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By: Isaac Gualavisí, Anais Licto, & Vanesa Marroquín

Each country and each culture throughout the world has a different way of seeing marriage, a symbolic event, which is supposed to represent a promise of eternal love. Also, each country has its own beliefs about how people plan their wedding day, such as using something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue to have good luck, prosperity, and happiness (Topics Online Magazine, n.d.). Therefore, every country has its own unique wedding traditions that make this day even more special. For example, in Greece, there is a tradition of breaking dishes after the ceremony to wish good luck to the couple (Sartaguda, n.d.). Although it seems senseless, it is one of the most common traditions that exists around the world. Indeed, there are crazy and rare rituals that would probably blow your mind. There are many traditions in Latin America, which make that special day unique and unforgettable. In Mexico the bride carries two bouquets, one of which is offered to the Virgin Mary by laying it at the foot of the statue to give thanks and pray for a good life and for her blessing. The other is tossed to the single women at the reception; the one who catches it will be the next to get married (Pippin, 2014). In addition to that, in Peru before the cutting of the wedding cake, single women take and pull one ribbon with one of its sides is hidden in the cake holding amulets, and the woman who gets the ribbon with a fake wedding ring will be the next in line for marriage (Pappas, 2011). There is another tradition in Cuba called “the money dance,” where the man who wants to dance with the bride must pin money to her dress in order to help the couple with the honeymoon and to set up their home (Mattia, 2016). Therefore, wherever the wedding takes place in Latin America, it will follow the customs and beliefs of each country in order to have good luck and prosperity. Germany has some of the most interesting traditions from around the world. German traditions start before the big day and finish some days after it. Everyone knows life is quite different after one gets married. For this reason, there is a tradition called “Junggesellenabschied,” where the groom celebrates with his friends his last time as a single man by drinking and having fun at a bar

Marriage around the world… or pub (Gordevea, 2015). On the evening before the wedding, the groom’s and the bride’s friends and families break lots of dishes and plates, and the couple has to clean everything up in order to learn how to work together for the rest of their lives (Mattia, 2016). When the wedding day comes, the bride is kidnapped by the groom’s friends and her family, and the groom has to rescue her if they want to get married (Anderson, 2016). There is also one game called “Baumstamm sägen,” where the couple has to saw a tree trunk until it gets severed in order to learn how to get over obstacles together (Mattia, 2016). For these reasons, Germany is considered one of those countries which has really interesting wedding traditions. Russia also has many quirky, long, and rich wedding traditions that make that day very special. Before the wedding, the groom asks for his beloved. Her friends and family refuse him until he pays up in gifts, money, jewelry, or simple humiliation. Once the groom impresses friends and family with this bridal ransom, or "vykup nevesty," he is allowed to meet his future wife (Pappas, 2011). In addition, the new couple spends their next few hours taking photographs in their country’s most historic and iconic sites such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin (Wedded Wonderland, 2016). During the celebration, the newly married couple shares a special wedding bread called “karavaya,” which is decorated with wheat for prosperity and interlocking rings for faithfulness. Whoever takes the biggest bite, husband or wife, is considered the head of the family (Mattia, 2016). One unique Russian ritual is the “crowning of the couple.” The crowns are symbols of the glory and honor that God grants on the couple during their marriage in order to recognize them as king and queen of their home (Manhattan Bride, n.d.). Some Russian customs were created not only to pray for a happy and prosperous life but also to have some joy or entertainment before, during, and after the wedding, which makes that desired day unique and unbelievable. India is well-known for practicing many different ceremonies and rituals, and weddings are not the exception. The engagement ceremony consists of an exchange of rings between the bride and the groom and gifts between their families (Business Insider, 2011). (Continued on page 2)

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(Marriage from page 1) Luck is an important aspect of Indian culture. For example, if it rains on the wedding day, that means good luck for the couple and their marriage (Whelan, 2017). If the bride was born when both Mars and Saturn are under the seventh house, it means the bride is cursed, and if she wants to get married to the love of her life, she has to marry to a tree before and then cut it down in order to break the evil spell (Mattia, 2016). When the wedding day comes, the bride’s family and friends have to decorate the bride’s hands and feet with “mehndi,” which are elaborated and complex designs (Pappas, 2011). Meanwhile, the groom has to find his shoes because the bride’s sister hid them. He usually has to bribe the bride’s sister if he wants to get his shoes back (Pippin, 2014). Thus, India is considered a beautiful country with wonderful and colorful traditions. China can be one of the countries that is the most devoted to its customs and traditions. The crying marriage is one of them. This custom states, “One month before the wedding, the bride must cry on purpose for an hour each day. One week in, the mother of the bride will join in, two weeks in the grandmother, and finally the sisters of the bride. The custom is meant to signify extreme happiness towards the upcoming nuptials, and on the wedding day, a crying marriage song must be sung and the bride will be judged on how beautifully she can do this,” (Wedded Wonderland, 2017). Another one is shooting the bride, and it is not what you think. It is not a popular custom because a minority in China called Yugur carries it out: “…the bridegroom shoots three arrows (arrows that will not hurt anyone) to his bride and then breaks the arrows and the bow during the wedding ceremony. According to their culture, this means they will love and live with each other forever,” (Travel China Guide, n.d.). As crazy as it is, it has a deep meaning and is sacred for some Chinese families that are very respectful of traditions, and it makes it difficult for this custom to disappear in the future. Still, some traditions are not related to deep meaning or culture through the years. These have been developed to have

fun with the guests on this special day such as the kissing tradition in Sweden. This custom requires the Swedish couple not to be jealous because “When the bride leaves the room, it is traditional for all the women to line up to kiss the groom. And when the groom leaves the room to go to the bathroom, then all the men get up and kiss the bride,” (Inge, 2015). Thus, in a traditional Swedish wedding the bride and groom are not the only ones who would kiss that night. It might be one of the reasons that another tradition has been created: the three rings. “A Swedish bride receives not two, but three gold rings from her future husband. One is for her engagement, and on her wedding day, she'd receive two more: one for marriage and one for pregnancy,” (The Knot, n.d.). This shows how committed they are and that it does not matter how many kisses they receive on the wedding day, for their love will last forever. The most important and unforgettable day of someone’s life is the wedding day. Men and women make the decision to join their lives to have responsibilities and solve problems together. No matter where they are from, their culture and

their customs should be followed and respected in order to

have good luck, prosperity, and happiness. Some rituals are sweet, such as kissing the bride or groom when their new husband or wife leaves the room, or the rings are exchanged. Some are strange like shooting the bride with three arrows, which will be broken afterwards to live with each other forever, breaking dishes before the wedding, cutting a log to learn how to get over obstacles together, or first marrying a tree before the wedding. In addition, some others are funny like the money dance to help the newlyweds with their honeymoon and household. Therefore, even though some customs are seen as disparate, people should think that what makes them unique and valuable is the deeper meaning they have to each culture and the desire of love and eternal joy with the soul mate. In the end, if people are particularly enchanted by any custom, they can adopt it and make their own weddings special and unique.

The meme effect…

By: Byron Freire & Renata Medina

Technology has changed the world in several ways. In particular, the Internet has stirred up the way of how people diffuse information. Social networks are important media in this century due to the massive diffusion of content through mobile devices. Currently, social networks are an important way to communicate with one another. Through them, people share different kinds of information. There are many things that are spreading on the Internet, and some of them are full of

humor and creativity. Currently, it is very common for people to use pictures or videos with funny stories to express different kinds of situations and feelings. These are called memes. A meme is a way information is easily conveyed because they are usually funny and ironic (Merriam-Webster, 2017). The other key of its popularity is having daily content like sports, movies, criticism of society, and even infidelity. In particular, some months ago a woman was caught cheating on her husband. That situation was used to make memes about the couple’s

attitude and behavior. All of these pictures were spread in only a few hours, and people shared them on almost all the social networks, such as Facebook and WhatsApp. People are used to watching memes daily, but they do not realize that memes could cause a lot of harm because some of them are used to bully others. They cause harm since one of the most important characteristics of memes is that they diffuse very quickly. Memes have a dark side because a person could think that a meme (Continued on page 3)

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By: Paula Cisneros & Sebastián Lozada

Imagine this situation, you had a long day at work, and the only thing in your mind is to get home, have some rest, and spend some quality time with your family. You try to get there as fast as you can; however, it is late and there are not so many available transportation options. You decide to take a taxi in order to be more comfortable and secure, but there are not so many around. Finally, a free taxi offers to take you home. Because of your fatigue, you do not look carefully at the cab and just get in. Everything seems to be alright, but a few blocks before arriving to your destination, the taxi driver decides to change the route to a ‘faster’ one. Seconds later, he stops abruptly and three men get into the unit. Pain and a sense of burning cover your eyes, for they have just sprayed your face with pepper gas and punched you a few times. The image of your family passes through your mind while you try to overcome the pain and listen to the voices asking you to obey. Your life is now in someone else’s hands. Quito is not a safe city anymore. Express kidnappings do occur in Quito. A few years ago, this kind of crime was not very common. However, now this crime can be seen in the news daily.

How to recognize a dangerous taxi

It is true that a dangerous taxi can be difficult to recognize because even the legal taxis can be dangerous. First, a dangerous taxi can be a common car, which is not yellow. Moreover, it does not have some legally established requirements such as special plates that should be orange, and if you are in Quito, the plates must start with P because that is the code for the Pichincha province in which Quito is located. Furthermore, the car must be yellow or yellow and black if you are inside the city, but if you are around the city, it is normal for taxis to be yellow and light green. In addition, the plates can be used to corroborate the legality of the taxi company on the internet and also to be sure that the taxi has not had previous legal conflicts. Besides, The National Transit Agency (NTA) provides taxis with a green sticker that certifies their legality. It must be shown on the windshield, rear windshield, and both of the front doors. Also, taxis must have the company name on both of the back doors. There is one more thing to recognize in a secure taxi, and it is a red and blue sticker that is given by the

Risks of taking a taxi…

NTA to taxi drivers, which certifies that the taxi is a “Safe Vehicle.” If the taxi does not have all of these specifications, the passenger must not take that cab because it is probable that this taxi is very unsafe. (Pacheco, 2015)

What to do in case of being a victim of an express kidnapping

People who have been victims of these events report similar cases that may be useful to future victims. It is critical that the victim know how to manage these situations in order to leave the taxi without any physical harm. The main recommendation is to always cooperate with the criminals and not show any kind of resistance. Even though it is a tough moment, one must keep calm and seem to be on their side. Also, it is a good idea not to look directly at the criminals’ face. Kidnappers want to remain anonymous all the time; consequently, directly looking at them increases their nervousness, and this could make them act unpredictably. Lastly, it is mandatory to give the criminals everything they ask for. Money is what all these criminals seek, and they do not have limits to getting what they want. Indeed, in some cases, victims were tortured and others killed. Therefore, it is best to end the situation without a dollar in one’s bank account than to die.

