Guest Post: An Ecuadorian Cultural Immersion

This week, the wedding craziness continued and seemed to get even more insane. I didn’t think that was actually possible, but somehow it was. I now understand the allure of eloping. For real. You don't have to do any of this, and the great Elvis marries you! Pretty cool. So, instead of doing a wedding 2.0, I interviewed one of my roommates. But before I go on, remember: This Saturday, April 2nd Fordham Church. Be there, please!

Andrew just got back from a cultural immersion trip to Ecuador through Fordham’s Global Outreach (GO!). Since GO! trips test you in everyway possible, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and more, we talked about what he learned throughout the week, what the most challenging parts were, and what took him by surprise. 

Can you give an introduction to the type of community you were visiting?

Before he went into detail about his own experiences, he described where they were, the people they met, and their economic situations to give context to his story. Andrew and his fellow team members visited Arbolito, Ecuador, which is an invasion community outside of Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Guayaquil is one of the most popular cities in Ecuador)

With a confused look on my face, he knew to describe what an invasion community actually is. Similar to what the name suggests, invasion communities are communities that form when a large group of people, not necessarily originating from the same place, move to the same land to live. They pick a spot and squat there. Just as apartment squatters in NYC who take over an apartment without signing a contract. They don’t own the land, but they live there. In the beginning, there is extreme poverty, but overtime they grow and receive more reasonable amenities, such as paved roads and cinderblock houses.

What was culturally different between US and Ecuador?
 

Like all Americans, food is always on our minds, so I asked Andrew about the difference in our dishes to those of Ecuador. He said the staple dish is menestra  (lentils, rice, and vegetables). They had it a whole lot throughout the week, sometimes twice in one day (could be why he came back almost a 10 pound bag of potatoes lighter). Along with menestra, they eat both fried and sweet plantains, fresh bananas, eggs, and bread. On special occasions they’ll have fish and mangoes, or other more expensive fruits. So a simple diet. Especially in the eyes of an American living in NYC. Those in the invasion communities cannot afford, nor do they have access to a wider range of ingredients.

Since community such a critical part of the invasion community’s lifestyle, Andrew also talked a lot about that aspect, and how it differs from an American view's. He said the kids are all playing soccer in the street throughout the night. It’s full of future bend it like Beckhams who won’t quit! Another community past time is the classic game of Bingo. They just have to make sure to get a good seat B-4 they’re all taken! Sorry I had to. But interestingly enough, homelessness is not actually a problem in these communities because someone who is out of work is cared for by the others. They view "being out of work" as simply a tough time in someone’s life, so the community will help out. To show their emphasis on community, an American priest in the area explained that he gets offers all of the time from families for him to live with them. They don’t understand how he can be happy living by himself.

What was the most challenging part?

Here, Andrew got serious, and I knew he was not about to crack a joke. He said there were 2 things, the first being more serious. 

1) Experiencing poverty on a level that doesn’t really exist in the US. People are struggling to get the basic needs of human life (homes that don’t fall apart, access to water, and in the rainy season – access to food during floods).  Andrew explained, “Seeing that amount of poverty and knowing how I’ve never had to struggle with those things, and feeling helpless about how we can make a difference in this community. That was hard to watch. If you stand on a roof, all you can see is poverty. There’s so much of it that it makes you feel helpless.” The vision on the rood helped to portray what life must be like in an invasion community.

The second one is more personal and lighthearted:

2) He started off with "90 degrees and 95% humidity from 10am to 10pm. It only got to 80 at night - so still hot." I knew exactly where this was going. This was no cruise through the tropics with a piña colada in one hand and a cuban cigar in the other. They always felt sweaty, dirty, and simply gross (to American standards). They were hot even getting out of the shower. If they dried off from head to toe, by the time they reached their feet, their head was already sweating. That's real heat. 

What surprised you the most?
This was the last question I asked him, and I too was surprised by some of it. First, he said how happy everyone was. Even those living without fresh water most days, houses that have the chance of flooding in the rainy season, burning down in the dry season (even without my cooking), who worked 16 hours a day didn't complain. They were happy for their families, success, and accomplishments in life. One lady told my roommate: "Life is hard but not impossible." I immediately smiled and fell in love. Anyone who can keep that positive of an attitude, no matter the conditions, is a hero in my book! 

The second most surprising thing he came across in Ecuador was The Godfather. For some reason, they loved the classic mafia hit! We all love a good Italian mafioso, but I was not expecting that in Ecuador. Andrew said he t-shirts, pictures on walls, and his personal favorite...  The Godbarber. Is that a barber shop with a side of mafia? Who knows. But if your barber takes out an orange while cutting your hair, run like the wind, Bullseye! Your hair may not be the only thing he'll be cutting...

Although this was a more serious themed post, I felt that it was the only way to accurately portray Andrew's experiences in Ecuador and not leave those in the invasion communities in the shadows. The week in Ecuador was an ultimate challenge for Andrew, and he learned more than he could have hoped for spiritually, emotionally, and physically.