It looks as though I have a chance to voice my experience with another culture. A couple years back, I went to Ecuador as part of a school project. We worked with Ecuadorian students in team-learning exercises. Anyhow, I would just like to point out some of the things that I noticed about Ecuador. The main thing I noticed is that they're not as "rich" as we are (I use that term loosely because I think that Americans could learn a few things from Ecuadorian hospitality). Their roads are older and are all brick (as opposed to our beautiful asphault roads--which aren't that beautiful to me). Their buildings are older (which I think gives them class--I like old--castles, etc.--as opposed to all this steel and glass that we seem to go for here). But what really amazed me was this: there were a few things down there that would have made some Americans turn their noses up (the beauties of having a trash can for toilet paper.
I've heard this is common in the PI as well.) And while everything would be considered "outdated" by us, they are some of the warmest, friendliest people I've ever run into. They were just so friendly that, well, it floored me. The students went out of their way to welcome us to their country. They invited us to dinner at their house. Heck, one of our E. teammate's mothers invited us to stay at their house should we ever return. Now this is true hospitality. I think Americans have a lot to learn in that area.
Just my thoughts.
DE
