Author: freeoj

The longest I have been outside of the States and away from home was my 104 days in Ecuador. In the almost fifteen weeks I spent in Ecuador, I learned so many things related to my field of study, public health, as well as the Spanish language, Ecuadorian history and culture, and a few things about myself.

One of the challenges of this past semester was being off campus during the start of my senior year. Though I may have missed out on some experiences on campus at Wofford, I have gained irreplaceable experiences in Ecuador. This semester gave me the opportunity to practice and improve my Spanish language skills and enjoy the beautiful country of Ecuador. From 2500 miles away I missed my last parents’ weekend festivities, season opening basketball game, and the Winter Lighting. This perspective has made me realize that every moment counts and has made me more likely to appreciate and be intentional with my last semester on campus, enjoying the relationships I’ve built at Wofford and the traditions.

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Studying public health in Ecuador during a global pandemic has given me a perspective that will benefit my further study in a Master of Public Health program after graduation. Understanding the interconnectedness of our world through globalization gives new insight into issues affecting our communities such as international migration. From what I gained during the Independent Study Project portion of my program, I will be able to better understand and advocate for people in situations of human mobility. I plan to do this in the upcoming semester through an internship with a nonprofit organization that assists refugees in their resettlement in new communities.

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I will always remember my time in Ecuador fondly: the beautiful flowers that are incredibly inexpensive, beautiful churches, and breath taking natural scenery. Most of all I will remember the kindness of the local people I encountered there and the resilience demonstrated by my class as we faced many challenges.

Every Latin American country has their own slang and phrases that are unique to their people. During my time in Ecuador I learned many phrases in my Spanish class and from local friends. If you use these phrases during your time in Ecuador, you will appear a little more Ecuadorian than you first appear.

“¡De ley!” — Absolutely — This phrase can be used to respond to a question or comment.

“¡Chévere!” — Awesome! or Excellent! — This is one of the most Ecuadorian phrases that I’ve learned, you can use it to describe a person, or respond to a question, “I’ve had a super chévere day”

“Achachaí” — very cold — This word comes from the Kichwa language and can be used when it is very cold outside as an exclamation, “¡Achachaí!”

“Arraraí” — very hot — The opposite of achachaí, this word comes from the Kichwa language and can be used when it is very hot outside as an exclamation, “¡Arraraí!”

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“Veci” — an abbreviated form of neighbor– This word is a good example of how Ecuadorians sometimes abbreviate words. Veci is abbreviated from “vecino” which means neighbor. You can use this word when you are talking to a friend or wanting to make a deal at the market, “How much does this cost, veci?”

“Habla serio” — Are you serious? — This phrase can be used when someone tells you something outrageous.

“Sigue no más” — no literal translation — This is probably was the most confusing phrase I encountered in Ecuador. Literally it means “continue no more” but it is used to mean the opposite, “continue or come in”. This is most commonly used when you ask to enter a store or market booth.

“De yapa” — no literal literal translation — This was a fun phrase to use in the market when trying to negotiate when buying fruit or souvenirs. It means something extra, so you can say, “I want three mangos but can I have something “de yapa” and she could give you an avacado as an extra for free.

“No seas malito” — Don’t be mean– This Ecuadorian phrase can also be used in the marketplace in negotiation. If the lady tells you something is $10 but you know that is too much you could negotiate her down and say, “no seas malito, how about $5?”

While studying abroad during the pandemic, “flexible” has been my theme word. With unknown circumstances and ever changing plans, we had to be patient and flexible with our courses, our housing, and our trips. The biggest disappointing change our program had to make was cancelling homestays; I was so excited to be immersed in the culture by living with a local family. After finding out I would be living in a hotel with my classmates for 14 weeks, I was worried about how I would meet locals and further immerse myself into the language and culture. Fortunately, with the many contacts I had from friends and family in the States and the contacts I made during my Independent Study Project, I haven’t had much trouble meeting locals.

