"Las Fiestas de Quito"

Date: November 15th-December 6th

Location: Quito, Ecuador

History: December 6th, 1534--the day in which Quito became an independent city from Spanish control
           
          The facts...

• Every city in Ecuador has its own specific founding/independence day because Spanish control was not struck down in just one strike; instead, city by city.
• "Las Fiestas de Quito" are a way in which the city of Quito celebrates this Independence in 1534




• free concerts in the parks/free performances in general
• a ginormous parade is put on in which most large high schools are represented with a drumline and students who dance traditional dances
• "la chiva"--the party bus that is popular to ride during "las fiestas de Quito"
• "cuarenta"--the national card game (I will teach it to you when I get back :)); this game is literally played everywhere. We even had a "cuarenta" competition at school (learned how to play in five minutes ahh yeah!)

          My school (Paul Valery), particularly, was not represented because our school is too small (300 students) but most public schools were represented in the parade.  I've never seen so many drumlines and teenagers dancing in traditional outfits.  

    Thanksgiving in Ecuador...

Our whole Xplorer group as well as a few AFS exchange students got together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It was a wonderful feast!

                  My lovely, older sister, Hilary Johnson, came and visited me late November so of course, we made a pumpkin pie for our host family.  They technically don't have pumpkins here so we used a fruit that is similar--it was delicious!
                  Also, at my colegio, the English department came together and organized a Thanksgiving feast for the whole school; they even put on a little play.  I had a special time describing to some little kids what Thanksgiving was all about---making peace between cultures and building relationships. I had a very blessed Thanksgiving here in Quito, Ecuador even though they technically do not celebrate the holiday.


Did you know? Canada's Thanksgiving is on the second Monday of October. I didn't know that until I talked to my buddy, TJ (an exchange student from Canada).