In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, syncretism is defined firstly as “the combination of different forms of belief or practice”. The juxtaposed narrative that exists between Ecuador’s pre- and post-Colombian history has given rise to a fascinating combination of native Ecuadorian and Spanish culture. During my time in Ecuador, I have witnessed syncretism on a number of […]
Syncretism Post
Since arriving in Ecuador, I have often been confused about the seemingly conflicting narratives that exist between anti-colonial identity and Catholicism. I often feel as though my presence in Cuenca, as a gringa, is viewed through a colonial lens. The obvious power dynamic of me, coming from a “core” country to study in what some […]
Syncing with Cultures
I think it’s safe to say that syncretism is our end goal here in Ecuador. We didn’t fly 4,279 miles across the world for a vacation. We all knew that we’d be in home stay families and that we’d still be attending college level course through the 3 months that we’re here. Our goal, or […]
Religion, Sincretismo
Sincretismo Nuestro tema esta vez es sincretismo, y he pasado un rato pensando en este. Al principio, mis pensamientos sobre religión: Entiendo que la religión, cual es importante para mí en termos espirituales, es esencial en sincretismo. Entonces, para mí el sincretismo es primer un sentido que me pongo cuando entro un espacio católico—es un […]
On paying someone to carry your groceries for you
I fancy that I am not ethnocentric at all—although I certainly make comparisons from others cultures to my own, I don’t think of myself as making judgements. And after living in a couple different cultures and really trying to understand them (to the best of my ability in the time I was there), I don’t […]