Cultural Exchange

Moving to a different country (or even simply just traveling to one) is never without its challenges and trials in various different aspects no matter how exotic the adventure. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is the cultural difference you are forced to face no matter where you travel. This already has been especially evident in my almost one month here. And unfortunately this has been one of the toughest aspects so far. This country I’ve been blessed to call home is a beautiful place with warm, caring people…but sometimes my quirky self just struggles a little.

A few examples:

·         In America, quietness is a common value that most people respectfully share. Even in some of the busiest cities, there’s still an individual sense of silence and reservedness. When out in public, most people keep to themselves (sometimes almost like the plague) even if there are 100+ people in one area. It is expected that individuals are to be silent around the more fragile of people – babies, somebody sleeping, somebody who is sick, maybe even the elderly. In Ecuador, this is not so! Silence is not golden and no matter what type of setting – public, private, or anything in between – people seem to just do what they want. From an early age, babies learn to ignore the noise around them and so as they grow older, they seem to not even notice it. At any given time walking through my house, it is typical to hear: the TV blaring (even first thing in the morning), cell phone rings (over and over and over), slamming doors, loud footsteps, chatter (at various volumes), barking dogs (that are never quieted), howling dogs, rooster crows, kitchen noises, the 5-level car alarm that is never turned off until it has hit at least level 4, etc. For my quiet, reserved, and slightly introverted self, this has proven to be a bit of a challenge to say the least. A few things I’ve learned to tune out, a few things I’ve learned the beauty of earplugs for (that I’ve bummed off of other PCTs), but a few things I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. This can, however, work to my advantage at times if I’m staying up late to work on some training homework or to boil water so I can wash some strawberries for a potluck tomorrow (like I’m doing right now); I know I most likely won’t be bothering the other members of the house.

·         I am very much a “personal space” kind of person! I value it greatly and am the most comfortable in my little bubble where I can “control” the atmosphere around me. This, is not a thing in this culture! People are not afraid to get super close to you, they tend to not move for anything (even if they are the ones randomly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk or street). And on the bus? Ha! You can forget it!! There are no reserves there with people bumping, pushing, shoving, grabbing, or even flat out leaning up against you for balance. I’ve had plenty of bus experiences in my life but these are definitely ones for the books! Complete strangers, friends, family members, all of the above – closeness is just a part of everyday life.

·         When one wants another to do something, it is not that common here to be asked but rather to be told. Por ejemplo, if my host mom wants to offer me to get more fruit at church, the situation would go something like this:

o   Host mom: Saralita, go get more fruit!

o   Me (standing there with two fist-fulls of fruit I can barely manage): si, si.

o   HM (when I don’t move immediately): Go go!! Get more fruit!!

o   Me: si! Esta bien (yes, it’s ok [I will])

o   HM (when she sees I still don’t go): Go, go, go!!! Fruta, fruta!!

And so it continues until I either finally finish what I have and get more or walk away trying to hide my annoyance. This is a fairly common perspective (from what I’ve been told) and while it may seem pushy to me that I was almost forcibly told rather than simply just asked if I would like more fruit, this is not a negative thing to my mom and to her, she was simply just being nice to offer (slash tell). This has possibly been one of my biggest struggles as of late but something that I am working on just taking in strides. Seeing such gestures as Ecuadorian generosity is the best way to handle such situations and is just something my independent, I-do-it-myself-when-I-want personality is just going to have to get used to.

·         It is not uncommon to hear car horns honk, see mucho staring, or even get cat calls or yells at times. Car horns in America are typically used out of aggression and it has been a constant goal of mine to not perceive this as offensive when I hear it whether I’m on the sidewalk just walking, on a bus, in another car, etc. There could be several reasons why one uses their horn but it’s usually not coming from a negative place. Staring is also very common! In America you do not stare, ever! No matter who the subject is or what elicits the stare. In Ecuador, not so much. Staring is common and accepted because people are curious as to why you are different and curiosity is just fine!

Though these things may take a bit to get used to, they aren’t necessarily bad things nor are they good things; they’re just different and different is ok! Adjustment is part of the game and I’m told this aspect gets easier. I’m sure by the time I get the hang of this in Tumbaco, it’ll be time to move again to an even more diverse place with all new things to get used to. Eh, bring it on.