Differences in Ecuador

Being in Ecuador, it is remarkable to notice the differences between this country and the United States. The varying levels of development and infrastructure throughout the country are dramatic. Being in a city like Cuenca is much the same as being in any other big city in the United States however, only 15 minutes outside of the city center, you seemingly enter a different world. Going to Banos outside of Cuenca really made this apparent. In Banos, as you entered the touristy center of the town, with resorts and hotels everywhere, it doesn’t look much different than in the US. But after a short walk up the road, you enter a very poor almost entirely indigenous town with mud houses and nothing but farming. As you keep going up the mountain, the differences became more and more apparent. There were even fewer newer houses, and the houses became much more spread out. There were less typical houses and more farms with cattle, sheep, and chickens roaming the hills. I was able to see the other side of the mountain and see a little village with farms spread out on the hills. This can be found all over Ecuador and is very remarkable to witness. To me, the most shocking trend is the obvious globalization and development in remote areas right in the middle of poor towns. This was also very noticeable in Banos, as I walked through the different towns and saw mud houses with indigenous farmers right next to giant brand new houses that would be considered nice in the United States. After talking with my host mom about the development and changes in Cuenca, I was shocked to learn that the streets in our neighborhood had only been paved about 15 years ago, and there were no internet cabinas or stores anywhere near the house, now there are at least five within a few minutes of the house. This change is also apparent between different cities. Cuenca is a relatively affluent city, while other cities such as Machala seem to really lack many of the businesses and appear to be much more rural and poor. The family of my host mom has also changed remarkably. With two of her brothers owning a jewelry business in Chicago and becoming quite wealthy. This is a good example of the differences in development within Ecuador. As people begin to become rich, and the country sees new signs of development, indigenous women continue selling their products for cheap, and continue to live in the country on their farms. It is really interesting to see a country in the middle of such amazing development and change, and to know that even a few years from now it will likely be a very different country.