Some options to take a taxi in Quito

Taxi service in Quito is changing. A few years ago, there were only two options for taking a taxi. Taking a cab on the street and calling a known taxi operator were the most common ways. However, as technology evolves and access to a cell phone with internet connection increases, some companies have decided to enter the Ecuadorian market and compete in this kind of service. For instance, Easy Taxi, Cabify, and Uber are some companies that provide taxi services in Quito. Many customers agree that these providers have a high quality service. These companies are distinguished for offering their customers clean units, respectful drivers, and security at a reasonably higher price. Therefore, their part of the market in big cities is increasing rapidly.

Some tips before getting into a taxi

If the customer is on the street, the first thing to do is check the five requirements that every secure taxi needs to have, which were mentioned above. If the taxi does not have any of those or it does not fulfill all of the

specifications, it is better to take another taxi. If the passenger is calling a taxi, it is important to call a recognized company. Once the taxi arrives, the passenger must check if the information that the company dispatcher, who is someone that assigns a person an available taxi, gave him matches with the taxi. For example, the plates, the car’s color, and the number of the unit are the main aspects to check. Another thing to do is to confirm the ID of the driver. Even though it sounds desperate and strange, it could save someone’s life. Then, the passenger can take a picture of the driver and the plates. All of this information should be sent to someone trusted by the passenger. There are some cell phone applications that allow someone else to track one’s location, which can be used by customers to ensure their security even more. The last thing to do is to call someone while you are in the taxi. Those are some recommendations you should consider before taking a taxi.

(Memes from page 2) is funny, but another person could think that it is offensive. Some months ago, a Venezuelan girl called Ecuadorians “ugly” and “indios” referring to the South American natives. That was considered offensive by many people but also funny for another part of society. This situation triggered a storm of criticism about the girl who emitted that comment, yet this did not affect only her because the Venezuelan community as a whole in Ecuador was the recipient of rude comments and criticisms. Memes could ruin a person's image on the web in just a very few seconds and some of the most popular examples in Ecuador were ‘Lady Tantra’ or ‘Ex-Judge Collantes,’ who were criticized not only due to their polemic videos but also the many memes about them. The majority of memes are made as a result of people’s mistakes, and those are the most dangerous since they can hurt people’s feelings and self-esteem. This kind of behavior could be dangerous for people, especially teenagers, for sometimes memes are (Continued on page 4)

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By: Edgar Baldeón, Angela Duque, & Katherine Montero

One Friday night in 2011, Maribel was walking to her house in La Luz, which is a well-known neighborhood in Quito. It was around 8pm, and she was going home from work. There was one block left before she arrived home, but it was not lit. She was afraid, but her fatigue and desire to arrive home and rest won. She was walking around a corner when a man appeared. He wanted her purse. He was tall, and he was not alone. Maribel tried to escape, but the two men were enough to keep her in control. When she refused to give them her purse, they started hitting her really hard. One of the men used a glass bottle. When this happened, Maribel survived because she pretended to be dead. Like Maribel, almost every citizen in Quito has been a victim or at least knows someone who has been robbed. Taking a quick survey is useful to compare opinions of people based on their personal experiences with real statistics from the authorities. The survey consisted of three questions: Which areas inside the city do you consider dangerous? What are the most common crimes in these areas? What kinds of crimes have you been a victim of? People who were interviewed have different ages, genders, and professions, but they were divided in two groups: Ecuadorian residents/citizens and foreigners. It was important to divide people’s opinions because Ecuadorians have a different perception of the city than foreigners, who judge it based on their own experience or compare it with their homelands. The first question of the survey was about what parts of the city they considered were the most dangerous. Authorities from the city were asked about this topic. The information given by Santiago Rosemont, chief of the Judicial Police, was that the most dangerous areas around the city in descending order of crimes committed are the zones of Eugenio Espejo, Eloy Alfaro, Manuela Saenz, La Delicia, Quitumbe, Calderon, Tumbaco, Los Chillos, and Nanegal (The National Police, 2017). The number of crimes committed in these areas is shown in the bar chart below. Citizens who were asked this question said that for them the most dangerous areas in the city are the ones located at the city limits. However, they also said that there are neighborhoods that are dangerous, too such as Comite del Pueblo, La Bota, Atucucho, San Roque, and touristic places like the downtown of the city. For foreigners, moreover, the most troublesome areas are Panecillo, La Ronda, la Mariscal, the Historic Center, and Carolina Park. This information is interesting, for all these areas that foreigners and citizens mentioned are located in the three first zones of Quito that the authorities marked as the most dangerous places, thus showing an accurate pattern of the information investigated. People have spent time in Quito because they have considered this city as an interesting place to visit. When people come to the capital of Ecuador, they do so because it has nice tourist places and friendly people. Even though Quito is a nice city, some foreigners are concerned about many experiences that they have had during their time here. Steve White, an instructor at Fulbright, said that Quito is a dangerous city. He mentioned that some of his friends were victims of robbery on the Ecovia, and he also said that there were dangerous places where they could not walk alone. (Continued on page 5)

The dangers of Quito…

(Memes from page 3) related to cases of cyber-bullying, “Facebook depression,” and exposure to inappropriate content (Schurgin & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). Nevertheless, memes could be useful tools for people who are not well-known to become famous. Most of the memes last in the public eye for a short period of time, yet they could be remembered forever. Memes have also shown beneficial for entrepreneurs looking to profit off of them. Nowadays, marketers use memes in order to increase the popularity of a product or a service on the web. Memes have been used like advertisements in commercial and political situations. Currently, it is very common that memes about new movies are always spread on the web with epic funny content. The objective of that is to attract people’s attention. There are also experts on the Internet who create memes or post messages on the Internet in order to spark an emotional response in their viewers (PC Magazine, 2017). Most of the time, memes try to get the attention of young people and teenagers, as well as the famous and sometimes stupid YouTube challenges. Memes are part of a trend that get people’s attention, but the most common phrases used on them are going to always be popular in society since they were part of polemic and funny videos. The Internet has changed people’s lives in several ways, and memes are part of this huge change. Expressing feelings and ideas with memes is a very common custom. They are used by children, teenagers, and adults. Their effects could be good or bad depending on the situations since they are able not only to harm people’s feelings and reputation but also help entrepreneurs increase their sales. For these reasons, it is very important that people learn how to use memes in the right situation.

Bar Chart of the number of crimes committed in different zones of Quito, 2017 (Policía Nacional del Ecuador)

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The evolution of technology… By: Santiago Acuña, Andres Bayas, & Alexis Llanos

Life is everything but static. It changes every day, every moment, and every second. This is not a self-help cliché; this is a constant of the universe. In fact, the same happens in that marvelous and unique thing that the human mind is, and technology is obviously a branch of its expansion. Technology is one of the fields that has changed the most in recent decades. How has this happened? This happens when people start searching for what is impossible. Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, the author of the famous novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, once said that really sophisticated technology could be indistinguishable from magic (Frabetti, 2015). What he said fits perfectly with today’s world. For example, do you know how your iPhone works? The most common answer will probably be: “no.” Technology has become an essential part of people’s lifestyle by giving them the possibility of living in a world where things can be done more easily, but people do not realize this. They are used to it. They do not get amazed, but they should be. The best news is that this story is not over. It keeps going. Humans should prepare themselves to accept what is going to come. Nonetheless, it would be useful to make a brief review of how technology has evolved in daily life. One of the areas in which there has been a drastic change is in communication because of rapid invention and adoption of new technology. Although we had good technology to communicate, catching up was not an easy task because it used to take too much effort. Actions such as sending an email, sharing photos, and chatting on the internet are not recent inventions, but they have changed enormously. In 2004, Facebook made a revolutionary change in our lives through the introduction of a new concept of “public life.” Here we move our private lives to a public life, which is being observed all over the world. Instead of only sending an email to someone, we are capable of sharing and commenting on our lives that are visible to everyone with the help of a click. In addition, you may remember that navigating with GPS, making a cellphone call and taking pictures used to require three different devices and of course a large amount of money. You may also remember your first “brick cellphone,” which had few functions, yet you loved every one of them. Everything was complicated, but in 2007, Apple changed it because the first iPhone was introduced. This gadget combined multiple devices into one, and it changed the way that we interacted with technology because we could do many different things with the touch of our fingers. Just imagine that you have in the palm of your hand a GPS navigator, a camera, an IPod, a cellphone, and many other things. It has affected our lifestyles since everybody is capable of doing previously unimaginable things such as recording a video, posting it on Facebook, and making an international video call in a matter of seconds no matter where you are. These two inventions enabled us to be connected all day long with everyone without noticing how great those activities are and how complicated they were in the past. On the other hand, other industries have taken advantage of these inventions, and they have made business and developed extraordinary things such as the entertainment industry. Entertainment in the last two decades has had a huge change since computers and software were developed. Technology was

implemented in this industry in order to create more ways to entertain us and as a way to get the attention of more people around the world. For instance, in the film industry developers have added technology to movies with three dimensional images that are more attractive for the customers. The entertainment industry is not only involved in movies, television programs, and sports but also in video games. Also, since video games were created, they have had a considerable change. From the first Magnavox console to the latest technology consoles, incredible changes have happened. To illustrate, in the 90s video game images were in two dimensions and the controllers only had one button and a joystick. Nowadays, there are three dimensional images and complex controllers that the user can enjoy. As time goes on, we are more demanding and we want more and new things. That is why the entertainment industry has developed in huge steps in the last two decades and that is a good reason for you to buy a new console and start having lots of hours of fun. Not only the video game industry but also the movie industry has produced a great amount of money that will probably be spent on software development. Another clear example of entertainment development is television. Television used to be a big device that hardly fit on a table. It was really heavy, and the images were poor, but it was not a problem for the people at that time. As soon as technology advanced, television advanced too, so now it is important to recognize that they are more sophisticated. To make a comparison on how television has changed, nowadays televisions are super slim, and they can be connected to the internet. Now television can give tons of programs and fun for you and your family. Therefore, do not forget to have some soda, snacks, and enjoyment. One impressive thing about technology is that it can surpass an area of study, move to another, and even merge them. What do you think about combining videogames and medicine? Believe it or not, it happened. In 2012, a new Xbox movement sensor called Kinect proved to be interesting not only for videogame addicts but also for doctors. To illustrate, some researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom have used Kinect to help patients to recover from a stroke. The way it works is surprising: “A specially devised algorithm (Continued on page 6)

