Ecuador 2021

This will be my first time making a personal post.  I tend to keep write about subjects that interest me, but are popular nonetheless.  However, I find myself pondering the subject matter of this article more than anything.  Originally, my parents are from Ecuador.  A small south american country which lies on the equator.  Fun fact: there exists a pedestal in the capital city, Quito, in which you can place an egg on its bottom, and it will stand by itself!  Tickets to Ecuador are often very expensive, thus making it difficult for annual visits.  In fact, its been three years since I visited.  I honestly adore visiting and seeing my family, regardless of how brief the stay is.  I have limited amount of family close to me, and in Ecuador, I finally feel as if I am among people that truly understand me.  So its no secret that I've been aching to go back.  However, there are a couple factors which trouble me still.  

To start, the language barrier.  Unfortunately, I have not learned Spanish to the degree that I'd hoped to by now.  Although I can easily converse with my family and friends in Spanish, crack a couple jokes, and understand idioms and wordplay particular to the language, I know there is a clear difference between me and an expert or native speaker.  Accent, pronunciation, comprehension, and even writing can be utilized by a person hundreds of times a day while on vacation.  I often become frustrated when I stumble and use poor grammar when speaking Spanish, as I've experienced some ridicule on the behalf of some family members.  I have spent the past couple of years trying to add to my vocabulary, clean up my accent, and learn grammatical rules to try to improve.  It has been a long, but ultimately rewarding experience.  Language takes a lifetime to master, and constant practice s the biggest difference between an speaker and an aspiring speaker.  I have a dream scenario, where I can converse freely.  I am as funny as my dad, as heartfelt as my mom, and as smooth as my brother.  One of my biggest goals in life is to be able to converse like that.  

To end, the pandemic. This topic is a fan favorite.  I often wonder how different everything about this year would be different if this pandemic was also occurring.  Its out of our control, so it shall receive attention no longer.  Ecuador is a third world country, so there are several factors limiting its recovery.  Mostly due to the limited resources and aid to citizens, Ecuador is still in the thick of the pandemic.  It should start seeing lasting results in recovery in ten months to even a new year.  Obviously, due to the conditions of the country, travel is extremely strict.  Vaccines on our side are necessary, and we have no idea if all of us will receive in time.  

I hope to one day make my family in both countries as proud as I am of them.  Its just a shared mentality that most Hispanics have.  So all of this time and all of these rules that constrict the chance of seeing them again has me very concerned.  

(Cuenca, Ecuador.  The home city of my entire family.)