Bienvenidos a Quito

I arrived in Quito on Friday, September 14, 2007. Even though my parents’ homeland borders the north of Ecuador, I really couldn’t picture where I was headed. After visiting Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica, I’ve learned that geographical proximity and a common language do not guarantee a similar experience. At one point, Latin America did not seem foreign “enough” to consider in my travel plans. Once I traveled outside of Colombia, I saw that I was mistaken. But that word “enough” carried a new meaning in my subconscious, and it emerged when I applied to the Peace Corps earlier this year. Africa or the Middle East. Those were my regional preferences. When I found out that I would probably work in Latin America, I was upset because I wanted a completely foreign cultural experience. But more so, I was worried. I was worried about the reaction I would receive from others when I tell them where I might go. Great. A Latina in Latin America. How convenient and unchallenging. So this was my problem. Always has been. I care too much about what others think. Thank God, I’m over that. In the end, I want to do good and what better way than utilizing my skills and experience. I shouldn’t be too picky – this is a need-based program. I’ll go where I’m needed and where I can help out the most. So I’m no longer disappointed, I’m no longer embarrassed to say that this is where I may be going. Because Latin America cannot be described as a single entity and I’ve stopped caring that others may think that I am going to have a less meaningful or easier experience. Excuse my self-motivating speech but it does serve as a piece of advice. I almost excluded the seemingly familiar without actually experiencing it. And I almost let my selfish concerns cloud my life’s calling. In the end, one’s purpose is clear. Reaching it is a matter of blocking out unsubstantiated beliefs.

Back to Quito. I am here on a fall internship with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for International Affairs, an NGO headquartered in Washington, DC with field offices around the world. I was skeptical at first – having studied political and social Arab thought in Egypt, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work for an organization that promotes democracy at the expense of other systems, which may be ideal in certain situations, I can’t say for sure. What I do believe is that everyone should have the right to choose and live his or her own lifestyle freely. I accepted the offer with the hope that NDI is tolerant and flexible.