"Start of Something New"

The first two weeks of the trip we were so busy traveling, there wasn't much time to miss home. However since moving in with my host family, things have slowed down, and I am starting to miss Ohio. My host family is: my mom Zaida, my father (whom I was never introduced to...), my 27 year old brother Felipe, my 29 year old sister Adriana, and her two kids, six year old Emilia and three year old Maeria Elisa. Around the house, there are constant reminders of home: Simpsons stuffed animals hanging on Felipe's bedroom door, Barney playing on the television, Disney princess toys everywhere, a High School Musical soundtrack.... there was even a copy of The Ecuador Reader sitting on the desk in my bedroom. Felipe and Adriana speak a little English, but only do so when it's absolutely necessary to communicate something to me. Emilia is learning English in school, but at this point really only knows the numbers. (Trust me, she knows them. I have heard her count to 10 in English MANY more times than I would have liked.) Therefore, when I heard her singing songs from High School Musical in English, I was very surprised. Adriana told me Emilia absolutely loves the movie, but has no idea what she is singing. A similar occurrence happened last Sunday morning. I was in the living room doing homework. A relative of the family (a cousin maybe, about 15 years old) and the father were in the other room doing laundry. The father turned on an American radio station. The first song that played was “Without You” by David Guetta. Now, I was missing my friends and family pretty badly at this point, and hearing this song made me think about them. The next song that played used to be one of my favorite songs, and the title was very appropriate for the moment: Relax, Take It Easy. I know it sounds silly, but it really did help me relax; it was comforting and familiar.  Next, Black Eyed Peas 'Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night” came on. I heard someone humming and singing along... I looked over to see it was my host dad, who was happily folding laundry. The fact that a house full of people who can hardly understand English listen to the same music that is popular back in the United States is a perfect example of globalization.  People in the United States don't know popular Ecuadorian tunes.  I don't think this necessarily represents cultural imperialism, however, because this particular radio station also plays Ecuadorian pop music. I think this is an example of two cultures merging, regardless of the language, over a catchy tune.  I also think many of the American cultural icons in my house represent the American culture merging with the Ecuadorian culture, rather than taking it over: the Simpsons isn't necessarily popular in Ecuador because it's an American TV show - it's popular because it's a funny show; Disney princess movies aren't only popular because they were produced in the United States - they're popular because they're good movies for little girls.  Traveling as an American in Ecuador and seeing these things is weird and unexpected at first, but the small things everywhere that remind me of home is quite comforting.