Q & A

Saturday, June 21, 2008

What types of flowers do you see and what colors are they?  5th grader from the Friends School in New Hanover County

There are many different types of flowers that we have seen since we have been in Ecuador.  Many were mentioned in Friday’s journal entry.  Here in the cloud forest, we have seen hydrangeas, trumpet flowers and dandelions, just to mention a few.  The colors of the rainbow are represented in the local wild flowers.  Many of the flowers are trumpet shaped – easy access for the hummingbirds’ long bills. 

Is culture more important to Ecuadorians than Americans? 10th grader from East Lincoln High School in Lincoln County

Culture is very important to the Ecuadorian people, and keeping their rich traditions alive is a source of pride.  No matter where we travel, both traditional and western dress can be seen being worn by the people. For example, in the Morrochos community the children dressed in traditional clothing and performed for us their Solstice Dance, accompanied by indigenous musical instruments and rhythms.  (These dances were in honor of today, June 21, being the Summer Solstice, the day with the most hours of sunlight of the year.)   

Have you met families that have recieved a cow from Heifer International?  Do they use it for the beef or the dairy? Students in grades 1-6 from Silverdale Elementary School

Along with Alpacas, the Morrochos community received guinea pigs and heifers from Heifer International.  The cows in this community are used for milk, not meat.  The milk provides vital protein, and can be made into cheese and sold at the market.  The milk is a sustainable resource for the community.  The founder of Heifer International, Dan West, held to the philosophy of “Not a cup, but a cow.”   The cows are valued more for their long-term benefits, rather than for a short-term provision of meat. 

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