La Gringita

In the few days that I have been here I have been overwhelmed by the difference in culture and the amount that I have learned!

 

La Langua:

I learned Spanish all throughout high school but there is still so much to learn! I am learning a ton of new vocabulary and ways of expressing myself. I was taught Spanish as it is spoken in Spain, but everywhere that Spanish is spoken has different dialecs and uses different vocabulary. Ecuador's spanish is different from what I am accustomed to in that everything is made tiny by putting "-ito/-ita" on the ends of everything... como pocito, camino despacito, duermo solito.

 

The indigenous people are called Quechua ("qu-" is pronounced "ch-") and their language greatly influences the vocabulary used here in Ecuador. A LOT of the words used have a "ch" sound to them. I know "chaquete" to mean jacket, but here "chompa" is jacket; I know "boracharse" = to get drunk, here it's "chumarse"; I learned "gato" to mean cat, but here it is used to describe a person with blue or green eyes.

 

I also have never had to put a preposition before a name. Here, "el" or "la" is put before a person's name. I am referred to as "la Betany" (they can't pronounce the "th"). When you translate it into English, they are referring to me as "the Bethany", which sounds odd and is taking a little getting used to.

 

The natives refer to international people as "gringos", so I am considered "la gringita". Thankfully, I'm not as obvious as the blonde-haired, blue-eyed gringas, as most natives are short and fair skinned. One of the first things the kids asked their mom at dinner my first night was what color eyes I have. I quickly responded "cafes" and they all laughed realizing that I know that they were looking for signs that would show I'm a gringa. To most people first arriving to Ecuador, they would probably consider gringo a racist term, but in reality its simply a descriptive term of endearment, kind of like "sweetie" in the US doesn't mean you're candy. It is still nice to know that Karen introduces me to others as her "hija" (daughter), not "gringita".

 

Costumbres:

I was told in orientation, and have experienced numerous times, that Ecuadorians have no concern for personal space. Nicky, granted he is 5, often climbs over the sofa to sit on someone or leans his head against you when he is close enough to. When meeting or greeting someone, if they are a woman you kiss them on the cheek, and if they are a man you shake their hand. People are rarely seen alone; if you are seen walking by yourself, especially on campus, Ecuadorians think you are a loser and have no friends.

 

In the states, most girls go to the bathroom in groups. It's just a thing we do. Boys like to joke about it and you seldom see a girl going to the bathroom alone when in public. Here, even more so - even the guys go to the bathroom in groups! They are very collectivist and it is not unusual to see a group of guys go into the bathroom together.

 

If you pass someone in a building or on campus and don't say "buenas dias" (good day) or "que tal" (what's up/how's it going") it is considered rude. Everyone is very friendly and for the most part very welcoming. I have made a point to keep my head up and smile at people as I pass them.

 

La Comida:

So far la comida (food) has all been delicious and I have made a point of eating everything different that is put in front of me. My first breakfast consisted of a hot cheese sandwich, cut & peeled apple and instant coffee. Breakfast seems to be eggs or hot cheese sandwiches with fruit (sometimes with yogurt), coffee, jam, cheese and other breads, such as croissants.

 

Bread is a very big thing here and is on the table for all three meals. When I say "bread" I don't mean a French baguette or piece of toast, the bread here is more of a pastry-type; they are usually croissants or personal round, small loafs. There are "pandarias" (bread stores) on almost every corner with numerous baskets of fresh bread! Karen always has fresh bread in the kitchen and a variety of fresh fruit on the table.

 

Lunch: Lunch is not considered lunch unless there is soup. Lunch is the main meal of the day in Ecuador. The soup is followed by a meal comprised of a meat (chicken, pork, beef), rice (ALWAYS), and vegetables. The ongoing joke at orientation is that you will be served rice with every meal. I am yet to be served rice with breakfast, but some of my American friends have. Lunch is usually finished with dessert; of the two restaurants we've eaten at one served fruit salad and the other tres leches.

  

 

Potatoes are quite common, whether boiled, baked, in soup or cut like French fires; I've eaten a decent amount of papas. Fun fact: we learned that most indigenous women can differentiate 200-300 types of papas. They are very common in indigenous tribes and even with the local folk. 

 

Dinner is similar to lunch, but a smaller meal without the soup and is eaten much later than in the states; last night we didn't eat till 9pm! Again, there is always rice with whatever is being served, even if it's dinosaur shaped chicken fingers. I was so happy when Karen offered me ice cream last night for postre (dessert), I'm really missing my Turkey Hill Mint Chip :( Hot chocolate is offered almost every night for dessert and it is not uncommon to completely submerge a piece of bread into a cup of hot chocolate; Nicky has pan choloate all the time. I'm yet to try it since I'm not the biggest fan of soggy bread.

 

rice, ham & cheese wrapped in chicken breast,

BBQ chichen and tomato, carrot and cucumber salad



 

At least in the home, Ecuadorians really enjoy their salsa de tomate, or ketchup. They put it on almost everything! I'm accustomed to putting ketchup on the side of my plate in a little puddle, here they simply pour it on top of seasoned meat and tend to mix it into their rice.

 

I am yet to be offered alcohol, but JUICE is huge here. Fresh squeezed orange, watermelon, melon, a native orangey-tomato fruit and other fruit juices are present in every house and at every restaurant. They are all so fresh and delicious, but have a lot of pulp.

 

 

I have learned a crazy amount in only four days and know that I have so much more to learn! I hope that I start to appear like less of a gringita as I spend more time here. I imagine that I will integrate these differences into my daily habits, but only time can tell. Chao :)