The Republic of the Equator

Aside from sounding like a waypoint on a slightly comical global trek, there is not too much to the English version of Ecuador. It is also a horribly inadequate name for this country that is unrivaled in diversity, of the bio-ilk and otherwise. Quito (which comes from the word Quitus in the original Quiteño language meaning middle of the world), is by itself immensely unique. It is 3000m in elevation and sits right on the equator letting you get sunburned within 20 minutes in 70 degrees F weather during the day and need a jacket at night because it drops to 40 degrees. I can’t complain though, it’s a city full of life, friendliness, and intrigue and empty of mosquitoes. 

While it is inexorably distinct, it also follows the columbian pattern of old hero worship engrained into the urban landscape (lady of victory, Mary looking over the city, Spanish old town filled with gothic cathedrals, soccer stadiums named after Inca emperors, etc) except here the standard Simon Bolivar has been replaced with Mariscal Sucre. It seems that ol’ Simon couldn’t make here so he sent his right-hand man Mariscal. But for all the Bolivar fans out there don’t worry he still has a pretty impressive monument of his own

Paradoxes seem to be a norm here and the rhythm of life isn’t an exception. The night most of us all arrived there was a huge hail storm that delayed some of our flights. Then the first conversation most of us had with our host families was how it never rains in August. It usually is sunny and dry all morning until 3:30p.m. when clouds roll over Pichincha and dump rain in the city for 10-30 minutes. Academic and family lives are the same way. We had a project and final due within the first 2 weeks here and sometimes my family would get home a lot later than me, and sometimes I’d get home and there’d already be a party going on. My classmates and I acclimated well I think. From bus workers yelling destinations and, “¡¡¡SUBA, SUBA, SUBA!!!” as the driver slows down enough for you to jump on as others jump off to wandering around packs of other gringos in the Mariscal at night, I believe we found a nice equilibrium even though we were here for such a short time.