Carly V.- Blog Post #9


At Mitad del Mundo we learned a lot of information about many things, not just the equator line. For me some of the most surprising and interesting information came from the civilizations that lived around the equator. It was amazing for me to learn about the house that was built and lasted for hundreds of years. The way the structure was explained to have been built was so amazing and something that could really be learned from and even possibly integrated into modern architecture. It was really cool to learn about the lady who lived in the house as well. She lived for so long because of her way of life, and her lack of contact with many humans. It really puts in prospective how we so quickly spread illness to one another today because we come in contact with so many.

I also found it really interesting to learn about the various tribes that lived in, and some that even still remain in Ecuador. To me it is hard to even imagine living completely secluded because I have never done so. It is so amazing that these people are able to create this type of lifestyle and really thrive from it. I thought that the process of making shrunken heads and actually getting to see two examples of them was really fascinating. Although it is an odd thing to think of, it is something that really happened and is important to cover in the history of these people. I have heard many stories of shrunken heads, but it was interesting to learn of the process and see an actual one in person. 

I also really loved the explanation of how people used a "compass" in order to plan when to plant their crops according to seasons. It is something that seems so intricate, yet people were able to figure it out so many years ago. The sensations that occur while at the equator are quite interesting as well. Although some that we heard we not completely true, I thought that walking on the equator with our eyes closed was a really cool experience. It was clear to me after doing the exercise that something was very different. 


The food that we had at Mama Clorinda's restaurant was some of the best food that I have had on the trip so far. It was really amazing to have the opportunity to try such a wide range of food that I had never even heard of. Ceviche as well as the beef tongue was the only food that really pushed me out of my comfort zone. The ceviche I found really enjoyable. I did not think that this would be the case after hearing what it was, but it was surprisingly very good! The beef tongue I did not enjoy as much. I don't think it was the actual food as much as it was the way that it was prepared that I did not enjoy. My favorite foods that I had were the potato cheese soup, the ceviche, and the beef empanadas. I was really hoping to get to try some form of empanada on the trip as I have had them before, but never in an authentic setting. They definitely did not disappoint me! Overall, I was so glad that we were able to eat at this restaurant and try so many new foods! I would definitely go back again if given the opportunity! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meng - Blog 16

1. In Paige's Blog(#14), she mentioned that she used some nonverbal communication to communicate with teachers when they were cooking. It is an effective way of intercultural communication. I totally agree that sometimes, if you don't know how to express yourself, body language helps a lot, and it even works better than language. 2. In Blog12, Tyessa said that she feel not close with her host family, and usually, they don't communicate with each other too much, which makes she felt upset because she wants to get closer to them. In my points of view, it can be seen as an ineffective communication. I think in the process of communicating with people, sometimes you should learn to be proactive. Break the silence first, and take the initiative to communicate with others. If you are especially enthusiastic about other people, they will feel it. 3. An example of effective communication came from  Linsey. She talked about how the communication way changed ...
Read more
      I will admit that the thing I am looking forward to the most when I get back home is some good, processed, junk food. It seems strange, because I like the food in Ecuador, and am almost always willing to be adventurous and try new foods. But that sense of adventure is exactly the problem. I rarely feel as though I can just gulp down anything placed in front of me, secure in the knowledge of exactly what it is and what it will taste like. The classic foods from home will allow me to eat with that security intact, and that security is what I really miss.      I think the thing I will miss the most about Ecuador is the sense of adventure that I could feel every time I left the house, whether it was just to class at the academia or to some other attraction. I loved the feeling that I was going to see new sights, experience new things, and accomplish something impressive every day. The quote that struck me today, as we were le...
Read more

Blog post #15

1) what are you most excited about returning to in the US? What I am most looking forward to about heading home is the opportunity to share my experiences with others. I want to share the funny stories of my host family with my friends and family here in the U.S. so that they too can be exposed to some Ecuadorian culture. I am very much looking forward to returning home because I will use my experience of Ecuador to further think about what it is I want to do with my life. Not having a clear path for my profession is a challenge for me, but through using my travel experience to discover what my passions and interest are, I am always one step closer to knowing what it is I want to do with my life.   2) what will you miss the most about Ecuador? What I think I am going to miss most is the walk to school Carolina and I shared in the mornings and afternoons. In the two mile hike to school I saw mothers sending their kids off to the bus, adults off to work and busses ...
Read more