(Quito from page 4) All the information mentioned before should not be a reason not to visit Quito. It is one of the most lovely, cultural, beautiful, and kind cities in South America. It is important to keep in mind that every city has dangers. From New York to Helsinki, all cities have their own problems in security. Nevertheless, people keep going to these places because they are interested in their culture and iconic areas. Generally, tourists get information about the dangerous places of a city on the Internet. However, the opinions they read or the information they gather is from people who have visited the city. Sadly, this information is just based on personal experiences which is not confirmed by authorities. Having all this important information makes visitors aware of all the possible problems which can take place and how to avoid them.

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(Technology from page 5) enables therapists to remotely track patients’ hand and finger movements and guide them through exercises which compliments a wider program of physiotherapy (Knight, 2012).” According to the scientists working on the project, Kinect would help people to rehabilitate easily at home. Kinect’s production, however, stopped in 2016. Even though the sensor proved to be useful and interesting towards the future of medicine, it was never popular. Maybe the world is simply not ready for it yet. Developing a new kind of technology is probably more difficult than improving existing technology. Following the second path, the most traditional and hard branches of medical technology keep improving existing instruments to levels that had never been imagined before. Even though most of the basic procedures in surgery such as laparoscopic surgery had been invented and first used before 1990, some improvements that have allowed doctors to save many lives were introduced afterwards. Anyone who has been inside an emergency room can attest to this. The most important aspect of these improvements is the scale at which surgical systems can operate. As years pass, precision gets better. For instance, a really precise retinal surgery, which is done in a space inferior to 25 μm – μm per unit of length that is the millionth part of one meter-, cannot be done by human hand. Humans are strictly precise until 100 μm (David B. Camarillo, 2004). It is not possible for a human, even if he has been gifted with the best sight ever, to practice a procedure that requires

skills beyond his limits. Therefore, a machine without hesitations and better sight is required, and that is possible at present: more precise machines have been invented. A retinal surgery is no longer a torment that makes the patient feel nervous and profoundly frightened. Maybe, someday there will be nothing to be scared about for the most annoying and anxious patients. In brief, technology has changed people’s lives so deeply that a great part of the population uses it daily and for many tasks without even noticing it. Arthur C. Clarke was right when he realized that a technological advance which goes really far will be perceived as magic. Daily activities that people are accustomed to doing now were once considered impossible and believed to be just science fiction. Does anybody remember Captain Nemo’s incredible submarine, the Nautilus? Today, that invention, which looked so unreal when Jules Verne imagined it, is true, and also what you read in this article is not enough. Medicine, entertainment, and communication are only a few areas that human beings improved relatively quickly. It is time for you to start looking for further information and getting amazed, for amazement is what makes humans move from one step to another. To conclude this journey of astonishment, it would be interesting and entertaining to imagine how technology will be in the future. Probably, what our readers imagine will not be as surprising as reality will be.

The exciting ways to the underworld…

By: Betsie Sigcha, Marcela Cisneros, & Marco de la Torre

“There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable.” (Mark Twain). It seems that when something is forbidden, people are more attracted to it. However, who has the right to tell people what is or is not forbidden? From time to time, we hear different things. Back in the days of Ancient Greece, the idea of forbidden sins was already established, and currently it is still taken into consideration by Western Culture (Shannon, 2017). Nevertheless, the Deadly Sins as they are known today were written by the Catholic Church with the purpose of being a moral code for Church members like monks, priests, and laities as requirements for a good Christian life. Indeed, none of these sins are stated in a list like this in the Bible (Kastenbaum, 2017). Pride, envy, avarice, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth are the sins enumerated as The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins compiled by Pope Gregory I around the year 600 (Bibleinfo, 2012). These sins represent some of the most common feelings and behaviors that people have, but taking them to an extreme is what makes them undesirable. The main idea is that every sin one commits goes against Christianity, which is based on love for God, love for our fellow man, and love for our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). For example, pride is the overconfident feeling of superiority against other people. Envy is a desire to take away

or have what others have. Avarice, otherwise known as greed, is the excessive need to accumulate wealth. Wrath is anger beyond the rational. Lust is the inordinate desire to have sexual relations. Gluttony is shown as an extreme desire for food, more than what is needed by the body. Finally, sloth is the irresistible need to rest beyond the ordinary hours of sleep (Rayment, 2017). Moreover, each sin has had its own punishment over time. For instance, pride was punished with a torture device known as the breaking wheel. In this case, a man was put on a rack and his limbs were stretched until they popped from their sockets. Perhaps, in the middle ages, the punishment of being broken on the wheel was very humiliating to endure. On the other hand, envy was punished by being encased in freezing water. Therefore, the cold water was used to teach sinners why they should not desire other people’s belongings. It was supposed to chill their desires. Additionally, a lustful person was punished by being roasted by fire and brimstone. There is not much connection between the type of punishment and this sin committed; some assumed that because a lustful person spent his time being "smothered" with physical pleasure, he should be endured being smothered by physical torment (Cline, 2017). Lastly, gluttony was punished by forcing the sinner to eat rats, snakes, spiders, and toads (Kastenbaum, 2017). (Continued on page 7)

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By: Fernanda Suntaxi & Carlos Licto Global warming is not an unknown event. The Earth experienced this phenomenon multiple times millions of years ago; however, mankind has been here just for a few hundred years, and we still do not know the ultimate effects of global warming. What we know for sure is that we have sped this process up; nevertheless, you are probably wondering what causes global warming. Deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions, among others are the answers. In other words, global warming is caused by greenhouse effects, which happen when certain gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide, and others catch the sun’s light and heat the atmosphere (Prasad & Narayanan, 2016). The melting of the North and South Poles is a well-known effect of global warming, but do we realize the real impact of it? Certainly, it is hard to measure the real impact of this problem, but according to current research, the increase of the water level in oceans brings about not only terrible floods but also an increment in hurricane activity. In fact, the changeable level of the water in the Atlantic Ocean has caused hurricanes Maria, Katia, and Jose (Gast, 2017).

The Sign [Comparison of a scene from the movie “The Day After Tomorrow” and the hurricanes on September 8th, 2017.]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.theresnothingnew.org/index/The_Sign

On September 8th, 2017, people all over the world were witness to a particular phenomenon that seemed to have been taken out of a science fiction movie. The movie The Day After Tomorrow, released in 2004, shows a staging of a supposed end of the world due to unusual weather phenomena. The similarity is scary, isn’t it? Nonetheless, the melting of the polar glaciers has other dangerous side effects, and Mexico suffered one of them recently. Earthquakes do not give a hint of being created by global warming, but in accordance with a piece of research published in Nature Journal in 2009 by Chi-Ching Liu of the Institute of Earth Sciences at Taipei’s Academia Sinica, there is a

The reality of global warming…

(Underworld from page 6) This was due to the fact people used to think that the sinner’s palate was overstimulated with delicious food, so he should be punished with tasting

disgusting flavors. In brief, each sin has had a punishment that would force the sinner to avoid committing them again. According to a survey given to teachers, students, and other members of the Fulbright Commission ETP, the most common Deadly Sins that people commit are lust, envy, and gluttony. Nonetheless, it is evident that some other Deadly Sins are also committed by the Fulbright Commission members. Many times, during all these cycles at Fulbright, we, the students, have all experienced pride and wrath from some instructors, especially when teachers made a mistake. On the other hand, all instructors have suffered from lazy students that make the class hard to teach. Students usually complain about homework, essays, quizzes, and especially Friday classes. For these sins, instructors and students should be punished according to the Seven Deadly Sins. However, it is interesting to realize how the idea of their punishments differ from one person to another. For example, some of the interviewed believed that they would burn in hades because of those actions, while others think that hell does not even exist. Indeed, they said that if there is a God, he will not create such a place for his creations. As it is stated by the surveys, it is clear that everyone commits sins in their daily lives, with some Deadly Sins being more common than others. Nevertheless, each person has a different belief about which punishment one will receive in hell for being a sinner. Even if hell does not exist, its concept is a mighty force that stimulates some people to obey God and act correctly both in their lives and with other people. It might not be the best way to motivate people, but in many cases, it touches selfish hearts or souls without conscience. It is obvious that people should not deceive themselves with the fear of committing one of the Seven Deadly Sins and going to hell because all people are sinners at some point in their lives. Whether or not people believe in hell, the most important thing is being a good person in any situation, including when nobody is looking. To conclude, being a good person means more than just believing in hell or the possible punishments for the actions that we do on a daily basis. It means having a clear conscience and getting up every day with positive energy in order to help yourself and others. Consequently, people create their destiny and the atmosphere around them with the actions that they do every day.

connection because of the reduced atmospheric pressure that hurricanes tend to cause (McGuire, 2016). This level of atmospheric pressure contributes to releasing all the strain that has been accumulated in earthquake faults. This occurrence, along with erosion and the drilling for oil, contributes to the development of earthquakes. Although we know that the Earth is the only planet where we can live, we go on destroying it on behalf of progress. “According to the 2000 Toxics (Continued on page 8)

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Are we close to a nuclear war?

