As I embarked on my adventure to Ecuador
my mind swarmed with visions of monkeys leaping from trees, luscious verdant
mountains, the sun dancing through the jungle's canopy tops, and perhaps
downing a liquado in the company of giant tortoises. Upon landing in Quito, I looked out my
window at a metropolis of concrete buildings enclosed by emerald mountains. I
was overwhelmed with the sights of crazed taxis and motorists all seeming to
suffer from terminal road rage, the splendid scent of diesel and wafts of
spices from restaurants preparing their cuisine, and finally scenes of bustling
Ecuadorians tending to their daily business. Immediately my mind kicked into
overdrive. Every person I saw, every scent I inhaled, and every sound I heard,
I desired to know its story- who was this person, what culture did the food
originate from, and why are World War II American Navy tunes flooding the
streets at 8 o'clock in the morning? I knew instantly, I had made the right
decision in venturing south to Ecuador,
and in due time I would have the opportunity to learn some of the stories from
this elusive country.

My initial exploit in Quito involved an
incident whose plot unfolded in my apartment. The first encounter with
Ecuadorian life came when I attempted to shower in the bathroom. In the United States, when one wants to enjoy the
comfort of a warm shower, all one need do is turn a knob- not so in Ecuador. I
turned the knob designated to emit heat from the shower head and waited...and
waited. The temperature of the water could be compared to that of the Arctic; I believe March
of the Penguins could have filmed scenes in our shower. First lesson in Quito: heat is controlled
by a tiny flame from a gas tank, after simple correction all was right in the
world. This experience is the type that enriches one's travel and makes for a
good laugh over empanadas and mojitos.

While my imagination conjured exotic
images of Ecuador
prior to landing, I know outside the confines of the colonial buildings,
concrete offices, and thumping techno music lays an entire country full of possibilities.
My bags are packed and I am ready to see what these next two months have in
store- hopefully the only thing I see leaping from trees will not be nocturnal Ecuadorians
waiting to pounce naïve tourists!