My favorite experience took place during the end of my time at the Otavalo Market. I was looking for a poncho for my dad, but only had $17 dollars in cash left. I had previously bought a handbag from a gentleman that could speak English and said that he had visited the United States to sell his products. I knew that if there was anyone that I could bargain with to get a poncho for less than 20 dollars it would have to be him. It took about fifteen minutes of going back and forth between haggling over an alpaca fur poncho, and then talking about his visits to the United States, or how I was enjoying Ecuador, and then going back to the poncho for a lower price. He refused to sell me the alpaca poncho for so low, but did eventually relent and sell me a wool one for just the right price. That back and forth conversation was one of my favorite experiences of today, and I left the market feeling like I had made a friend.
I suppose I learned, or realized, many things about Indigenous Ecuadorian culture. I was surprised to see so many individuals in traditional outfits, and to learn that those outfits were as equally handmade as all the other products that I saw in the market. Speaking of the market, I was amazed at the sheer quantity of products that I saw. Everywhere I turned it seemed like there were massive piles of various textiles. I can't imagine the amount of work that would go into creating a single sweater, or blanket, much less the amount it would take to create an entire market's worth. I think, however, that the most interesting thing I learned had to do with the songs that were sung to us on the bus. Although the songs sounded very exotic, and seemed completely unlike anything that could be heard in the United States, the subject matters were extremely similar. The song about a couple romancing each other behind their families' backs seemed especially like a concept that could be found in a North American pop song.
I think the main ethnocentric behavior that I have been engaging in is my use of English. I find myself constantly reverting back to English the moment that I can't think of the correct Spanish word. I think this could be a form of ethnocentrism because of my lack of effort to learn Spanish or find the correct word, and also because I make an assumption that the English word would be easy for an Ecuadorian to understand. However, I am already trying to combat this practice by taking my time when I talk, and by thinking about every word of English that I speak, trying to see if I know the Spanish equivalent before I say the english word. Although, this results in me talking in a strange, stilted English, I am already realizing that I know more Spanish vocabulary than I usually realize, and I am figuring out what Spanish words I need to quickly learn.
I suppose I learned, or realized, many things about Indigenous Ecuadorian culture. I was surprised to see so many individuals in traditional outfits, and to learn that those outfits were as equally handmade as all the other products that I saw in the market. Speaking of the market, I was amazed at the sheer quantity of products that I saw. Everywhere I turned it seemed like there were massive piles of various textiles. I can't imagine the amount of work that would go into creating a single sweater, or blanket, much less the amount it would take to create an entire market's worth. I think, however, that the most interesting thing I learned had to do with the songs that were sung to us on the bus. Although the songs sounded very exotic, and seemed completely unlike anything that could be heard in the United States, the subject matters were extremely similar. The song about a couple romancing each other behind their families' backs seemed especially like a concept that could be found in a North American pop song.
I think the main ethnocentric behavior that I have been engaging in is my use of English. I find myself constantly reverting back to English the moment that I can't think of the correct Spanish word. I think this could be a form of ethnocentrism because of my lack of effort to learn Spanish or find the correct word, and also because I make an assumption that the English word would be easy for an Ecuadorian to understand. However, I am already trying to combat this practice by taking my time when I talk, and by thinking about every word of English that I speak, trying to see if I know the Spanish equivalent before I say the english word. Although, this results in me talking in a strange, stilted English, I am already realizing that I know more Spanish vocabulary than I usually realize, and I am figuring out what Spanish words I need to quickly learn.
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