For my STEP Signature Project I spent a semester studying abroad in Quito, Ecuador through the University of Minnesota Studies in International Development Program. Throughout the semester I was immersed in Ecuadorian culture by participating in a home stay, taking my classes entirely in Spanish, and having an internship at a government agency dedicated to providing resources to victims of interfamilial violence. To conclude my experience I wrote a 30-page research paper in Spanish about the interseccionality of gender-based violence in Ecuador.

I believe that a quote I found at a museum in Quito explains how both my understanding of myself and my worldview changed during my time spent abroad. “Yo lloré porque no tenía zapatos hasta que vi un ninõ que no tenía pies” // “I cried because I did not have shoes until I saw a boy who had no feet” This quote left a huge impression on me as each day in Ecuador I evaluated my privilege in new and critical ways. It can be all too easy to feel bad for myself for small reasons and then I walk outside of my apartment and see a woman holding her baby in the middle of the street selling apples or a disabled man begging on the sidewalk. Additionally, my privilege of being a U.S. citizen holds so much value. I have realized during my time here that one’s citizenship can determine so much about the opportunities that are presented to them in life. One day at my internship I was at an elementary school giving a presentation and when the students found out that I was from the U.S. they thought I was so cool and begun to ask me a plethora of questions. Then my supervisor told the class that if they studied hard each and every day that one-day they could go work or study in the U.S. The kids were all thrilled to hear this, but it made me so deeply sad because I know the reality is that even as hard as lots of people work there are just too many structural and political barriers in place to allow for this immigration to occur. While studying in Ecuador, I often felt guilty for the opportunities I have been given when so many other people just don’t have the same chances in life. Because of this I feel highly motivated to use my position and privilege in society to work for more equity.

Throughout my semester I had many experiences that exposed me to distinct cultural practices, which enriched my understanding of world cultures and traditions. I visited many indigenous communities and got to experience the rituals that are an important part of life. In one community called, Agato, our group had the privilege of eating dinner and learning traditional medicinal practices from the locals. The dinner started a few hours before we actually ate with a ceremony to bless the raw produce through a traditional Kichiwa song, then the vegetables were placed in a deep hole with hot rocks from a fire. This hole was then covered and we all danced around it while the vegetables started to cook. While the food was cooking we got to witness a very sacred and traditional medical practice. It involves the killing of a guinea pig by rubbing it with lots of force on the body of a human and then the dissection of the guinea pig to see what it died of. According to traditional medicine whatever was wrong with the body of the guinea pig is what is wrong with he human it died on. A girl in my program eagerly elected to have this traditional practice done to her and before it began many people choose to leave the room because it is quite graphic. The live guinea pig was brought into the room and we could hear its’ squeals as it was rubbed against the body of my classmate. After about five minutes of rubbing the animal all over her body the guinea pig become lifeless and was promptly cut into and skinned. Every organ and intestinal part was examined to see what was abnormal. The final verdict was that the guinea pig had bad circulation, stiff joints and hard ovaries, which insinuates that the girl has and should treat herself for these same bodily problems. It was fascinating to observe this medical ritual and partake in a night of cross-cultural learning. This experience, among with many more really gave me an appreciation for indigenous culture and their traditions that are so important to appreciate and preserve.

Beyond learning about traditional culture practices during my time in Ecuador, I also learned about the realities of life for many people. My internship at El Centro de Apoyo Integral de Tres Manuelas, a government agency that provides resources for women and families who have been victims of interfamilial violence, showed me the harsh conditions that many people live under. The area of Quito where Tres Manuelas is located is one of the poorest in the city where many people don’t have a steady job or income and violence and drugs are commonplace. The internship I had was centered around creating a curriculum to present to school groups during November, the month against violence. Through a variety of short films, activities and discussions I led hour long sessions for kids that come into the center throughout the month. During my time at Tres Manuelas I also visited many schools and houses in the area. Oftentimes the schools didn’t have an adequate amount of supplies and the houses or apartments had large families living in just a few small rooms. I also talked with and heard the stories of women who had been in or were currently living in violent situations. In Ecuador, “machismo” or male dominance over women is quite commonplace and sadly it is accepted as normal in many communities. Observing all of these environments and hearing these stories really gave me perspective on the privileges that I am so accustomed to having.

During my internship experience I also wrote a thirty-page research paper based on my experiences at Tres Manuelas. My final paper analyzes intimate partner violence against women through lenses of identity and history. I interview university women to find out about their experiences with violence and recovery from violent situations. My research strives to holistically analyze violence as a universal experience while also differentiating how identity impacts experiences of violence. To tie my research together I relate the experiences of violence to the attempts to control the actions and bodies of women. Writing this paper entirely in Spanish was a huge challenge for me and I learned a lot about the varied experiences of women who have been in violent situations.

This experience of studying in Quito for the semester was very transformational and significant to my life. Each day of living in Quito I did things that were outside of my comfort zone, sometimes small things like taking the bus by myself or other times they were larger like  presenting a program in Spanish to 50 children. My internship experience made me realize that I really want to have a career where I can work closely with community members. I now want to go forward with the intention of getting a job in the nonprofit or public sector. Personally, I got to travel to many different parts of Ecuador and it sparked my interest to travel and see more of the world. Overall, I believe my semester abroad made me a more well-rounded person and a led me to realize I definitely want to have a career where I can help others and give back to the community.