Alayna and the Wonders of Ecuador

Language barriers -Overwhelming sometimes -Speaking Spanish most parts of the day Previous expectations -Being tired after traveling -Unfamiliarity can be difficult sometimes when things aren’t what you expect them to be -Didn’t expect them to be so frugal Food -Trying something different every day -Lots of desserts (ice cream) -different fruits -different juices Greater significance of trip -Broaden horizons -new appreciation for life -appreciation for different cultures -trying to not automatically believe stereotypes -gained more sympathy for all people -opening doors for opportunities in the future Comparison to US -People aren’t in a rush -Crazy weather -different, colorful flowers -markets -Different foods -People in Cuenca don’t drink water Adapting/coping -Feel homesick when frustrated -Feeling more confident after experiencing new...

Meghan Othart Interview Transcription Alayna: Okay, today is Thursday, June 7 th , 2018 and I will be speaking with Meghan Othart about her experience so far in Ecuador. Thank you for talking with me. Meghan: No problem. Alayna: Um, how long have you been in Ecuador? Meghan: I arrived in Ecuador from New Mexico on May 24 th so it’s been about…I think…two weeks, more or less, um…yeah, two weeks. Alayna: And, so what parts of Ecuador have you visited so far? Meghan: So, we started out in Quito, which is the capital of Ecuador, which was really cool, um, now we’re in Cuenca, which is I think a totally different atmosphere in terms of like, the speed of…anything here. Like, a lot of people don’t seem to be in a rush, it’s a little more relaxed, um, Quito seemed a little bit more fast paced, um, possibly a little more dangerous at night. It seems like there were a little bit more people out and we were told definitely not to go out past 11. Um…I also visited with o...

            The diet of Andean indigenous people before the Spanish arrived was mainly maize, squash, legumes, quinua, tubers, and various other wild plants and fruits. When the Spanish came, they influenced the Andean diet with the introduction of wheat, barley, vegetables, sugarcane, fruits, sheep, pigs, cows, and chickens. Both the original diet constituents and the new ones are still present as a significant part of Andean cuisine.             Today, the sierra region of Ecuador faces more challenges related to food than the oriente and the costa regions. There is more poverty and less awareness of nutritional value of the foods they eat. With less money to spend on food and an imbalanced food market, unhealthy foods are cheaper and easier to access than healthy foods and natural crops. Many people in Ecuador still do provide food for their families by planting on the l...