QUITO, Ecuador

I would like to start his blog post off by saying NEVER SAY "ESTOY EXCITADA" if you don't mean it. I was on a CHIVA bus in Banos, Ecuador(which is a party bus) with my sister when I screamed that phrase-trying to show off my Spanish, obviously! However, when I thought I was saying "I'M EXCITED!" every other person translated the phrase correctly, looked at me oddly, and laughed since I was unknowingly screaming "I'M HORNY!"

(picture to the left is my sister and I riding on the Chiva!)

I traveled to Ecuador last winter break, and it was quite a renewing experience. A culture like Ecuador's really made me appreciate the United States. Ecuador is a dangerous place, and my guard was constantly up. I didn't want to speak English like an American, because then I could have gotten robbed-especially once it got dark. I would not wear make-up or do anything that could make me stand out. I was completely reserved from who I naturally am. It was a very restricting feeling, because I was not use to the culture whatsoever. There are homeless people on every road in Ecuador, as the rich people beep at them to move out of the way in their Range Rover's. The gap between the rich and the poor is noticeable immediately. It was unreal. Most of the homeless and poor people are very friendly who are gracious even to accept just a warm smile.

Before you read this next story please, ask yourself what you remember from going to work with your father or mother going up? Reflect for a few moments, and then continue reading this post.

When my sister and I were waiting for the bus after buying souvenirs, we were standing on the side of a busy street questioning whether or not the bus was actually coming. My sister asked this man and his child if he knew whether the particular bus was coming down this street. The two of them had on the dirtiest jeans I had ever seen, and . The man said "Si,"but left us skeptical as to whether or not to believe him for certain.

While chatting, we found out the child was starting school soon, wanted to be a soccer player(like most) and that the kid had been going to work with his father. However, we had no idea what he did for a living. Then my sister gave the little boy a dollar for an ice cream. The father took it from him immediately -as if it were 100 dollars! When the bus we were waiting for actually came, my sister and I ran onto it. The father and son followed-only when we sat down, they stood in front of the bus, and the father said to the whole bus "Three trash bags for a quarter," while his son ran up and down the bus collecting quarters before giving out the trash bags. THAT was going to work with his dad! Then the father and son got kicked off the bus once the work was done, gave us a wink I will never forget, and got lost in the mass of people on the streets.

Another aspect to Ecuador that I witnessed first hand, was that since there is such a division of class, people judge each other very harshly. My sister's host mother would judge the friends that my sister had based on what their last name was. My sister befriended a person who was poor, and the host mother would not even shake his hand. However, when my sister befriended someone on the wealthy end of the spectrum-she gave him hugs! It was a very distorted concept in my eye. I know there is status in the U.S., but if you're friends with a person, then you just accept them.

Ecuador's culture, the various things to do, like zip-line through a cloud forest in Mindo or white water raft down a huge rapid in Banos, keep it distinct from any other place I have traveled to. You must experience it first hand!