Neque y Mas Neque The Mercado Artisinal is a great metaphor for Ecuadorian culture. The market is filled with handmade clothing, blankets, pottery, jewelry, and so many more items that are staples of Ecuadorian culture. All of these items also tend to be made or filled with bright colors which is common here in Ecuador. Another way the Mercado Artisinal is a metaphor for Ecuadorian culture is the fact that you negotiate the price of the item. In Ecuador, it is common to negotiate prices in markets, at street vendors, and even in taxis. The biggest thing I learned from the kids while working at Neque is that it doesn’t matter whether a kid comes from the U.S., Germany, or Ecuador or whether they are in poverty, the middle class, or they are rich, they are all the same. Every kid wants to play, to learn, and to have someone care about them and take an interest in their life. During our time at Neque I also learned that doing service work, no matter the size of your contribution,...
After a wonderful day of traveling, I think my favorite part of the city tour was when we went down to the tombs in St. Augustine's. It was fascinating to go down the ladder, into complete darkness, and see the graves of historically important people. It almost felt like an honor--to pay my respects to historical figures.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned about Santiago was down right disturbing. For instance, I learned that he lost his temper and as a result of an interruption, he pulled the ear off of the "intruder." I also learned that he spent his time in the in the asylum painting.
What I was surprised about the most today was how congested the streets are with traffic. Every bump and turn felt like a rollercoaster. I was also shocked that at 9,000 ft. in elevation, I could almost touch the clouds. I cannot wait for the cloud forrest adventure.