Cultural Differences

I always talk about how things are so different and they are, but I really have not went into detail as to what besides the obvious. I want to talk about the Mothers, the women of Ecuador. As you noticed I said mothers before women, because their first priority is their kids. I know what you are thinking; so is every women's priority when they have kids, but do give me a minute to explain. Here in Ecuador the women stay at home, some quit their jobs as mine did to raise their kids, they clean, they cook, and they cater to everyone needs in the house. I am sure you are wondering what is wrong with that, well nothing until you are actually here to see how much the women/mothers do. My host mom for example she goes to school in the early mornings after taking the kids to school. She is learning English because her 15 year old daughter may go to the United States or Canada for college. She gets home from school only to start cleaning the seven bedroom and six bathroom home we live in. She starts washing clothes, by the way they do all washing of clothes by hand. She then starts lunch for me and her husband. When lunch is cooking and clothes are hanging up drying she starts to study for an examine that she seems to have everyday. Once I get home she brings me something to drink my food and sits down and talk to me. I always try to help but the mothers here in Ecuador like catering to their family their love ones. I feel bad sometimes because I wonder if she is happy, because she does this everyday. Now the kids are out from school and she has more work to do. The thing is here in Ecuador a women prefers to be home with her kids, whereas in the States even if a mother wanted to be home she couldn't because she has to work she has to pay bills. She most likely is a single parent. Here in Ecuador most families consist of a mom and dad. Things are done together; the man is working and paying all bills, the mother is working in the house and making sure her husband, and kids are well feed and have clean clothes. I never knew how much of a role these mothers had until my host mother left for a weekend. It seemed as if the house could not function and slowly it became more dirty and more out of order each day she was gone. Lucky it was for only a weekend. The women in the States are more independent can do it all by herself, and I am not saying it is not true for the women here but in most cases the women will depend on their husband. In that States women go on dates starting at sixteen most of us leave home around seventeen or eighteen, but here young teenage girls do not date at such a young age and if so it is watched. Usually the kids, boys or girls stay home until they get married or get enough money to leave but the usual age is around thirty that the kids eventually venture out and see the real world. these are all big cultural difference that can make a difference at how you approach people. For example if you like a guy he has to approach you. Knowing things like this can make your study abroad experience a lot easier to settle into. Although there are a lot of things about this country that is different from mine I still enjoy and respect it. That's the key word respect. I respect their culture and part of their culture will sure come back with me when I return back to the United States.