard wearing a bullet-proof vest standing in the entry way. On our shopping excursions to buy local materials for our projects, we have been followed around inside stores by security people.
In Ambato, there are fewer tourists than in Quito, and there is a much larger presence of indigenous people. In front of the internet café, you might see a woman in traditional regional dress sitting and selling baskets of tomate de arbol (tree tomatoes) or mora (blackberries). The contrast between modern technology and traditional ways is striking.
We had a chance to go to several open markets, which are a feast for the senses. In each of the stalls, you see women surrounded by baskets of fruits or vegetables, open sacks of rice or other grains, buckets of meat (using all parts of the animals), or whole roasted pigs. They wear the distinctive hats and blanket shawls particular to their region, and often carry children or large, heavy loads on their backs using blankets.
An Ecuadorian specialty is cuy (guinea pig). Some families raise their own. We’ve seen whole cuy displayed on spits by street vendors. They do smell delicious, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to eat one…
We’ve been very lucky to be able to spend several days with people in organizations that CITTI Project has visited the past two summers. The trust that has developed over this time allowed us to make easy connections with the people. I feel most welcomed each time we are together. It is customary to give a hug and kiss on the cheek each day when you meet and then again when you part. I love this!
Meals are different as well. Our group has eaten at the hotel and in restaurants, had lunches prepared and served by local women, and were served lunch by the people at the special education school. For breakfast, we are always offered a variety of blended fresh fruit drinks in gorgeous colors.
For lunch and dinner, the first course is always a rich and filling soup – my favorite so far is locros de papas, which is a cheesy potato soup with avocados. There is a heavy emphasis on meat and starch – many meals include TWO kinds of meet, rice AND potatoes, with maybe a small portion of pickled vegetables.
The next part of our trip will be in Baños and the small town of Huambalo. I am looking forward to more new experiences. I feel so lucky to be part of this group, and to have a chance to connect with the people of Ecuador.
This is my first trip to a South American country. For me, every moment is filled with wonder. I’ve learned that Ecuador has three distinct areas which are completely different, not only in climate but apparently also culturally and socially.
We are in the Andes, which I understand to be very different from the coastal area to the west and the jungles to the east. We’ve spent most of our time so far in two large cities (Quito and Ambato), and had a glimpse of the countryside when we traveled between them. (picture: Diane makes friends with Alfanso in Huambalo.)In many small and large ways, I noticed things that are different from what I’m used to in the US. Life seems to move at a slower pace here. If we have an appointment to meet with people, they may be there on time or they arrive there several hours later. In restaurants, waiters may take your drink order before the food order, but the drinks don’t show up until you’ve finished eating.
The exception to the slow pace is the traffic – drivers speed down narrow, crowded streets, frequently giving small horn toots to warn people to get out of the way. Pedestrians definitely do not have the right of way.
There is a very high presence of heavily armed police and security guards in the cities. You see trucks full of police with very large guns, and many stores have an armed guard wearing a bullet-proof vest standing in the entry way. On our shopping excursions to buy local materials for our projects, we have been followed around inside stores by security people.
In Ambato, there are fewer tourists than in Quito, and there is a much larger presence of indigenous people. In front of the internet café, you might see a woman in traditional regional dress sitting and selling baskets of tomate de arbol (tree tomatoes) or mora (blackberries). The contrast between modern technology and traditional ways is striking.
We had a chance to go to several open markets, which are a feast for the senses. In each of the stalls, you see women surrounded by baskets of fruits or vegetables, open sacks of rice or other grains, buckets of meat (using all parts of the animals), or whole roasted pigs. They wear the distinctive hats and blanket shawls particular to their region, and often carry children or large, heavy loads on their backs using blankets.
An Ecuadorian specialty is cuy (guinea pig). Some families raise their own. We’ve seen whole cuy displayed on spits by street vendors. They do smell delicious, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to eat one…
We’ve been very lucky to be able to spend several days with people in organizations that CITTI Project has visited the past two summers. The trust that has developed over this time allowed us to make easy connections with the people. I feel most welcomed each time we are together. It is customary to give a hug and kiss on the cheek each day when you meet and then again when you part. I love this!
Meals are different as well. Our group has eaten at the hotel and in restaurants, had lunches prepared and served by local women, and were served lunch by the people at the special education school. For breakfast, we are always offered a variety of blended fresh fruit drinks in gorgeous colors.
For lunch and dinner, the first course is always a rich and filling soup – my favorite so far is locros de papas, which is a cheesy potato soup with avocados. There is a heavy emphasis on meat and starch – many meals include TWO kinds of meet, rice AND potatoes, with maybe a small portion of pickled vegetables.
The next part of our trip will be in Baños and the small town of Huambalo. I am looking forward to more new experiences. I feel so lucky to be part of this group, and to have a chance to connect with the people of Ecuador.