By: Yan Granja & Judith Alianza

One of the greatest and most powerful forces in the world is nuclear power. When it is in good hands, this energy can help different people, nations, and economies across the world. However, when this energy is created to harm people, it can become the most destructive weapon that the world has ever seen. The world has been a spectator of the most devastating moments due to the nuclear power effects, for instance, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attacks. During the end of the war in 1945, the United States created and dropped two nuclear bombs in Japan and won the war with this power. Now, almost 60 years after those terrible detonations happened, which destroyed almost two cities and killed more than 40,000 people. The isolation and pain that those people felt at that time seems to have disappeared. It seems that nobody understands or remembers the pain and suffering people felt during those days. For yet again, citizens of the world are holding their breath as the issue of nuclear war has arisen. Some countries are increasing their arsenals for an imminent war. One new participant has appeared on the scene, North Korea, represented by its supreme leader Kim Jong-un. He has sworn to take vengeance against his country’s enemies. For instance, he is talking about using nuclear weapons to destroy his enemies, such as South Korea, Japan, and the United States. At age 20, Kim Jong-un took power after his father, former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, died in December 2011. He is the third Jon-un in power, after his father and his grandfather. He has continued North Korea’s nuclear weapon-testing programs; for instance, on September 9, 2016, the country conducted its fifth underground nuclear test. While the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center detected a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, close to Punggye-ri underground nuclear test site, the Nuclear Weapon Institute of North Korea announced on TV that they had succeeded in their fifth nuclear test. They confirmed that the explosion had not only lacked leaking radioactive substances but also had no effect on the ecosystem environment of its surroundings. Punggye-ri is located in the northeast of the country, so both China and Japan were concerned about both radioactive effects and a threatening nuclear war. The explosive yield was estimated in 10 kilotons by South Korea’s military, but other experts asserted it was about 20 kilotons or more. Kim Jong-un has not cared about U.N. sanctions and the rest of the world’s opposition. He has kept developing his nuclear tests. During the time North Korea has been developing their tests, it has been achieving successful results. One of them consists of creating small nuclear warheads. To standardize them on a miniaturized size makes them fit for ballistic missiles. According to bbc.com, U.S. intelligence officials believe North Korea can reduce the size of the warheads, so it could carry out a nuclear attack (bbc.com, 2017). This year the U.N. agreed to a new package of sanctions in response to the February 2017 test. The international community has reacted totally opposed to North

(Global warming from page 7) Release Inventory (TRI) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 2.95 million metric tons of toxic chemicals from about 2,000 industrial facilities are annually released into the environment” (Atkins & Koth, n.d.). Therefore, the solution is obvious. Industries have to reduce the amount of pollution they produce and avoid deforestation. Since global warming is affecting the entire world, Ecuador is also suffering from the consequences of it. In 2015, an investigation was made by the Ministry of Environment in some important places of Ecuador to know how global warming is affecting nature. The investigation consisted of visiting the Cuyabeno lagoon and the Chimborazo glacier to see the effects of this phenomenon. The investigation determined that the Chimborazo glacier is melting and has decreased by 58.9% in 48 years. This in turn influences the flow of Cuyabeno. Those changes are related to the deforestation and the pollution in Ecuador. In recent years, many hectares of vegetation have been destroyed for the purpose of commercialization. The indiscriminate logging of trees is causing erosion. What is more, the lack of vegetation decreases the amount of clouds in the sky, which also affects the climate. Another big problem, especially in big cities like Quito or Guayaquil, is the pollution produced by the thousands of cars that are used every day. Moreover, the poor state of public transportation increases gas emissions. In addition, as Ecuador exports flowers, its plantations use a big deal of insecticides, and the residue created by this could leak into the nearest rivers. The problem is that that residue is not developed to co-exist with the environment, so it contributes to the pollution of much-needed water. It is important to emphasize that not all the world can change in one day, so if we want to avoid the problem of global warming, we have to begin with little things at home. The effective way is teaching children the importance of taking care of every little thing. Recycling as much as possible, avoiding using cars, not cutting trees, and planting new vegetation are ways to help the world be healthy (Cambio Climático: acercamiento a sus efectos en Ecuador, 2016).

Korea. They think Kim Jong-un’s attitude will lead to destruction. As if the scenario needed to add more wood to the fire, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified threats and warnings towards North Korea; for example, on August 8th of this year, Trump threatened North Korea by saying that if it kept threatening its enemies, the U.S. would respond with fire and fury. In addition, just this past September, as a part of his opening speech to the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York, (Continued on page 9)

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By: Andrea Cuesta, Magaly Cadena, & Diana Guallichico According to Ecuadorian history, Quito seems to be a territory prone to conquest. Where the capital of Ecuador is located, a thriving group of people called the Quitus, once lived. It is believed that they were the first group that inhabited this region. At the end of the 15th century, they were conquered by the Incas. The Inca civilization was bigger and stronger. They established part of their empire in the land of Quitus. However, their reign had a duration of only approximately 130 years because the Incas themselves were also conquered. The Spanish decided to come to the place they called “the New Continent.” Their arrival was brutal. They stole and tortured indigenous people who resisted. However, the indigenous tribes had better knowledge of their territory and, therefore, defeated them. Thus, although this “new continent” had its native languages, traditions, and resources, most of them changed after the arrival of the Europeans. Since their arrival, approximately 500 years have passed. Without these past events the Ecuadorian way of life would be completely different. One of the most important changes that the last conquest caused was the implementation of a new language. Originally, in Quito’s territory, the official language was Quechua, which probably still would be the main language if the Spanish had not come. Also, the name of the country would be different. In the Inca period, the territory was named Quito, after the name of the first group that lived on this land. Thus, presumably, Quito would be the name of the entire country. Before the Spanish arrived to the Ecuadorian territory, a writing system did not exist. Native indigenous shared their traditions orally. However, the indigenous had a system called “quipus,” which consisted of tying threads in different ways to communicate ideas. Indeed, that system would have evolved over 500 years, and maybe Ecuadorians would still be using it. Unfortunately, that system has been lost. It would not have happened if Quito had maintained its original language. “I wish I had the opportunity to travel back in time and learn about the Incas customs that have been lost and should be part of our identity,” my grandmother once said. It is not an irrational idea at all because ancient customs have been affected by the influence of other cultures. If the Spanish had not arrived, Ecuadorians could have enjoyed their diversity in religion and traditions. In fact, we could have created another religion based on strong traditions as other cultures have; for example, India, China, and Saudi Arabia believe in their own gods. Viracocha might have been the main god because he created all that the Incas had in their land, called Tahuantinsuyo. Like the Incas, Ecuadorians could have been more aware of nature. Furthermore, Ecuadorians could have grown products sharing tasks with others. They could have offered the gods crops and livestock that they had grown and shared production without having any type of currency. “Trueque,” which was a non-profit way of exchanging products used in primitive tribes (Romero, 2006), could have worked effectively these days. Ecuadorians would have a healthier diet. Furthermore, they could have had better body defenses to avoid illnesses. The knowledge and experience that the Incas had could have helped people to use plants to create better products and medicines to avoid pollution. Plants not only would

Life without the Spanish conquest….

(War from page 8) Trump referred to North Korea’s efforts to develop a nuclear weapon that could reach the U.S. by warning that America would “totally destroy” it in the case that it were forced to defend itself. He mocked Kim Jong-un as a “rocket man” on a “suicide mission.” (Judith Miller, 2017) The Doomsday Clock is a measure that was created after the Second World War by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board. It is an image that represents a view of existential threats to humanity. Since the current belligerent speeches between North Korea and the United States, this clock currently shows two and a half minutes to midnight. In accordance with this measure, today’s probability of a global catastrophe from nuclear weapons is very high; in conclusion, it is the closest people have been to the end of the world (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 2017). And so, we continue to hold our collective breath.

have been used for medicine, but also daily cleaning. The Incas used to use pita roots to make their own soap and shampoo. Therefore, Ecuadorians could have developed better customs and maybe become better human beings. Moreover, many people think that if we had not been conquered by the Spaniards, people would be living in an uncivilized culture. However, this statement is not totally true. America had incomparable resources such as a wealth of gold and richness of knowledge. Those treasures made society more prosperous and organized, which would have served to keep a prosperous and organized society. This wealth taken from the “New World” enriched European merchants and their kings in exchange for protection and Christian education to our Native Americans. History says that the Spaniards that came to America were the criminals and prisoners who were left to fend for themselves. Also, they brought illnesses that didn’t exist in Ecuador before, so a good number of indigenous people passed away

(González, 2013). Moreover, they took advantage of their

superior technology. For the mentioned reasons, the Spanish won the war. In conclusion, the Ecuadorian way of life would not be the same in many aspects if conquests had not occurred in Quito’s territory. Maybe Ecuadorians’ self-esteem would be stronger. The mixing of the races would not have made people lose their identity as it did. Maybe people would not be as susceptible to external influences and trends like they are today. Ecuadorian culture would not have as much western influence as it does now, and their relationship with nature would be more powerful and meaningful.

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A new addiction for Ecuadorian teens?

