Blog Post #14

Blog Post #14
5.19.2017


The Mercado Artisinal is a marketplace filled with bright colors, traditional Ecuadorian items as well Ecuadorian vendors. So much of Ecuador’s culture of handmade items made to make a living is seen at the Mercado Artisinal. After the visit to the Mercado Artisinal we went to Neque y Mas Neque for the last time during this spring term. Throughout my time spent at Neque y Mas Neque I learned that no matter where I am in the world or what language is spoken and whether or not I speak that language, kids are the same. Kids all around the world need not only attention but not only that but they sometimes just need to play and know that there are people looking out for them, and that’s what Neque y Mas Neque and the volunteers are there for. I learned that service projects are there to help others and people are able to help despite the language barriers.


Today we cooked our own lunch with our professors. We learned how to make two Ecuadorian dishes and were given the instructions in complete Spanish. We were taught traditions and were able first hand communicate with another culture. Having the instructions given to us in Spanish served as both a reward and a challenge, It was rewarding to have our Spanish be applied to activities outside of the classroom, but it was challenging but it was vocabulary I was not used to using.


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