ECUADOR

IMMIGRANTS

        Ecuadorians come to the United States to seek a better life. Young Ecuadorians seek better education but notice many cultural differences between their country and the United States.




CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

    The Ecuadorian Independence  Day is on August 10. In New York, many Ecuadorians gather in Flushing Meadow Park in Queens to celebrate this holiday.  People dance to our traditional music. We gather for a parade and enjoy our traditional food, dance, and drinks. Then we march around and show off our Ecuadorian flag. Some people are also dressed in our native costumes.


   We celebrate special occasions by having  a dinner party like many other Spanish people in  the United States. We like to listen and dance to the traditional Ecuadorian music and spend time with our families and friends. On February 14, we celebrate 'EL Dia del Carnaval'. Here in New York, we immerse ourselves in water, beer, and powder.  We cover ourselves with flowers to show our happiness and love  for one another. This is one of the many customs that we Ecuadorians still celebrate here  in the United States.           
                           Christmas or Navidad is a very religious and happy holiday for us. Everyone in my family gathers in one house and celebrate with a little party. Everybody brings a dish and  some drinks. We do not wear special costumes, but  everyone dresses up nicely and neatly for the occasion. My family plays country music (Pasillo and San Juanito).
      
   

FOOD

                                                                                                     
          The Ecuadorian immigrants in America love to eat healthy food. We eat seafood such  as fish, crab, shrimp, lobster, squid, and octopus. One popular Ecuadorian dish is Ceviche. It is made with  lemon marinated shrimp, shellfish, squid or fish in cold soup. Sometimes we put ketchup, pepper or hot sauce in it to make it taste better. We cook this dish for special occasions like birthdays and holidays such as Christmas and New Year. We eat a lot of rice and sometimes we make arroz con gandules (rice with red beans).
       Other Ecuadorian foods that  we still enjoy eating in America are:
        l.  Whole roasted guinea pig
       2.  Empanadas    (meat, beans, hot sauce, lemon)
       3.  Locro            (a chowder made with potatoes, fresh cheese, and avocado)
       4.  Tostado         (toasted corn that goes well with Ceviche)
       5.  Humitas         (steamed cornbread)
       6.  Chifles           (fried chips of green banana that goes well with Ceviche)
                                                                                                
                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                      
               
                                                                                                                                                                   

CLOTHING

       
 
                                                                   
In cold places in Ecuador, people wear ponchos. Here in America, Ecuadorians and non Ecuadorians wear  ponchos during winter. Ecuadorians  can make sturdy sweaters with beautiful ethnic designs and they are being sold in stores and streets in New York City. Women love to wear necklaces and bracelets with colorful beads.

MUSIC AND DANCE

      
During special parties and gatherings, we sing and  play musical instruments like the guitar, flute, trumpet, and drum. Sometimes we dance to the "El Pasacalle" (music for dancing).


                                                         


LIVING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY

                                 
    Together with the other members of our community, my family attends and participates in meetings concerning our community projects. We volunteer as much as we can to keep our neighborhood a decent place to live in. Our Block Association works hard to keep our streets clean and safe.
        The Cypress Hills Development Association and Democratic Coalition for Cypress Hills are two organizations that help the people with loans, housing, jobs, education, and sports program in our community. 



INTRODUCTION