Ciudad Deportada Tan Lejos

The last couple of weeks have felt a bit "movie laden." One teacher encouraged us all to go see Prometeo Deportado, which was wonderful (although we haven't had our "official" class discussion of it yet). Last week we watched a Brazilian film called Ciudad de Dios (City of God), which was not wonderful. It was powerful and thought-provoking, sure, but I'll be satisfied if I never have to watch it again. It's essentially 2 solid hours of adolescent drug gangs killing and maiming each other, made even more heartbreaking as it is based on a true story of the Brazilian favelas (poorer than poor towns outside Rio de Janeiro). If you've got the stomach for it, it's an interesting and eye-opening cultural and historical piece, but I wouldn't recommend it to many. Then today we watched a movie entitled Qué Tan Lejos (roughly, How Much Further), another Ecuadorian movie. This one was quite enjoyable: a character and culture study of the subtleties of Ecuadorian culture and contemporary perspectives.

On the other side of the cultural exchange spectrum, we had our "food day" a couple of weeks ago. All of the international students in our program were invited to bring in a typical dish of their home country to prepare in front of the class. I didn't really have a clear idea of what "typical" American food is, other than fast food or ethnic restaurants. Eventually I decided on Ambrosia, the fruit salad/dessert of pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, and marshmallows that you often find at picnics and outdoor events. It was a little rocky - in hindsight I should have cut the fruit at home, neatly and on a cutting board, but instead I attempted to perform complex surgical operations mid-air without cutting myself. I mostly succeeded, except for the large puddle of orange juice on the floor... but everyone seemed to like it just fine! Other dishes included PB&J sandwiches and spinach artichoke dip from the US, French toast from Holland, hummus from Ghana, egg salad from Korea, and pancakes as well as shepherd's pie from Canada. It was a fun morning, and we all left really full!

Below are some pictures of the outside of the house. Yes, I know this is random.

Last week we had our mid-course tests, since this cycle of courses finishes at the end of October. A written test in Grammar, and an oral presentation for Conversation about the position of women in Ecuadorian society. Both went fine and were reasonably interesting, I suppose. But it felt like a milestone in the semester, even though it doesn't feel as though we've been here all that long. Classes are still pretty informal, so it doesn't always feel like we're in school, but it's fun and interesting in a different way.

On Saturday, Guayaquil's Independence Day, I tagged along with Lucas and Rebekka to their host brother's friend's house for a grill out and chill out afternoon. Very mellow, but fun, and that seems to be the preferred method of celebrating independence day here. Something came up with Daniela in the evening, so we went our separate ways and I spent a relaxing evening at home! Chévere. (Sweet.)

My dad asked me whether I thought things move at a different place closer to the equator than they do closer to the poles. I don't feel I have enough first-hand evidence to say for sure, but from what I've seen they certainly do. I haven't yet decided if it's just coincidental cultural differences, or a reaction to the constant heat and humidity, or poverty-driven societies, or the abundance of rum and coconuts, or what exactly. Seriously, though, I think it's a combination of the heat and the poverty. People just don't have the need to kick it up a notch most places, and they'd only become frustrated with resistance or the continued relaxed pace of those around them. Getting annoyed at slow-moving people doesn't hurry them up, it just raises your own blood pressure. There's a saying that I've heard a lot here, with variations, but essentially, "You're in Ecuador." Meaning, don't fret, things will get done. Sometimes the website just doesn't sell airline tickets. Sometimes the immigration authority doesn't bother to do everything they're supposed to do in order to register your visa. Sometimes the whole country shuts down for a couple days because of a police strike. No worries, hakuna matata, you'll live. It's an interesting perspective, but one I'm trying to get down. Because there really is no reason for so many of us to be so frustrated and so stressed all the time. It accomplishes nothing that we couldn't do as effectively if not better if we were in a more positive state of mind.

Okay, one last thing that will perfectly round out my point, if I have one. The dishwasher (which, as you recall is now an extra kitchen cabinet), does in fact work. They inherited it 10 years ago and have never used it. They just don't feel the need to. Like I said, we've got the time, we've got the soap, might as well just wash the dishes ourselves. Why not.