We Glimpsers, had a very action-packed day, from learning Ecuador’s history to trying and making traditional Ecuadorian food. During students’ mental warm-ups, we learned that Ecuador officially became an independent nation by writing and signing the first Constitution in the city of Riobamba in 1830. This set the tone for the rest of the day to open our minds and interacting with local people in Riobamba.
To make learning about Ecuador’s history fun, we had a scavenger hunt competition. We had to go around Riobamba and ask about 20 questions to different local people about Ecuador’s history. One question was, “Who is the god in the middle of Plaza Sucre and why is he there?” Locals would respond with because “He is Neptune and he represents the first clean water irrigation.” This was a great opportunity for us to learn and practice our Spanish skills.
To further our understanding of Ecuadorian culture we had the amazing opportunity to make chicken, beef and cheese empanadas at Nativa’s (a local restaurant) lead by chef Cesar. As we looked around the kitchen we saw flour all over people’s clothes and smiles all over their faces.
This was a great opportunity for students to create new experiences. After the making the empanadas, we had a very delicious but chaotic fruit tasting session. We tried pepino, uvilla, taxo, achotillo, granadilla, tuna, pitajaya and carambola. The majority of the students enjoyed the pitajaya because it tasted like a kiwi but less tangy and sweeter. As a result of this experience some students will be featured in Riobamba’s local newspaper (La Pensa Chimborazo) #wearefamous #momwemadeit. At our nightly meeting, students expressed that today couldn’t have experienced a better day.
Nateciya Gidron-Noutai, Highland Park High School
Rodson Celestin, Boston College High School
Wow!!! The empanadas look Delicious!!! I know I can wait till you show me how to make them ? God Bless you all ❤?
Sounds like another great day. I can’t wait for Claire to come home and make empanadas for us! Hope your weather there is better than it is here (lots of thunder and lightning — hate the muddy paws!). Loving the updates, keep them coming. Makes it seem like my daughter isn’t so far away.
So glad to see that everyone is enjoying their experience. I am the Aunt of Erika Pruitt from Chicago and I’m very proud that she is having this awesome experience. Continue to enjoy and learn.
I really enjoy the updates each and everyday. Thanks to all the chaperones on this trip in helping relieve any tension that a grandmother has. Stress lifting each day seeing a smile on my granddaughter’s face. Love you Ms Kyra Turner. Hope that you are keeping a journal of this time in Ecuador so that you may share it. Kisses.
What a yummy day with fruit tasting and making empanadas. Thank you for taking the time to blog your experience in details! I feel I am travelling with you while reading your blog!
Exploring another culture’s history will give you the backstory to their current story and all of you did it in such a creative way. It is wonderful to see smiles everywhere. And Czar, I hardly know thee with the dancing and now the cooking. I’m on the edge of my seat for your next adventure. Oh, the places you’ll go!
Hello Glimpsers,
Glad to hear that you all are immersing yourselves in the Ecuadorian culture. As a lover of trivia I’m curious about a couple of things about Ecuador. Is it true that the country is named after the Equator? Is Ecuador the #1 exporter the bananas which happens to be my favorite fruit. Greatly appreciate it if these questions can be answered in an upcoming post. To Czar, please remember the words of advice given before you departed on this trip. Buenos Dias!
Enjoy your experience glimpsers!
Feeling peaceful to be able to see my princess and to see she is enjoying this opportunity to the fullest. Thank you all for keeping our babies safe. God bless