“Have NO EXPECTATIONS. Also you have to be very open minded. I’m not sure about other Latin American countries, but in Ecuador the men have a lot more freedom and respect than the women. Women were never treated badly, men were just always put first. Women were always expected to do all the domestic things. Also, the people have views on certain things that may be a lot different than your views on things, and aren’t always to keen on even trying to listen or understand your side of things. So really, you just need to keep a very open mind.”
(Brittany, Year Program, 2007, U.S. to Ecuador)
Follow the jump links to learn more about Ecuador:
Lifestyle and Family Living
Teen Life
Dress and Appearance
Diet and Meals
Educational System
Geography and Climate
Population
Language
Government
Religion
Spending Money
Safety and Support
Fun Facts
Lifestyle and Family Living
Ecuadorians are open, affectionate and curious people who take friendships seriously.
An extended family with grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts is customary and an important element of society, providing both economic and moral support to its members. Families are close-knit and enjoy most activities together, like daytrips to the mountains or to the beach. Brothers and sisters attend social events together.
Ecuadorians are very protective of their children; children are expected to show respect for their parents and elders. Teenage girls have more restrictions placed on them than teenage boys have. Parents expect to know when their children are going out and where they are going.
Students are often placed in the mountain city of Quito. Others may be placed in coastal areas, especially Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, or in small towns throughout the country.
Ecuadorian host families, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
Teen Life
Most teenagers are involved with homework during the week. Weekends are the time for parties and socializing.
Teens like to go out in groups, go to dances, play sports, go to movies, talk in a local café or just hang out in the town square.
You may also have the opportunity to get involved in various local community activities. These can include sports, music and crafts clubs. This is a great way to learn about your community and to make new friends.
Dress and Appearance
Ecuadorian teenagers tend to be more fashion conscious than their counterparts in other cultures. They generally dress well and conservatively whenever in public. Jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers are popular but not acceptable at all times.
Bring a light sweater for windy and cooler days. Students are encouraged to bring one or two nice outfits (dress shirts and ties for boys, dresses or skirts and blouses for girls) for special occasions.
Diet and Meals
People from the mountainous regions (including Quito) eat lots of corn and potatoes; people from the coastal area prefer rice, beans and bananas.
Caldos (soups) are often served at breakfast. Other popular dishes include lechon (suckling pig), llapingachos (fried mashed potatoes), seco (stew), tostados de maiz (corn-fried pancakes) and cheese pancakes, often served with fritada (scraps of fried and roast pork).
It is considered inappropriate for individuals to request special foods, to prepare separate food for themselves or to raid the refrigerator. Vegetarians are very difficult to place.
Educational System
Schools are academically oriented and do not offer many extracurricular activities. Most placements are in public schools. There are different types of public schools including those that offer university preparation, business, accounting, secretarial, clerical, educational or technical training. All schools follow the same curriculum for the first three years.
Academics are taken seriously and the work load is challenging. There are 13 required subjects including algebra, physiology, biology, foreign languages, geography, history and literature. Classes feature teacher dictation, copying from texts, and reading aloud.
Most schools are all boys or all girls. The school-year calendar differs between the coastal area and the highlands. On the coast (Esmeraldas, Manabí Los Ríos, El Oro, Guayas), the academic year begins in May and ends in mid-January. In the highlands, the academic year begins in October and ends in early July.
Although you may be able to obtain academic credit for the coursework you successfully complete while abroad, AFS cannot guarantee this. Please discuss your plans with your school before you go abroad.
Geography and Climate
Ecuador is located in South America straddling the Equator. It is bordered by Colombia to the north, by Peru to the south and east and by the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in this region; its size is about the same as Nevada.
Ecuador is divided into four geographical regions: the coastal lowlands, the mountain highlands (sierra), the eastern jungle, and the archipelago of Galapagos. The coastal lowlands were once heavily forested, but today most have been converted to agriculture and shrimp farms.
Down the center of the country, the Andean highlands form Ecuador’s backbone. The highest peak is Chimborazzo (6,310 m – 20,700 ft), but the most famous is the Cotopaxi volcano. The jungle, which Ecuadorians call oriente, forms the upper basin of the Amazon jungle, with many virgin rain forest areas and a large Amazon River tributary, the Rio Napo, which cuts through them.
Ecuador’s climate is varied. There are wet and dry seasons, and these seasons vary depending upon where you are in the country. In general, from January to May, Ecuador is hot and rainy, with a daytime temperature around 30°C (86°F); from June to December the weather is a bit cooler and rain is uncommon.
Population
Ecuador’s population numbers about 11.5 million. 65% of Ecuadorians are mestizo (mixed Native American and Spanish), 25% are Native American, 7% Spanish, and 3% African.
The population is divided roughly equally between the mountainous central highland region and the coastal lowlands.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Ecuador. The Indian language Quechua is also widely spoken.
Government
The country has a democratic form of government. The president is elected by popular vote every four years. There is also a House of Representatives whose members are elected every four years.
Religion
95% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic.
Spending Money
The US dollar is the official currency in Ecuador.
Your program and country information packet (provided in the months prior to your departure) will give you an idea of how much spending money is appropriate and whether you should arrive with any amount of the local currency in hand.
Host families pay only for ordinary family events in which you are expected to participate. When you do such things as shopping for yourself or going out with friends, the expenses are your responsibility. Depending on the cost of living in your host country, we recommend you budget about $100-$300 per month.
Remember: never travel with large amounts of cash. Instead, bring travelers checks or follow the advice in the country and program information packet. Another option for obtaining money while overseas is to use a debit card linked to a checking account back home (but try not to use a debit card for daily purchases since there are ATM and currency exchange fees). Or, you can transfer money using wiring services such as Western Union.
You and your parents should determine a budget and preferred money transfer plan before you depart so that you are not caught without spending money while abroad.
Be conscientious of your spending since conspicuous consumption may not be viewed favorably and spending more than your peers and family may create a distance between you and them.
Safety and Support
AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging participants throughout the world for 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
AFS maintains a network of experienced staff and trained volunteers who provide support in each country. In the event of an emergency, 24-hour assistance is available to students, their parents, and the host families. Furthermore, your AFS tuition includes comprehensive medical insurance coverage to ensure that medical care is available to our participants anywhere in the world and at all times.
While we have the above support structures in place, we also encourage you to take responsibility for your own safety and we give you the guidance to do so. Many of the AFS orientation activities, both at home and abroad, are intended to give you the tools to stay safe. We also provide country-specific safety tips to each participant prior to departure.
Learn more about the AFS safety and support network.
Fun Facts
- The American informal of the word no by saying “uh-uh” might confuse an Ecuadorian because the same sound means “yes” to them.
- The first female president of Ecuador had power for only one day, due to political disagreements.