So it´s been a while since my last post. I´ve been having a blast and I´ve done lots of things worth telling but this post is dedicated to one thing...
YO NO SOY UNA MUÑECA.
No soy tu juguete.
No soy un objeto sexual.
One thing I´m looking forward to about being back in the states is being able to walk down the street without being called to like a dog. pss pss pss. I knew about the machismo ahead of time but seriously...I didn´t think it was this bad. And the things they told us in orientation are not helpful. In terms of safety in general they told us to sit close to the driver on the buses and to be friendly and get to know the guards in the neighborhood cause they´ll look out for you. Except that doesn´t work so well when those are the people making you uncomfortable and making you feel vulnerable/unsafe. Can you imagine a GUARD with gun and nightstick hitting on you on the street. I have no power in that situation, or at least I feel powerless. I have no options of saying or doing anything. I am in HIS space and he has the control and the power to do and say whatever he wants. His space being any public space. They also told us in orientation not to say anything to these machista guys because they will think we want to flirt or something. Which may be true, but it is still not right to tell a group of women to shut up and take it. I feel now that I can say something if I want but still have the fear of the consequences. Although, a friend told me a way to respond that I love ¨¿Se pinchó una goma?¨ so I´m looking forward to using that one day. Also, a girl in my gender and society class complained about a guard talking to her that way and he got fired. That´s power and I am so proud of her. muñeca is definitely the one that bothers me the most. I am a human being! not an inanimate object. I feel the need to avoid eye contact with men on the street, in buses, etc. and uncomfortable if someone even says buenos dias to me. I also feel like after 4 and a half months of this and having to stay silent every time I will be inclined to respond every time it happens in the states.
Identity is so ...here. Identity is important in the states and everywhere but it just feels so much stronger here. What it means to be a white woman here, what it means to be a black woman here, what it means to be a black man here, white man, indigenous, rich, mestizo, homosexual. My experience with sexual harassment, though valid, feels almost insignificant in comparison with the daily lives of women of color.
I am just thankful that I´ve met nice ecuadorian men here so I don´t leave thinking they´re all pigs. I´m also thankful I have extranjero friends who understand. And that I have some great ecua feminists in my gender and society class.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
oh, Quito
Today marks 2 months in South America.
Quito is crazy. I think there are about 2 million people that live here which is worth noting. I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with the city. Its really beautiful but also really polluted. I went to the park again today. First time since the mugging. Thought I was good cause this time I went with an Ecuadorian but not exactly. It was so bizarre. We were leaving the park, no scratch that, we left the park, we were walking on the street that borders it and this guy, I dont even know what he said but it was something like, just give me a dollar and nothing will happen. so my friend gave him the dollar and he friggin says Todo bien ñaño. I couldnt believe it. How you gonna rob someone, granted only a dollar, and then call them brother. ñaño is a word only from ecuador that means brother. todo bien = all good. It was strange too cause I knew it was going to happen but I only knew because my friend knew. When he started walking fast I was just like...here we go. man oh man. I dont think Ill be going back to Carolina. Although, I do still want to go to the botanical garden and maybe the science museum..
last weekend was sweet. (ya know, minus the whole earthquake tsunami thing)
Friday I went to a karoke which was alright.
Saturday I went to Otavalo, which is the city that has this huge indigenous market. I bought a bunch of stuff. I want to go back though. I hear there is this amazing pie spot.
Sunday I went to have lunch with Patricia, the friend of a woman who works with my dad. her house was crazy. it was like out of a movie gorgeous. later I went to my first futbol game. bought a shirt that I kindof just bought cause the vender convinced me but i was really glad i got it afterword. its pretty sweet. also my team won which is especially great cause theyve been playing badly. it was great and I cant wait to go to another one.
this weekend Im hoping to go to Baños which is a place not too far that everyone raves about.
vamos a ver
Quito is crazy. I think there are about 2 million people that live here which is worth noting. I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with the city. Its really beautiful but also really polluted. I went to the park again today. First time since the mugging. Thought I was good cause this time I went with an Ecuadorian but not exactly. It was so bizarre. We were leaving the park, no scratch that, we left the park, we were walking on the street that borders it and this guy, I dont even know what he said but it was something like, just give me a dollar and nothing will happen. so my friend gave him the dollar and he friggin says Todo bien ñaño. I couldnt believe it. How you gonna rob someone, granted only a dollar, and then call them brother. ñaño is a word only from ecuador that means brother. todo bien = all good. It was strange too cause I knew it was going to happen but I only knew because my friend knew. When he started walking fast I was just like...here we go. man oh man. I dont think Ill be going back to Carolina. Although, I do still want to go to the botanical garden and maybe the science museum..
last weekend was sweet. (ya know, minus the whole earthquake tsunami thing)
Friday I went to a karoke which was alright.
Saturday I went to Otavalo, which is the city that has this huge indigenous market. I bought a bunch of stuff. I want to go back though. I hear there is this amazing pie spot.
Sunday I went to have lunch with Patricia, the friend of a woman who works with my dad. her house was crazy. it was like out of a movie gorgeous. later I went to my first futbol game. bought a shirt that I kindof just bought cause the vender convinced me but i was really glad i got it afterword. its pretty sweet. also my team won which is especially great cause theyve been playing badly. it was great and I cant wait to go to another one.
this weekend Im hoping to go to Baños which is a place not too far that everyone raves about.
vamos a ver
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