By: Kelly Núñez, Pilar Pinto, & Oscar Tapia Over the last few decades, alcohol and tobacco have been elements commonly used by teenagers, especially when they have wanted to relax or have a good time with friends. In the past, the consumption of these substances was a huge problem for Ecuadorian teenagers. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ecuador is one of the countries that held the highest percentages of consumption, being in the ninth position of the Americas. Beer is the most consumed alcoholic drink at 53%, followed by vodka and whiskey at 32.6%, and finally wine at 11.7%. For some reason or another, society has come to accept alcohol and tobacco consumption as normal. However, since 2016, statistics have shown that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by teenagers has decreased. Years ago, a study conducted by the Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas y Censos (INEC) showed that 2.5% of teenagers from 12 to 18 years old drank alcohol (Universo, 2017). Moreover, the WHO claimed that teenagers from 13 to 15 years old smoke more tobacco than Ecuadorian adults. Indeed, the study revealed that 23% of teen boys smoked more tobacco than an adult man, while teen girls smoked 18.1% more tobacco than an adult woman. Furthermore, this problem has alerted not only families and authorities but also educational institutions which have been working together to avoid this problem. For example, the Ministry of Education has implemented a program that hopes to control this problem by trying to prevent teen consumption of these legal substances. In spite of the fact that many programs have been created to control the consumption of legal drugs, the problem continues. It is common to see teenagers drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco in parks or public areas. What is more, people do not say anything about it because they don’t see anything wrong with this. At the present time, a new study called III Estudio Epidemiológico Andino sobre Consumo de Drogas en la Población Universitaria de Ecuador 2016 (Comercio, 2017) has shown that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco has decreased considerably. In fact, 36.9% of teenagers drank alcohol in 2012, while 33.1% of teenagers consumed it so far in 2017. Thus, the same results were obtained with the consumption of tobacco. By 2012, 24% of teenagers smoked tobacco, while in 2017 it has decreased to 20.8%. Despite the fact that the numbers show a considerable decrease, statistics now show a bigger problem. Moreover, while the consumption of legal drugs has been decreasing, the consumption of illegal drugs is increasing. As stated by the same study, 2.5% of consumption of marijuana, which is one illegal drug often used in Ecuador, has increased during the past four years. It means that 30% of teens in Ecuador have smoked marijuana at least once. Furthermore, other illegal drugs are increasing in the country, too. For instance, LSD consumption also increased from 0.3% in 2012 to 1.1% in

2016. Many believe that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco has not decreased. In fact, Dr. Victor Sanchez, a psychologist working for the drug center Centro para Adicciones DAME UNA MANO, supported the idea that this decrease of consumption is not true. Additionally, he explained that the consumption of these drugs is circumstantial, which means that many teenagers consume these drugs because of their environment. To illustrate, teenagers are constantly involved around areas where alcohol and tobacco are easily accessible. For example, if one walks around Universidad Católica del Ecuador, it is easy to find stores, clubs, and even restaurants that sell alcohol. According to Dr. Sanchez, 45 of 50 students from 18 to 25 years old drink beer during weekdays, but of those 50 students, only three consume illegal drugs. This data shows and supports that drug commerce is increasing in Ecuador, and drug use is easier now for anyone. On the other hand, Dr. Sanchez’s idea has been backed because his statement is an exact description of how some teenagers live in an environment surrounded by consumption on a daily basis. To illustrate, Sara Albuja, a Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica (UTI) student, states that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco has not decreased but instead, it has increased. She states that one of the reasons for its increasing is the universities’ locations. Her university is outside the city where there are few locations to hang out with friends, most of which sell alcoholic drinks. Consequently, students have nowhere else to go and have no choice but to hang out there. According to Sara, students go to these locations starting Tuesday morning and continue going every day until the end of the week. “You can see most of the students in three locations that we have nearby, drinking and smoking every day,” said Albuja. She also feels that the consumption of drugs is more common nowadays. “You can see people between classes going outside of the building, to the park, or even to the bathroom to smoke weed and come back. People notice it, but no one cares, no one does nothing about it. However, she denies that drug use is higher than the consumption of alcohol. “It is common to see people smoking weed nowadays; however, it does not have not a higher consumption rate than alcohol and tobacco. You can find a beer and cigarettes on each corner of my university while finding a <<roll of joint>> is harder. This is why alcohol and tobacco have a higher consumption.” It is evident that society is facing a huge problem with addictions. Nevertheless, the solution to many of these problems has to start in the home and through the creation of new policies. It is necessary that teenagers have an environment of trust and security where they are able to be free to express their feelings. (Continued on page 11)

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(Addiction from page 10) It is common knowledge that the more one prohibits someone from doing something, the more he or she will want to do it. Moreover, it is imperative that educational institutions continue working on programs that aim to create control and consciousness in teens in order to avoid drugs’ consumption. Families, which have been the most important core in society, have to generate strong bonds among their members to prevent addictions.

Dying with dignity…

By: Estela Navarrete & Salome Añazco

Brittany Maynard, who ended her own life through assisted suicide at 29, said “I'm dying, but I'm choosing to suffer less, to put myself through less physical and emotional pain and my family as well,” (Prakash, 2014) Maynard made public many details about her last days and her decision as activism to support the option of a death with dignity and compassion. A lot of progress has been made in medical science, but terminal illnesses are still a reality for many patients and their families. Some would try every possible treatment even if the result is extreme pain or an unpayable debt. On the other hand, others would prefer to avoid debilitating treatments and would choose to live only until they can manage by themselves. As some people would like to have an option to face the suffering that could entail their life’s end, a basic question has to be addressed. Is it possible to grant a merciful death for those who would want it? (Prakash, 2014). The request of patients who want their lives to end can be addressed through assisted suicide or euthanasia. In an assisted suicide a physician makes lethal means available to the patient, while in euthanasia a physician takes an active role fulfilling the patient’s requests, generally through administering a lethal substance (www.worldrtd.net, s.f.). Historically, the debate of whether or not hastening the death of a person in agony has happened since the times of Plato and Socrates, and in modern times since the seventeenth century (Wikipedia, s.f.). As a result, at present, human euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, and Luxembourg, while assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Canada, and in some states of the United States (Wikipedia, s.f.). Euthanasia means literally “good death,” but this term connotes a polemical practice that has been taken with prejudice. Indeed, it is argued that euthanasia is against the laws of God and Nature. Ethics and religion are the main condemners, but solutions have not been suggested. Indifference in offering a way to help people who are dying in affliction is neither moral and nor human. It is commonly thought that euthanasia involves just the practice of ending life through a substance, but it is related to many procedures, some of which are widely used. In detail, not resuscitating a person in cardiac arrest, turning off a life support machine, and withdrawing medical care that prolongs life are ways euthanasia is practiced on a daily basis around the world. It is natural for people to hang on to life, but dying is surely something that everyone has to face. Therefore, people should talk about what they want their relatives do in extreme cases when they cannot make decisions or they have gone into a coma. The basic reasoning behind easing the death of terminally ill patients who have asked for it is to prevent them from experiencing extreme and unnecessary pain. After the options to achieve a cure are exhausted, efforts are directed towards keeping a patient’s life quality as long as possible and lastly providing palliative care. However, palliative care has its limits,

and eventually, the deterioration caused by the progression of a terminal illness causes pain that cannot be controlled. It has to be considered that at some point most patients require life support to replace the functions of damaged organs. Common examples of this situation are dialysis or ventilation. Besides, the inability of continuing a regular routine and the deterioration of the patient’s autonomy and life quality could cause them intense psychological distress. Hence, assisted suicide and euthanasia are not aimed at ending a terminal patient’s life but to prevent them from experiencing extreme suffering. Furthermore, although health care should be accessible for anybody, it is known that a prolonged medical expense could cause a family to fall into bankruptcy. Financially, patients with a terminal illness might have to think about how to distribute their resources while considering their agony instead of prioritizing spending boat-loads of money on treatments that could or could not improve their life quality. Besides, for those patients who can count on the support of their families, knowing that their medical expenses could be eventually unpayable and affect their families’ well-being might pose a psychological burden. On the other hand, for those who cannot rely on their families, it might be despairing to think about how to go about living once they cannot manage things by themselves. Thus, assisted suicide or euthanasia is a compassionate option for terminally ill patients as it allows them to focus on getting the most out of their lives while it is still possible, and it frees them from the anguish of how things will be managed once they cannot do it by themselves. In conclusion, society has to discuss assisted suicide and euthanasia as options to humanly answer the need for a merciful death for those who want it. Even though death is a taboo topic in our society, every person should analyze what they would want when facing this type of situation. In addition, giving terminally ill patients the option of deciding how much longer to stay alive frees them from the fear of experiencing prolonged agony. Finally, granting terminally ill patients the option of managing the time they have left leads them to do their best to achieve a good life quality while it is still possible. Nothing is more valuable than a human life, so every life should

be a celebration instead of a penance. Granting a merciful death to those who want it is a way in which not only life is honored but also the right of living with dignity is respected.

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Super me is not always right… By: Gabriela Ruiz, Carolina Tapia, & Marjorie Bravo

“The worst enemy of success is conformism.” This is a sentence said by Camilo Cruz, Ph.D., in his motivational book La Vaca (The Cow). The human mind is very powerful, and it has a double potentiality which can turn a positive thought into a negative feeling, a sad feeling into happy one, and a failure into a successful project (Riso, 2004). This statement means that all human beings have different levels of internal fight between opposite feelings, which makes people the owners of their own destiny. Human beings are complicated systems, for their minds can move between the most extreme feelings of conformism to motivation. As long as people can manage the situations in between those feelings, they will be fine. The problem starts when the feeling of conformism lasts for a long time, and the person stops doing anything to motivate himself. Sadness, disappointment, pain, and rage are parts of human life. These emotions could affect some more than others, but these emotions turn into depression when they cannot be controlled anymore. Why can’t people control these emotions? Even if love, happiness, and optimism are constantly present in life, a depressed person cannot manage these feelings anymore because there is a “Super me” inside of everyone who accuses, judges, and forces people not to believe in themselves. That is why it is important to understand how to turn depression into motivation from both professional and personal perspectives. Dr. Fabrisio Ortiz, a psychologist in Quito, says that depression is a disease expressed by the inhibition of a person’s feelings. What does inhibition mean? He explained that a person feels depressed when she does not react or she has no goals and dreams. Dr. Ortiz claims that the problem starts when a person begins to have negative thoughts. At that time, a professional could diagnose a depressive condition. He also mentioned that, in psychology, there is a term called a “Super me,” which works as a type of judge in the mind of the person. When someone is depressed, this “Super me” starts to dominate the person, and she changes her personality in some way. For example, this “Super me” tells her, “You cannot study, you do not want to finish your homework, and you cannot win the race.” This could become a big problem because it is an internal voice that always recommends negative things, and it can even push a person to commit suicide. According to Dr. Ortiz, everyone may suffer from depression once in his or her lives and in different ways. There are many cases, for example, a mother who lost a child, a man who lost his job, and a girl who was raped, among others. In these cases, people start showing some specific characteristics like a loss of interest in their current activities, discouragement, and in extreme cases, the wish to die. “If people recognize one of these symptoms, they need to look for professional help,” Ortiz said. He thinks that therapy can work as a helpful tool to find the origin of the problem and reconnect with their spiritual feelings, so that people could feel better and overcome adversity. From the perspective of a person who has been through a depressed condition, the interview with “Rosa” confirmed what was said by Dr. Ortiz. She said that even if she was a person who looked very active, popular, and funny, there were times when she felt sad

