Tomorrow is Dec. 1. It's winter in Boston. When I left for Ecuador, the date was Aug. 20. Hot, sweaty, summertime. It is incomprehensible that I have spent the last three months of my life in a tiny country in South America and not in Boston, the only place I have ever called home. In these three months, I have met unforgettable people, greatly improved my knowledge of another language, made myself part of a new family, learned a great deal about another country, and equally, learned a great deal about myself. I am, however, one of the lucky ones; I will be here for four more months, from January until April, but this halfway point still warrants reflection of my experience thus far.
Sometimes I think Ecuador is nothing like the United States, while sometimes I think the two countries share many commonalities. I have spent three months seeing television shows from my childhood dubbed into Spanish, clothing I would find at home on the bodies of innumerable citizens, and "American" food being advertised on every major street. This city is completely Americanized, and, being a U.S. citizen, seeing how my country is perceived and how it has influenced another place has been a mind-blowing experience.
As much influence as the United States has had here, Ecuador still holds its own unique and beautiful aura. Walking by someone in the street and not greeting them is unheard of. People are happy, friendly, and generally very accepting. The actual city is built on a mountain and provides breathtaking views. Driving out of Quito offers gorgeous countryside and indigenous cultures that have maintained a simple and unique style of living, vastly different from the city that is so close in proximity.
Being here, I have learned a lot about my own country as well. It is true what they say: A lot of people around the world think that U.S. citizens are overweight, lazy, and unintelligent. At my university, every student has to pass an English placement exam before they are accepted. Many are fluent and all know some amount of the language. While teachers know not to speak English with the exchange students - we need to practice Spanish - students and other employees pick us out as "gringos" and often address whatever question or instruction they may have in English. This frustrates me. Just as they should learn to be proficient in another language, I believe I should too. Maybe we are lazy because we can be. Most U.S. citizens haven't been challenged to learn another language because no matter where they may go in the world, some population will most likely speak English. As it is in Europe, it is very common here (for the upper class especially) to grow up learning three or even four languages. When I was in middle and high school, that thought had never even crossed my mind. Being outside of the United States has helped me to think critically about how I ought to live my life in my own country: with much more awareness of the entire world.
2008 Woodie Awards
