Random Thoughts

By Bradley Rehak - Guest blogger studying in Quito, Ecuador

Everyone needs a break from (slightly) organized writing, right? This way I can share a few items that wouldn't merit an entire blog.

Machismo: I don't think it's surprising for foreigners, particularly women, who travel to Latin countries to find themselves the object of whistles, snickers, animal sounds, and—if they understand enough Spanish—somewhat vulgar suggestions. Surprisingly, most of the girls that I know are entirely oblivious to most of them, as I quite often am the only one to notice the things listed above being directed at them. Having been myself the object of catcalls—was taken for an Australian and some Ecuadorian girls kept saying "good day", among other things in Spanish—I must say that noticing it makes one extremely uncomfortable, therefore it is my recommendation to be as oblivious as possible in South America if you're a blond girl. Judgment: opposed.

Traveling Drinking Tours: Holidays such as Carnival are often celebrated by young people in the form of a traveling drinking tour, wherein a large, old bus or even an empty dump truck is packed full of people, decorated with florescent lights, equipped with crates of beer or liquor, and is then driven around town for hours to the rhythms of thumping techno music. Judgment: in favor.

Hopscotch Injuries: While visiting Ambato in became involved in a heated contest of hopscotch. Either my memory doesn't serve me well, or as a child I played the game entirely wrong. Either way, I lost in the most embarrassing fashion by twisting my ankle while trying to make a long jump against my skilled Ecuadorian rivals, who apparently had not been playing for the first time. Judgment: opposed.

Rafting: The rafting that I participated in near Mindo consisted of ten or so truck tires lashed together with twine and a belt, filled with gringos, and then set afloat down a quite shallow and incredibly rocky river with a nine-year-old and a fourteen-year-old as guides. No one fell out and no one was hurt, despite my firm belief that it was only a moment away. Unfortunately, considering the danger, the "rapids" were quite small, but not small enough that we could drink beer during the ride. Judgment: in favor, but with some hesitations.