and unsatisfied with her life. “I used to think that I would have preferred not to be born because I did not understand this society,” she mentioned. “When I became an adult, I realized that my father was a depressed person and that caused a lot of trouble in his marriage with my mother. For some reason, I saw myself like my father, and I decided to visit a psychiatrist because I didn’t want to live like him,” she added. Rosa tried all kinds of doctors (homeopaths, bioenergetics, yoga) but nothing worked. She started a relationship with a man that was not good for her, and she finally fell into huge depression! She said that she finally met her current psychiatrist, who helped her to improve her life. After some physical analysis, he told her that her condition stemmed from an anxious brain, so she agreed to start taking medication for depression and anxiety. She smiled and said, “My attitude completely changed my life. My problems did not disappear immediately, but I was feeling strong enough to face them and solve them.” Currently, Rosa continues taking medicine, and she is supporting herself with a psychotherapist. Many of us have said, “I woke up depressed today.” When we do not want to do anything, or start crying without any reason, or simply stay alone, we are in the first step of depression, but we can face it with some simple actions that improve our personality and reinforce our self-esteem. Nevertheless, when people are depressed, it is difficult to see the beauty in all the things they do. There is a saying, “There are some little things in life like sunsets, coffee, long drives, giggles, sappy movies, ice-cream, deep conversations, cozy socks, and music. These things are so few, but they mean a great deal to me” (Pinterest, 2017). As Dr. Ortiz and “Rosa” said, when these little things happen, and depressed people start to give them value, they are doing the basic steps to heal their spirit. They can start enjoying the water while taking a shower, prepare a simple lunch, or simply feel how the air gets into their nose, fulfilling their entire body. This is the moment when motivation appears because the person that was going through depression will have the control of her life in her hands. Rosa also mentioned, “Motivation will easily come once you know what you want to do in your life, and you wake up every day thinking that you have to work hard to accomplish your goals. It is not an easy job, but it is worth doing it! You just need to be patient.” After talking with a professional doctor and a person who went through a depressive condition, it becomes easier to understand what the words “depression” as well as “motivation” mean. Depression is not only the sensation of crying or the desire to sleep to forget your pains, it is a disease. However, it is important to remember there is a law in nature that says that, “After a storm comes calm and after winter arrives the summer” (Henry, 2001), but when you are in darkness, it is in your hands to get out of it. Life consists of making the right decisions for you. If someone is going through depression, it is her decision to stay with it or to look for help. People have many prejudices about visiting a psychiatrist or taking drugs for this disease, but you have to think about yourself and choose the decision that will bring back the motivation to continue living and accomplishing your dreams. It is not possible to be happy all the time, but you are the owner of your decisions, and having a disease like depression is not an excuse to stay in that condition. There are alternatives that may help you to improve your life, and it starts with self-esteem and self-motivation. Each person is responsible for the actions that she takes; therefore, you have to fight against that internal “Super me” that lives in all of us.

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Drumming hearts…

By: Mónica Salas & Salomé Parreño M. It was the time to start the journey, yet the journey had already started for the natives. In the center of the city, many people gather around holding different statues and images of their saint. He is their protector. The one who has always looked out for them. Citizens from other parts of the country and foreigners are there. It is possible to feel the excitement and enthusiasm of everyone even though the sun is burning intensely. As the day goes by, more people appear holding more statues and images of the saint. Not everyone is new there, but in the atmosphere it feels like it is the first time for everybody. The organizers, the majority of whom were born in Borbon, give the sign to start. Suddenly, those who are waiting stand up and get inside the boats which are near the dock. The journey is about to start. Every year in Borbón, a small seaboard town in Ecuador, a big and very emotive party is celebrated. The party commemorates the existence of the saint of black people. The only saint who has always cared about and protected them: Saint Martin de Porres. Saint Martin was a humble priest whose most important characteristics were equality and love. People all over the town say he helped everyone with a smile on his face. He was discriminated against as a child, so he decided to be completely different from the people who mistreated him and offered his life to charity (Ruiza, 2004). The town, where the Ecuadorian celebration in honor of Saint Martin takes place, is special for different reasons, such as the happiness that goes through the veins of the natives, the beauty of the rivers that are located near the area, and the amazing vegetation that surrounds them. Borbón is a young and small town, yet it has become an important economic port in the north of Ecuador. It is located in Esmeraldas near the border with Colombia. It was founded in 1938 with just 12,000 residents. The principal products which grow in the region are cacao, rice, wood, and corn (La Hora, 2009). Some say that Borbón was first named after the Spanish roots of the settlers who first arrived to the town. Others say that the name Borbón is related to the formations caused by the torrents of the Cayapas and Santiago Rivers. On the border of those two rivers, there are around 20 small towns which celebrate Saint Martin de Porres’ party. This traditional celebration or Black Saint Ritual is a representation of the diversity of culture in our country and Afro-Ecuadorian beliefs. Every November 3rd, the image of the Black Saint starts a trip from Borbón to Canchimalero Island. Furthermore, people walk on the streets around the figure while others give money to the image (El Telegrafo, 2016). People are accustomed to praying because they are grateful for their quiet souls, health, and jobs. They are really devoted, so during the entire procession they are singing and playing the typical instruments like marimba and drums. Historians say that around 40 years ago, a ship was damaged in the middle of the river, and one of the survivors explained that Saint Martin saved her. That is the reason why the procession takes place in the water of the primary river of the region where people follow the image with their families inside small handmade boats. These fluvial creations are decorated with natural resources of the region like fruit, plants, and feathers from local birds. People want to show the beautiful resources that this exotic land has to offer every year in this celebration. All the activities begin with a religious meeting because of the gratefulness of people (Caiza, 2012). After the celebration starts, locals and people from other cities and countries start to dance and sing the traditional music of Afro-

Ecuadorians. They use different kinds of drums, shakers, and air musical instruments. But, the magic happens when the singers, who are all women, start to sing songs for the saint. Their voices, mixed with the intense sound of the drums, make people feel excited. Their hearts beat with the sound of the drums, and they find their bodies shaking and following that intense sound. The celebration lasts for four hours until all the ships arrive in Canchimalero, where the blast reaches its highest level. The devotion and freedom that tourists can discover in those communities make this ritual a fantastic experience that has the power to change their lives. As boats arrive in Canchimalero, lots of local residents come closer to them to welcome everyone. They had been waiting for that moment the entire year. Moreover, they prepared their souls for it, and now they are ready to show the guests why Borbón and Canchimalero are must-see sites. When tourists and locals get off the boats in Canchimalero, the drums start to sound. In the middle of Canchimalero, a group of young Afro-Ecuadorian women start to dance as men play the drums. Tourists try to follow the agitated movement of the dancers. After a few hours, the festival ends, but those who are still feeling the power of the music going through their veins are still dancing while they get inside the boats again. It takes four hours to get to Canchimalero, and the time has come to go back to Borbón. The quietest waters of the river seem to be waiting for the people to start their journey back to their everyday lives. Kids from Canchimalero wave goodbye. Some think the celebration has ended, but the locals are ready to play the drums all the way back to Borbón. The energy will never end. It is inside everyone as if they had drumming hearts.

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Ecuador’s richest resource…

By: María Belén Solís & Andrés Robalino Lourdes Páez, an Ecuadorian writer, said, “Without cacao Ecuador would not exist,” when she was speaking about the history of Ecuador. This phrase gives us a clear idea of how important the impact of cocoa was in the history of the country. Cocoa beans have been contributing to Ecuador’s history and its economy since the end of the 19th century, when Ecuador became the largest exporter of cocoa (Veintimilla, 2015). Ecuador is not only famous for its cocoa beans but also for its chocolate, which has many health benefits that still are unrecognized. Some studies show that the origin of cocoa was in Mexico; however, the University of Quevedo analyzed various samples of DNA of cocoa and proved that a single variety of cocoa originated in the Amazon of Ecuador 5,000 years ago (Anecacao Ecuador, n.d.). Nevertheless, the mass production of cocoa beans started in the year 1880, when Ecuador produced approximately 15,000 metric tons (Anecacao Ecuador, n.d.). From 1880 to 1920, Ecuador was the major exporter of cocoa in the world (Anecacao Ecuador, n.d.). Nonetheless, since 1920 diseases like “monilla” and “broom of the witch” have caused the progress of cocoa production to stop, and thus its production was reduced by 30% (El Cacao en la economía del Ecuador, n.d.). Ecuador lost its competitiveness in cocoa production until the 2000s, when the production of fine aroma cocoa was required by Europe and North America. It is currently estimated that the industry employs 600,000 people (El Cacao en la economía del Ecuador, n.d.). Therefore, this industry has been key to the development of Ecuadorian families. Consequently, the production of the cocoa bean has helped Ecuador stabilize its economy. Chocolate from Switzerland, France and Belgium was considered the best for a long time. However, during the last few years, Ecuador has gained a good reputation and now its cacao is considered amongst the best. The cacao bean from Ecuador is known as “Arriba Cacao,” which makes the finest dark chocolate. Fortunately, this grain grows successfully only in Ecuador, and its trademark is its fine aroma. In fact, fine aroma chocolate is found in only 5% of the world, and Ecuador is responsible for 63% of its production (Caselli, 2013). Besides, the world’s top consumers of fine chocolate are countries from Europe, America, and Asia despite its high cost. In the last decade, the chocolate industry has revolutionized the consumption of it in the world. Pacari is the most recognized brand for producing the best chocolate in the world. In addition, it has won many awards because of its fine aroma (Ecuador triunfa en el Mundial del Chocolate, 2015). Therefore, all the history