One of the most interesting Ecuadorians I have met this semester has been a friend named Denisse. At the beginning of my study project my advisor put me in contact with Denisse to conduct an interview, the main method of our projects, because she was very knowledgeable about my topic. Denisse works for an international nonprofit organization that brings humanitarian aid to people in situations of mobility in Ecuador. Our first time meeting was for the interview, which was in a cute little coffee shop near her house. She impressed me with the breadth of her knowledge, experience, and passion for the migrant community. We kept in touch and a few weeks after that she took me to observe the work that her organization does at the northern border of Ecuador in a city called Tulcán.

While we had to leave for Tulcán at 06:00 in the morning, I was excited to be going with her to observe her work and her role in the public health system. When we arrived to Tulcán we had breakfast and we took the time to get to know each other a little bit better; Denisse is a medical doctor and holds a Master of Public Health as well. In her role with her organization she manages projects, which includes organizing people and resources. Later we went to the Center for Integral Support for Migrants, which is where the clinic her organization was in charge of was located. There I watched her staff provide basic health assessments for migrant families who came in needing assistance and observed the compassion with which they cared for the patients. I also got to sit in on a meeting Denisse had with the Minsterio de Salud Pública and her extended team of doctors and nurses in health centers all over the city. This really opened my eyes to the functioning of public health in real time–something that I haven’t had the opportunity to see before.

The thing that was especially impactful from my time with Denisse was when we had a little bit of time between meetings. We went to the local market and got some fresh juice and a buñelo, which is a a fried dough fritter. In the market we sat and talked about the work she was doing and all of the other roles that she had held during her career. Her roles had varied from a project coordinator in the government sector, to a college professor for a Master of Public Health program, to her current role as a project manager in an international nonprofit. As I am trying to figure out exactly the role I want to have in the public health field after earning my MPH, this conversation allowed me to see that there is room to explore different roles and different sectors while making an impact.

When getting in our taxi to ride back to Quito, I thanked her for giving me this experience; it was truly one of the coolest things I got to do during the semester and it gave me so much perspective. I told Denisse, “quiero ser como tú cuando yo crezca,” meaning I want to be like you when I grow up. Denisse truly inspired me and not only gave me a closer look into my topic of research, but also gave me a closer look into what my future career in public health could look like.

Studying abroad is fun and exciting. It’s a time to explore and practice being more independent than you may be used to. Your host country may be completely different than your home country, or it may be pretty similar, either way, culture shock still exists. In order to productively cope with the culture shock you may experience, it’s important to stay grounded and create habits and rhythms that keep you healthy physically, mentally, and socially.

Here are some of the things that I have added into my routine while in Ecuador to help support my complete wellbeing:

1. Getting outside or in the gym.

One of my favorite things that I do regularly is to exercise. Whether it’s a workout in the gym of my hotel, a hike up a mountain, or a walk through the park, exercise always helps me clear my mind. Getting outside is an excellent way to explore your new host city and learn more about it. My time outside has been where I have seen the true beauty of my host country, Ecuador.

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Some of the parks I’ve visited have been Parque Carolina, a beautiful park in the middle of the city that features a walking track, sports courts, and playgrounds among other things, (2) Parque Metropolitano, which is very natural and twice the size of Central Park in NYC, and (3) Parque Bicentenario, which stretches 1.5 miles of walking paths, bike trails and playgrounds on the backdrop of a disused airport.

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My favorite hiking adventure was to Volcán Ilaló, a long extinct volcano that last erupted 1.6 milion years ago. While it was a difficult hike because it was almost straight up, the view was definitely worth it. From the summit you can see all of the other mountains surrounding the city in a 360 view!

2. Going to church

Since I’ve been in Quito, I have gone to church every Sunday that I was in town. After being connected with the cousin of a friend who lives in Spartanburg, I started going to Iglesia Alianza La Luz, a protestant church with a focus on serving the local community. I have gained a deeper immersion into the culture of my host city this way. Through singing worship songs and listening to sermons in Spanish, I have improved my vocabulary; I have also built relationships with community members. Exploring religious organizations can be a great way to support your spiritual wellbeing while being abroad as well.

