Journey to the Center of the Earth

Latitude 00'00

 June 2, 2022- The equator.  That was my first thought when I heard the word Ecuador. Well, my first thought was to cheese hard and wonder how I was so blessed to be able to make another international trip.  I thought about another stamp on my passport.  I thought about the food, of course. I thought about walking the streets and hearing another language that wasn't my own again. Spanish. I thought about the years of Spanish I'd taken in school, the dormant years I had not practiced, and how unpolished I would sound. Forget all of that. I was on my way to Ecuador.  Although it wasn't on my list of countries to see, I was madly in love with the idea of leaving the country again to travel and see the world.  I can never get enough of this planet.  It's almost unfair I can't see it all.

Our trip started with a quick ride to Chicago and then an early flight to Miami.  Early was an understatement. Waking up at 1 am to catch a taxi at 2 am to O'Hare is anything but glamorous. Whatever. I polished off a Dr. Pepper and was ready to tell the Captain to kick the tires and light the fires.  Twenty minutes later, I was a zombie again that coveted the comfort of a pillow and mattress anywhere. The flight left at 6, roughly 4 hours later, onto the second leg of our trip.  Here's where it got interesting. Now I am 6'2. I have been since I was 14 years old. Sitting in the middle seat where my knees are pinned in the back of some defenseless traveler isn't fair. The least I could do was asked to be reseated to the exit row. It was only fair.

The rest of the way, we made it safely. I got another stamp on my new passport, this time from a new country and continent. Let the journey begin. The purpose of this trip was to immerse me in Ecuadorian culture, just as the students in this summer term were doing. I was there to observe, ask questions and witness their experience to understand better what the SST program was all about. 

After getting settled away, the crew and I met Klever, the coolest, smartest guy ever. He was so genuine and nice.  He also works closely with Goshen College, the SST program there in Ecuador, and the students. The very next and most important thing we did was get food.  Being the foodie, I was down to eat just about anything. (remember Balot- Manila). Ecuador is known for dishes such as Cuy, roast guinea pig, and Locro, a dish with potatoes, corn, cheese, avocados, empanadas, and a very tasty hot sauce called Aji sauce.  More on that later.  The group decided on empanadas at La Tamalera de Jesus. I also had Churrasco.

Next up was the middle of the world; it's called Mitad del Mundo. This place was very fascinating. I love history.  The entire reason Ecuador is called Ecuador is that the equator runs through it, correct? Never in a million years did I imagine standing on latitude 00'00. The historical park had many neat artifacts and exhibits to learn about the history of the indigenous people of Ecuador as well. We had an amazing guide. She taught us everything, including the Amazon, anacondas, shrunken heads, ancient burials, and how magic happens at the equator. Okay. Not really, but we did do some really neat science experiments. Did you know that water flushes differently in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere? Man, that Coriolis effect will get you every time. I also balanced an egg on a nail and won the competition. I got a certificate. I like winning.

What a first day!