and the mechanisms of how this company established Ecuadorian chocolate in the world is important to mention. In 2002, Santiago Peralta founded the Pacari Chocolate Company (Nuestra Historia, n.d.). It was a family business with the vision of changing the history of chocolate in Ecuador, and Pacari has been successful. Over the past fifteen years, Pacari Chocolate has created and produced chocolate made from fine aroma cacao beans with different kinds of flavors (Nuestra Historia, n.d.). For instance, Pacari produces chocolate mixed with strawberries, grapes, chili pepper, and soursop, among others (Nuestra Historia, n.d.). In addition, the brand has a line of chocolate made from grains of some provinces of Ecuador such as Esmeraldas, Zamora Chinchipe, and Milagro. Some people cannot recognize the difference between chocolate made from a bean in different places, but in fine cuisine, the change of tastes is highly valued. Pacari is also famous for doing business differently. For example, they made a direct alliance with farmers, giving them more benefits and paying more for the quality of the bean (Nuestra Historia, n.d.). Definitely, the impact of Pacari this decade has changed business negotiations. An interesting fact is that Pacari means “nature” in Quechua, so the philosophy of the company is that everything that is nature is good. In addition, this company guarantees the health of the land and consumers, since they are free of soy, dairy, gluten, chemical and transgenic components (Nuestra Historia, n.d.). Many people have wondered and asked if chocolate is good for their health. Without a doubt, it is well known that only bitter or dark chocolate is good for health, but it needs to be without sugar and additional fats. Additionally, it contains a number of psychoactive chemicals such as anandamide, tyramine, phenylethylamine, theobromine and caffeine, which have a stimulatory effect on the brain (Mosley, 2017). On the other hand, some of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality around the world are coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Their prevention strategies are essential for improving people’s health. Thus, one of the key elements of lifestyle that can easily control these kinds of diseases is diet. There is a protective role of chocolate against oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherogenesis, which are the main causes of these health problems (Fernández-Murga, et-al, 2011). A review of many studies on cardiovascular benefits shows that the moderation of chocolate consumption (1-6 servings / week) may be ideal for the prevention of these diseases (Yuan, et-al, 2017). In summary, Ecuador is lucky to have this kind of chocolate, which is an accessible alternative to preventing some diseases, giving opportunities to workers, and improving the country’s economy. Therefore, do not feel guilty about eating a piece of dark Ecuadorian chocolate every day.

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The making of a great dad…

By: Martin Acuña & Nelson Navarrete “I think it is the most responsible thing you can do, to have kids. It is not something to be taken lightly. I do not have that gene that people have to replicate. But everything in my life has changed over time.” (George Clooney n.d.) Becoming a father is biologically easy, but how can a man be a good father at the present time when there is not enough time to spend with his children? Dads have to provide their family with at least food, shelter, education, and security, so men usually spend a great deal of time working in order to be good providers. Even though working hard is important, it makes it difficult for men to be good fathers because they are not involved in their children’s lives. There are many concepts about being a good father. For instance, the contemporary idea of fatherhood is the notion that a “good father” should be loving, affectionate, involved, nurturing, and responsible for raising their children. Others think that the skills needed for good fathering are commitment, discipline, communication, mentoring, forgiveness, and influential self-esteem, and along with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, caring, love, instruction, and being a positive role model. (Morman & Floyd, 2006) Do men on paternity leave integrate their gender conceptions into the hegemonic form of masculinity? Do they construct a new type of masculinity based on their own child-caring experiences? How do parenthood practices express masculinity, and how are they related to hegemonic masculinity? Experts argue that the examined men describe a “hybrid” model of fatherhood that combines the idea of a man as a breadwinner and the notion of a father actively participating in family life and child care. (Terdkinas, 2005) Some people think that a good father is someone who can give good advice and help his children to develop love and wisdom. Wisdom, which transforms life, is very important, for it teaches children to understand the differences between good and bad. On the other hand, “The one holding back his rod is hating his son, but the one loving him is he that does look for him with discipline.”(“Proverbs 13 | Online Bible | New World Translation (1984),” n.d.) It is one of the most famous proverbs of the Bible, and Proverbs says that parents who do not discipline their children are in danger of ruining them. Research about fatherhood which was looking for the most important features of a good father shows that a good paternal profile is associated with emotional components (e.g., love, availability, listening, affection, involvement, support, role model). Therefore, those results provide additional support for the argument that the culture and assessment of quality fathering behaviors

in the early part of the twenty-first century continue to evolve from the distant, provider disciplinarian role of previous decades to the more engaged, involved, and emotionally expressive father of today (Carlson, Kendall, & Edleson, 2015). There is not a perfect formula for to follow to be a good father, so there are hundreds of books, magazines, and online articles that have developed tons of methods to help fathers to raise healthy kids. Besides looking for a good parenting method, the most important choice is to give kids enough time to understand their needs (Krampe & Newton, 2006). People think that a great father is born with his instincts of protection and procreation; however, others think that a good father is made out of his experiences. For these reasons, we ask people to know how many requirements they have according to the list below. The one who has at least 15 features will have a bigger opportunity to be a great father. How many of them do you have? How many does your father or grandfather have? 1. Role Model— “A good father is a role model in every way to his children.” 2. Control— “It means setting limits and boundaries for their lives.” 3. Love— “A good father loves his children as much as he can.” 4. Provider— “A good father takes care of his kids.” 5. Sacrifice— “Being a good father means self-sacrifice for the betterment of his children.” 6. Availability— “A good father will always be there to help if his children need it.” 7. Forgiveness— “A good father may not always agree with his children’s actions, but he must always be willing to forgive them.” 8. Listener— “A good father wants to listen when his children need to talk.” 9. Father as a teacher (general)— “A good father teaches his children from what he has learned.” 10. Father as a teacher (specific)— “A good father loves God and teaches his children to do the same.” 11. Involvement— “A good father will take an active role in his children’s interests and lives.” 12. Protector— “A good father makes his children and wife feel safe and protected.” 13. Discipline— “Sometimes a good father needs to correct or punish his children, but it needs to be done in a loving manner.” 14. Emotional availability— “A good father must make sure that he expresses his feelings toward his children.” 15. Affection— “A good father loves his children, and he can communicate with hugs.” 16. Relationship with the mother— “A good father loves his wife, and he teaches his children to do the same” 17. Relinquishes control appropriately— “A good father needs to give his children space to make their own choices.” 18. Friend— “A good father is always a friend that his children can turn to.” 19. Admits mistakes— “Sometimes a good father will make mistakes, but he will be willing to say to his children, I blew it. I’m sorry.” 20. Son’s pride— “A good father is always proud of his children.”

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By: Mariuxi Patajalo, Diana Noguera, & Nadim Andrade

We are what we eat. You probably have heard this phrase everywhere, but is it true? Believe it or not, it is really true. Food is the fuel of human beings, and without it, people’s lives could no longer exist; however, for some people, food can be the cause of all their ailments. Proper food choices can be used as a tool to prevent poor development, health problems, and even severe pains. A diet based on plants might be seen as a solution, but people are concerned about how big industries expose those products to harmful chemicals. Organic food is an option that can be taken into account, and growing it at home might benefit our health and environment. Currently, people are facing a lot of health problems due to the food that they are eating. The substances that we ingest provide our bodies with all the nutrients and minerals that they need to function properly, but what happens when they do not absorb the right nutrients? Well, our metabolic system suffers and our health declines. According to Robert E Black (Black, 2008), “Nutrition throughout the life cycle is one of the main determinants of a good health, physical and mental performance, and it is fundamental for individual and national development.” Malnutrition resulting from poor dietary intake leads to undernutrition. On the other hand, malnutrition resulting from excessive consumption of food, especially sugar and grease, leads to obesity. The latter is the major risk factor for the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer. Both of them, undernutrition and obesity, are directly linked to a poor diet, and those conditions are becoming prevalent in our society. Doctors say many diseases can be prevented by having a proper diet rich in carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, and specific minerals such as sodium. All these nutrients might be found not only in meat but also in vegetables and fruit. Kip Andersen, the author of the documentary film What the Health (Andersen, 2017), recommends that people should become vegan because it is healthier than eating meat and dairy products; besides, it is less

damaging for the environment. Indeed, we can obtain all the nutrients that our bodies need by ingesting food based on grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit, fungi, algae, yeast, and/or some other non-animal-based products. However, all these products are no longer free of chemicals such as pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Greenpeace, in its article Genetic Engineering and Sustainable Agriculture (Reynaers, s.f.), states agriculture is responsible for fourteen percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions, and ecological farming can help reduce these emissions and help farmers cope with climate change. Harvard University (Norris, 2015), also states in its research that GMOs might negatively affect human health, they could lead to differences in nutritional content, allergic responses, or undesired side effects such as toxicity, organ damage, or gene transfer. It is a fact that the consumption of locally grown products is better for the environment and for local communities than the purchase of imported products. Growing food at home also ensures that growers know exactly where their food comes from and how it was grown. But, how easy and practical is it to have a small garden at home? It looks like the only needs are just have a little bit of soil, water, and sun; but, everything depends on what kind of housing you have, what veggies you prefer, as well as the kind of weather that surrounds us. There are many ways to have a garden in a home. To illustrate, if someone lives in an apartment, the use of flower pots could be the best idea in order to plant veggies like carrots, celery, onions, garlic, and herbs like basil, chives, cilantro, mint, or rosemary. If someone has the fortune to have a backyard at home, fruit cultivation could be possible. For example, planting small citrus trees like those that grow lemons, oranges, and tangerines is one option. Moreover, at this time, it is common to plant some food along the front sidewalks of houses. A good example of this is Ron Finley, who grows a nourishing food culture in South Central L.A., through the delivery of seeds and tools for healthy eating. Unfortunately, there are a lot of fruit and vegetables that we cannot grow at home due to the size of the plant or to the adequate climate necessary for the optimal growth of the plant. If someone lives in an apartment, he or she can hardly grow