3. Taking time to keep in touch with family and friends back home.

 Being 2500 miles away from my family and friends can be hard sometimes, but technology has definitely made this distance feel not quite as far. A few times a week I catch up with my family, my boyfriend and my friends back at Wofford with Facetime, Whatsapp video call, or Zoom. Using technology to talk with my friends and family has been a great way to stay grounded with my support system while being away. It doesn’t make me miss them any less though!

Study abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made and these habits have allowed me to stay healthy and connected and be better able to handle coping with culture shock. I hope these tips help you in your time abroad as well!

Blessings,

Olivia

Beginning our activities, we took a trip to AMUPAKIN, a collective of indigenous Kichwa midwives who serve the entire Amazon region and work to preserve and pass down the knowledge of traditional medicine. Here they welcomed us with a formula of medicinal plants to protect against COVID-19 and gave us an introduction to the work that they do as parteras (midwives) and healers. They have helped to birth more than 1000 babies since their beginning in 1998. We learned about all different types of medicinal plants that they use on a garden tour with one of the parteras. We also had a traditional Kichwa lunch with them, which was delicious! I got to try cocotero, or grubs that are the larvae of the palm weevil. Surprisingly they tasted very salty and greasy kind of like bacon.

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Our next adventure was a full day affair in the Chakra Don Clemente, the home of a traditional Kichwa shaman or healer and his family. We knew that this trip would consist of a hike to the nearby river, but we did not know that this hike would be down and back up a very steep mountain. Tromping through the jungle I observed the life around me: the variety of shades of green from the many plants and trees, the bugs like spiders and beetles crawling along the jungle floor, and the wear on the path we traveled, showing the meaning of this path to this indigenous family.

While the jungle was everything I imagined it to be, I was still in awe of the natural beauty I saw around me. Even though there was a lot of slipping and sliding due to the constant moisture on the jungle floor, the view of our trip was worth it: one of the most beautiful and chilly rivers that I’ve ever visited.

After we returned from our hike, we spent the day with the family of Don Clemente in slow moments as we waited out a thunderstorm eating sugarcane and Amazonian pineapple. We heard from Roger, the son of Don Clemente, who is a shaman, and how he works in this community as a healer. Finally, we shared a meal with the family and enjoyed another traditional Kichwa meal; this time I tried fried giant ants! This day was such a beautiful experience to disconnect with technology and connect with nature.

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One of the most beautiful views of the trip was near the city of Puyo in the Amazon. Watching the sunset at the Mirador Indichuris was breathtaking. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains the landscape was illuminated with colors of pink, gold, and the purple of the start of night. To spend this time in the company of my classmates, now new friends, and take in the view is something that I will always remember.

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Seco de chivo is a typical Ecuadorian dish that is served for lunches, or almuerzos, all over Ecuador. It consists of stewed goat (which is sometimes substituted for lamb), yellow rice, potato, and avocado salad. It is called “seco” which means dry, because, in its preparation, most of the liquid in the stew is allowed to evaporate. Though it is called dry, the meat is soft and nicely seasoned.

While the name of this ancestral dish has uncertain origins, one of the most recognized theories is that the name comes from the English word, “second” because this dish was served second, after soup, which is traditionally served as the first part of the meal in Ecuador. It is interesting to consider the effects that colonization, and later globalization, have had on the gastronomy of different cultures around the globe. This linguistic integration only scratches the surface of the deeper mars made throughout the centuries.

Seco de chivo has by far been my favorite typical Ecuadorian plate that I have tried. I happened across a little restaurant called Fabiolita in La Plaza Grande, one of the main squares in the historic part of Quito, when I was exploring with a few friends. This little cafe has been cooking the same traditional dishes, including seco de chivo, for over three generations. Check out an interesting article about the restaurant here for more information. The love and tradition was felt in the food as it filled my hungry tummy. This richness can be hard to find sometimes, especially in restaurants in the United States.

As COVID-19 continues to affect the world, it has also affected my study abroad experience in that I am not staying with a host family or in a space with a kitchen. While staying in a hotel our program has given us a stipend to buy our meals from restaurants. This, while after two weeks has left me craving something cooked at home, has also allowed me to try new foods and survey the local restaurant scene.

In my two weeks in the city of Quito, I have eaten at more than 25 restaurants. Below are some samples of my plates along with ratings of each. Each rating considers flavor, richness, and price. I know that this experience will help me expand my palate!

