Bygones

I am not a person free from prejudice. I think it takes a big person to admit that. However, being a white American male my prejudice may surprise you. It was not for a people but for a country. And that country was Ecuador. 

To me, Ecuador became personified by one of my high-school professors. He was Ecuadorian, a doctor of economics, and an absolute dolt. Most, unfortunately, he was my academic advisor for my Junior year. I could not understand why the powers that were at my rather prestigious and expensive college preparatory school thought that he would be anything more than a detriment to those pursuing higher education. This is not the ramblings of some overprivileged spoiled brat; this was a concern of a discerning consumer who had been a loyal customer for over 11 years at this point. Not only was he ignorant of the American school system, but more ignorant of American culture. To the point of not really being able to converse with those he was charged with advising. 

Needless to say, I was absolutely apoplectic when he was slated to be my advisor for another year; my senior year. I did not like him. So much so, that I took time off my precious summer break to go to school with my parents to plead with another dolt to change advisors. Dolt The Second told me and my parents that a boy at the tender age of 18 was not wise enough to decide a person’s character; seeming to forget I would be voting for president in a few months. The selection stayed and I needed to endure yet another year of this imbecile. 

So, my travels to Ecuador were twofold: 1) I wanted to add another country to my list and 2) I wanted to prove my prejudices were valid.

What I found was that while my ire was valid towards the man, it was not towards the country. Thinking back on it, the roles of personality over nationality were reversed this time. And I needed this to be taught.

Quito is a remarkable city of immense beauty. UNESCO was very wise in designating the Old City as a world heritage site. Its fantastic churches, many in their numbers and magnificent in their grandeur span the narrow boulevards of this colonial city that time seems to have forgotten. Its food is colorful, plentiful, and astoundingly good. The people were warm and kind; very welcoming to a wayward traveler in their midst. 

Ecuador is lovely and should be anyone’s first stop, especially Americans if they are curious about the continent. I should have been more prepared to leave prejudices at home. Over 20 years since I graduated high school and I finally learned something from that man: let bygones be bygones.