LaRoue - Blog #11

During El Cambio de la Guardia I felt a sense of pride and patriotism in the square.  I realize that no everyone cares for their president here; this is similar in the United States as well.  Today however, I didn’t feel such negative feelings.  When their national anthem was played, everyone sang.  When the president walked out, everyone cheered and waved at him.  No matter who is president, it is one of the most honorable positions that any one person can hold.  I felt the respect that he at minimum deserved.

I believe this weekly ceremony is important to Ecuadorians because it’s a chance for them to see their leader.  In the U.S., it is not easy at all to see the president in person, let alone be as close as we were.  I feel as though these ceremonies are a way for people to either keep or restore their faith in their government.  As I mentioned in the previous question, there was a strong sense of patriotism.  Sometimes that is what people need.  My host family for example does not have a family TV, nor do they watch much on what they do have.  Instead, they could travel and see their leader in person.  Overall, this ceremony is for the people, not for the president or anyone else.

I do not have a lot of experience with public transportation, but I often associate it with people that cannot afford a vehicle or are unable to drive in the U.S.  Here it is essential for almost anyone.  The buses are always packed and there are many taxis available at almost all times.  This question is difficult to address because Quito is a large city.  I can assume that places like New York or any other big city in the world has similar experiences with public transportation.  When considering the bus specifically, I can see that it is the most affordable form of transportation.  They have no subways here so the bus transportation system is the most efficient/larger form of getting around.  For example, the E bus has its own lane like a subway that only stops to pick up people.


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