In some institutions, the government provides students with a snack (like a granola bar or crackers) and a drink (milk or a juice box) during recess. Depending on the location and resources available, the school may or may not have Wi-Fi connectivity.
In both urban and rural areas, I have been surprised at the number of both local and national holidays here, many of which I tend to be unaware of until the last minute! Ecuadorian people are very festive! For instance, this past weekend, Riobamba celebrated its independence with concerts and a massive parade! This local celebration includes lots of dancing, singing, fireworks and street markets. On a national scale, holidays can also be scheduled somewhat more al último momento than in the U.S. For instance, Ecuador held local elections on a Sunday in early February, and for weeks before, all of my colleagues assured me this would not affect our work schedule for the following Monday. However, just a handful of days before, Monday was declared a feriado (holiday/day off) nationwide! I believe that some students had to complete online homework still, but for me, it was an unexpected vacation day!
When it is not a holiday here, I enjoy doing yoga at a local studio, going to soccer games, trying new cafes with friends, traveling via bus to other cities on weekends and shopping at the local markets, which are full of delicious fruits and vegetables!
Overall, Ecuador has it all--from large modern cities to small countryside towns! It's a cool place to be in the sense that there is so much diversity within such a small country (it's roughly the size of Colorado). How does this compare to life in Nebraska?
