Carly V.- Blog Post #16

     The Mercado Artisinal can be a metaphor for Ecuadorian because it displays the products that seem so integral to Ecuador and because the individuals selling those products present Ecuadorian values so openly. So many of the items for sale in the market appear to be made in Ecuador, in a traditional fashion. Painted ceramics, alpaca sweaters, and wood carvings are all clearly products that are made and used by indigenous people. However, even more than the products, the people in the market that sold those products seemed to represent Ecuador as a whole. I saw many mothers with young kids, taking care of their children while still making money. Many times I saw stalls that appeared, on first glance, to belong to separate individuals and vendors. Once I approached one, however, it often became clear that these stalls were occupied by members of a single family or close group of neighbors. It was not uncommon to hear an individual shout to another individual that a potential customer was looking at their wares. It was also common for vendors to quickly run over to a neighboring stand and bring back any item you asked for if it was not present in their own stand. This sense of tight knit groups that, initially, look separate is something that I get everywhere I go in Ecuador, and clearly represents the country as a whole.

     From my visits to Neque Mas Neque I learned that kids from any culture are very similar and that they will not hesitate to make friends, even if they cannot converse with those friends. I have worked with children before in the United States, and so many of the small things that the kids at Neque Mas Neque did reminded me of how the children I have worked with acted. I learned that small things like laughing with friends, and playing seemingly nonsensical games do appear to be universal actions, or at least common in both Ecuador and the United States. I also learned that these children will not hesitate to make friends, even with people that they cannot truly speak with. I know that many of the children were genuinely sad to see us leave. I felt as though I was friends with several of the children, despite never really having a proper conversation.

     Cooking with our professors not only gave us insight into how an Ecuadorian meal is prepared, but also allowed us to simply explore more ways to understand each other. The basic knowledge of how potatoes are peeled, dough is kneaded, empanadas are stuffed was certainly a form of cultural exchange. Knowing the work that goes into a meal can help us better understand the value of that meal. However, I think the greater form of intercultural communication came as the professors tried to explain exactly how to complete each task. Getting told to peel potatoes, or shuck(?) garlic is interesting, but having the professor actually show exactly how they peel potatoes and the best way that they use to shuck the garlic, or knead the dough, or any other task, gives a far greater insight, and allows for a much more effective form of intercultural communication. I learned that the best way to teach someone from a different culture is not by trying to explain, but by standing with them, working together on a single task.