Blog Post #4
5.7.2017


Elizabeth and I are living with the Brandt- Gallego family. Norman Brandt-Schwob, my host father, is a 53 years old and works as an agricultural engineer. He has 2 sons that both went to college in Ecuador, one works in the marketing field while the other is a cook on the Galapagos Island. Martha, my host mother, is a 50-year-old architect with no children of her own.  Both Norman and Martha aren’t from Ecuador originally, Martha is from Colombia and Norman is from Venezuela. Communicating with Norman is slightly easier than communicating with Martha because Norman studied in Tennessee and speak English pretty good. He is able to help us out when we are struggling with a Spanish word or phrase. Martha speaks very little English which can sometimes be a struggle.

An example of collectivism I have seen with Norman and Martha is how we always eat together. Back home it’s not stressed that me and my family eats together but here it’s very stressed that we all eat together at a set time. Something that I have noticed is different in Ecuador is how comfortable people are with touching and hugging. In the United States it’s not common for people to hug you and kiss you on the cheek, especially when meeting for the first time.

Today my host family had plans and their car was not working and so we shared a taxi and went to the mall were we met up with some other Alma Students. We went to the Basilica and climbed to the top of the tower which was both a scary but absolutely amazing with an incredible view. After the Basilica me and the other Alma students walked around the colonel part of Quito. We ate dinner at a small, hole in the wall restaurant. Eating at this restaurant showed us how things work in an Ecuadorian restaurant, this includes not tipping.














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