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The landscape, lit by magical lights, made it easy to see the mountains and valleys of Quito as we descended. The mountains and ridges donned few lights, while the valleys were peppered with the magical lights of many warm incandescents with a few blue LEDs scattered throughout. Now came the grounding. The shaking, the sound of the engine fighting against gravity along the runway, the brakes working as they should, led to a jumble of emotions, then at once, relief: we were, grounded in Quito, Ecuador.

This travel experience was one of the smoothest I have experienced in a long time. Checking into GSP International Airport, every person I encountered along the way was so friendly and nice to me, which was a pleasant surprise. As I waited to board my first plane from GSP to Atlanta, I found Evan, another Wofford student going on my program and we chatted, which calmed my nerves. Waiting on our second flight, Evan and I found some more of our classmates who we got to know better eating dinner in the airport. Both of the flights were a few minutes early and encountered only a little bit of rain. Customs was muy fácil for me as the worker was friendly and didn’t grill me on details of my stay.

Though the travel experience was smooth, each time I looked out into the clouds outside of my window seat, I thought “It is crazy to be on this plane right now.” It was the reality of COVID-19 pandemic these past eighteen months had crushed any dreams of international travel that on the plane it was almost unreal. It was finally real.

Since arriving in Ecuador my program has been staying in a hotel near the airport to rest and adjust to the altitude while completing an orientation and introduction to our semester classes. We haven’t interacted with much of the local culture inside of the hotel, but we will soon when we move to a hotel in the city of Quito. I am feeling excited and hopeful for more cultural and linguistic immersion as we begin our classes and time in Quito.

Hasta pronto,

Olivia

Growing up in a church that was active in global missions, I went on several short mission trips where I traveled to places like Haiti, Canada, and Honduras. The natural beauty and wonder of experiencing the culture and people of these countries left me wanting to be immersed further than a short trip would allow. I knew that studying abroad during my time in college would allow me to be immersed in and be of a part of a community in another country.

That being said, I never really had a dream destination to travel or study abroad. As an easy-going person, I took the posture of “I’ll go wherever there is an opportunity” for in every travel destination there is opportunity to learn and grow academically, culturally, and personally. This mindset benefitted me as I decided to study abroad as a requirement for my Spanish major, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the major required me to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country, I had all of South and Central America as well as Spain to choose from. Narrowing down these study destinations was determined after choosing my program organization, SIT, the School of International Training, and a theme of study. I chose SIT because it heavily focused on hands-on experiential learning and gave the opportunity for an independent study project. I chose a program focusing on public health because Wofford doesn’t offer a direct program of study for this discipline on campus and this is my desired discipline for graduate school.

Originally, I was going to study public health in Urban Environments in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the Fall of 2020. Unfortunately, these plans were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After several more changes, the program I am about to embark on this semester is Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment in Quito, Ecuador. SIT has been super flexible and accommodating throughout the entire process of having program and semester changes due to the pandemic.

In preparing to go abroad to Quito, Ecuador, I have talked to a friend who is from Quito and she has given me several ideas of sights to see and foods to try in order to experience the local culture. I am excited to try helado de paila, a creamy fruit ice cream that is a gastronomic tradition in Ecuador. I am expecting to like this, but I will keep you updated once I try it in the country!

Some of the natural beauty near Quito is near the northwestern city limit: an active volcano called Pichincha. I hope to hike up this mountain to the volcano at some point during my time in Quito.

Though COVID-19 presents some difficulties and unknowns for international travel, I know that SIT and Wofford will support me in challenges and in achieving my goals for this experience. From this experience I hope to gain a strengthened ability and confidence in my Spanish language skills. This goal will challenge me, but with all of my classes in Spanish and my commitment to interacting with locals in Spanish will allow my proficiency to increase tremendously. Additionally, I hope to gain knowledge of public health on a global level and the ability to compare health systems cross-culturally. I know that my courses and engagement with local health organizations throughout Ecuador will give me good foundational knowledge of global public health. I am so excited to share more with you once I arrive in Quito!

Until then,

Olivia