Advice for Students to Ecuador
Some Helpful Hints for Getting Along With Your Host Family
Each year, hundreds of exchange students visit Ecuador. Are you one of them? Here is some good advice from a former program director.
Your Host Family
Of all of the factors concerning what sort of experience you’ll have in Ecuador, your host family is probably the single most important one. Cultures are different wherever you go, and your host family will have different expectations of you than your family, back home in North America.
Ecuadorian families are very hospitable and close. In general, young Ecuadorians do not move out until they get married, even if they are going to college. In the evenings, it is common for entire families to gather together (sometimes even on their parents' bed, which is often where the best TV is) to watch soap operas. Children into their twenties may be expected to be home by a certain hour.
How will this affect you? It depends. Some families are used to North American exchange students and will let you come and go as you please, while others may impose a curfew and invite you to family events on weekends.
Privacy
Ecuadorians and North Americans have different concepts of privacy. In the USA, it is okay to go to your room, turn on some music and close the door if you want to read or study. In Ecuador, being alone in your room with the door closed is considered rude. Your family may think that they have done something to offend you. In fact, closing yourself in your room may have the opposite effect of what you intended: instead of some quiet time, you may find yourself surrounded by your Ecuadorian family wondering if everything is okay!
This is a minor cultural difference and one easily solved with some honest discussion. Simply tell your family that you need to concentrate and that you do not mean to be rude and that everything is fine. They’ll understand and give you some space.
Food
In Ecuador, mealtime is an important social time. Meals are usually eaten together and slowly, with the biggest meal of the day being lunch. Often, family members will come home from work or school to eat a large lunch together. There are very few drive-through restaurants in Quito, as meals are not seen as a way to refuel, but rather as a chance to spend time together.
American students often feel pressured to eat. Ecuadorian host mothers can give students a staggering amount of food. If you clean your plate, she’ll bring you another one. In Ecuadorian culture, it is rude to leave a guest with insufficient food, and your host family will likely give you far too much.
What to do? It’s simple, really. Just eat what you want and say that you’re full. Your host mom will be pleased that you have had enough to eat and will usually not pressure you to eat more. If you can squeeze in seconds, however, she’ll be thrilled.
Weekends
On the weekends, families tend to see their friends and relatives. In large families, there are often weddings, first communions and other family gatherings. These can be fun, but in many cases tend to drag on. If you’re invited to one and you want to go, by all means do so, but remember to check with your family in terms of what you’re wearing: it’s probably more formal than you think. If you don’t want to go, it’s okay to tell them so, but try to make some sort of excuse, like taking a beach trip with some fellow students. They won’t be offended if you act really sad that you can’t go.
 |
 |
 |