papayas; likewise, someone who is in a cold and small place cannot grow mangos. Consequently, planting your own food garden depends on your will as well as the space you have. This method of organic cultivation has many benefits for both people and the environment. One of the most important benefits is people’s welfare. When you grow your own food, you are not going to use pesticides and GMO’s, which could be harmful to your health. Besides, with the control that you can have in the process of growing your own food, you are going to eat healthier because you are going to have vegetables and fruit close to you. If you feel hungry, you can go directly to your garden and have some healthy food to eat instead of eating junk food that cause problems in your digestive and circulatory systems. In addition, when you grow your own food, you are going to save money. You save money on both grocery bills at supermarkets and food at restaurants and fast food places. Of course, you are going to make a small investment at the beginning of your own farm at home; however, it will be worthwhile, and your children will thank you. Their lives will be healthier, and they can be stronger and smarter. Moreover, you are going to have a gratifying time outdoors, and you can spend time with your children and share the beautiful experience with them. This is also a healthy and relaxing activity that will keep you in shape, for it needs some physical effort. Another important benefit of growing our own food is the care that you contribute to the environment. When you stop buying all that processed food, you are potentially decreasing the pollution generated by the factories creating that food. In addition, you are giving more oxygen to the planet by planting vegetables and fruit. Hence, cultivating your own food benefits you and everyone around you. It is a fact that the excessive consumption of sugar and grease is a current problem that can be solved by ingestion of natural products. The food industry is using many chemicals that in some cases are harmful to our health. Is it important that people consider growing their own food and remember that this activity is not as complex as it seems because there are many techniques and methods to plant considering space, (Continued on page 18)

Growing treasures in your home…

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By: Roxana Llive & Viviana Cabezas

The rescue of Gato, a stray dog found on the street in 2012, was a very difficult one. Gato was found at the National Polytechnic School, running alone around the campus. He was scared of people, so he avoided any human contact. His fur was dirty and entangled. Two students saw him and knew he needed help, but the dog ran away when they tried to get closer to him. In order to help him, the students had to corner the dog and catch him in a special way, keeping his teeth far from their arms and faces since the animal was aggressive. Fortunately, after weeks of hard work during which the dog received veterinary care and human love, his behavior improved, and he could find his sweet home.

Gato, his adopter, and some friends

As with the case of Gato, there are a lot of stray animals that can have aggressive behavior if someone tries to get close, which occurs because these animals have been mistreated by humans. Many cities around the world have problems with their urban wildlife because of the amount of stray animals. For example, according to an article published in La Hora, 280,000 dogs are living and dying on the streets of Quito (Almeida, 2013), which represents seventy percent of its total animal population. Big cities can be considered concrete jungles, so animals cannot easily find refuge or food by themselves, and they have to endure cold, hunger, and fear. Since their situation is so miserable, some people want to help them, but if the animal appears to be aggressive or too defensive, these helpful people prefer to move along even if they know the animal would probably die without their help. Therefore, people who really want to help should not be afraid and instead look for ways to rescue these animals. Society needs more people who act. Aso, here are some pointers for people who might not know how to respond in these situations and still want to help. The cruelty of humans can be surprising many times. According to the same article, 90% of the stray dogs in Quito had owners once, but they were abandoned by those owners (Almeida, 2013). Furthermore, these stray dogs almost always were mistreated, and they were not taken care of in a way they should have been. Consequently, the majority of these dogs have wounds caused by their previous owners. The physical state of these animals depends on their past experiences, so it is possible that they could have no wounds but be malnourished or have minor injuries, or be seriously injured or ill. If anyone wants to help an animal, that person should first check to see if the animal is friendly. However, if the animal is injured, he is probably going to have a negative reaction and he could even try to attack. Initially, any potential rescuer has to make an eye test of the situation since the body language and the severity of the wounds

could quite well determine how the animal responds. In such an eye test, it is necessary to check the animal’s facial expression by focusing on his eyes and ears, as well as the position of his tail and if any wound is visible. It could be established if the animal is scared due to its appearance of having floppy ears and/or his tail between his legs, which means the animal is not going to be friendly. The easiest way to get close to an animal is by offering food since some animals are going to take care of their impulse of being hungry. If offering food does not work, you should try to gain their confidence. A way to do that is by spending time sitting next to them, doing nothing but staying there, letting them get accustomed to your presence. Some animals are going to need a lot of time before trusting someone. If the animal does not become friendly in a prudent time, but he needs help immediately, there are some movements you can do to pick him up, one of which is to grab the animal from his cheek with one hand and the other around the waist. In this way, you can avoid being bitten.

How to grab an aggressive animal

In some cases, additional tools may be used to catch stray animals in order to control them such as lassos and nets. However, such tools should be only required in cases when animals are overly aggressive. Moreover, people must make sure that these nets and ropes do not injure animals and try to be careful using them (Pradesh, 2010). If the animal has wounds, the person has to try to make soft and slow movements to avoid scaring him. Some rescuers suggest picking the animal up with a blanket when the animal is not able to move. In that way he can feel secure and protected (Martinez, 2015). Some TV programs can give people more tips to rescue these lovely animals, for example, Rescue Dog to Super Dog, Adoption Tales, Animals Cops, and others. Most of them encourage people to rescue stray animals and also show the sad reality in which these strays are involved. Therefore, there are many sources that people are able to learn from, and consequently help animals. There are no reasons for not rescuing and helping animals. It depends on us as a society. Just taking a photo and uploading it on social media will not be helpful because the animal could die before he gets the help he needs. Be an agent of change, not just an observer.

Not as complicated as it looks…

CARPE DIEM

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By: Ángel Gonzalo Checa Zambrano, David Checa, & Fabian Uribe “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world,” according to some research (Total Sportek, NA). It is called the king of the sports because of its popularity between fans. “This sport has been popular for one hundred years,” according to the official web page Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, NC). The article goes on to say that soccer originated in England even though there were some other cultures that played soccer with other rules and different styles of games. Soccer was played as an amateur sport from 1899 to 1957 in Ecuador. However, in 1957, Ecuador organized the first national competition as a professional activity. Since then, soccer has become a passion in all parts of the country. It is part of Ecuadorian culture because it is a common topic in conversations. In a certain way, soccer gives happiness to the population. For example, Ecuador qualified for its first World Cup in 2002, and this accomplishment was celebrated nationwide. Also, Ecuadorians follow local games with a lot of vigor. It is common for the population to talk about strategies leading up to games and positives and negatives after the games. Ecuadorians are used to following their teams closely. It is common for people in Ecuador to go to games to support their teams. In fact, following a team is a family tradition, so children go to stadiums with their parents and relatives. Also, popular teams have organized support groups that travel to every city in the country or outside the country where the team plays. The passion of these fans is evident because even though they usually don’t have enough money to afford all the expenses of traveling, they do not use this as an excuse for not accompanying their team to every game that it plays. They would rather not eat well or not have a place to sleep than to miss their team’s games. Fans also make sure they have their teams’ merchandise to show their clear support. They even have expectations that their future children will become fans of the same teams that they support. In addition, playing soccer in Ecuador is not only for professionals but also for amateurs (both foreign and domestic). Ecuadorians have found a way of life in soccer. For instance, there is a great number of local leagues in all the cities around the country. According to the official statistics, there are 88 organizations (Federación Ligas de Quito, NC) that belong to the official federation in Quito alone, but there are still

hundreds of local leagues that are not official. It is a common activity for Ecuadorians to play soccer on weekends. Playing a soccer game is the perfect excuse to spend time with family and friends. Where can people play soccer? The answer is really simple. It does not matter. We can play everywhere, for example, streets, stadiums, or backyards. Also, neither gender nor age does not matter because there are leagues for children, women, and even elderly people, which are called senior leagues. In general, soccer is the main expression of happiness for all people because whenever a ball is involved, everyone smiles and forgets their problems for a bit. This sport has created opportunities for development by allowing people to rise out of poverty. Soccer is a very profitable profession that allows players to have economic and social benefits. In the last two decades, some of the players born in Valle del Chota and Esmeraldas have been successful on their respective teams and with the National Team, which has brought about notoriety to their hometowns. One of the most important players in Ecuadorian soccer is Ulises de la Cruz due to the national and international relevance that he has for his soccer career and support for his community. Through soccer, de la Cruz has had the opportunity to improve living conditions not only for his family but also for his community by giving them greater opportunities through education, health, infrastructure, and environmental sanitation. In an interview, he said, "We must be reciprocal in life. The soccer ball has given me a lot, but today I have the opportunity to work for the benefit of these children who need all the people with a good heart.” (Ramirez H, 2011). As you can see, soccer is one of Ecuador’s passions, and it is part of peoples’ lives. Soccer has given Ecuadorians the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, so it is an important part of Ecuador’s society. Furthermore, soccer is an essential activity in Ecuador not only for fun but also as a career opportunity. Be sure to learn something about soccer because you might be learning something about Ecuadorian culture, too.

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The Ecuadorian passion…

(Treasures from page 16) climate, and preferences. Furthermore, having a small farm at home can bring us many benefits in different areas of our lives. We are going to spend time with our loved ones, and we are going to appreciate and feel more respect and consideration for nature. Thus, we have many options to grow our own food; all that we need is the eagerness and enthusiasm to carry out this de-stressing and healthy idea.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to all of our students and Fulbright staff! And a special thanks to our Level 6 students for their work on this edition of the Fulbright Idea. Congratulations!

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By: Geovanna Aguirre & Nicolás Navas Gambling has been considered a serious problem in society, for it may cause addiction and social issues. In fact, it is not approved by many people. There are a lot of ways to gamble because it takes part in any game or activity in which money is involved. The most common way to gamble is in casino games, for example, roulette, slot machines, blackjack, and poker. Poker, in particular, has been cause of many debates and critics because it is considered an activity which demands several mental skills and abilities to play. The IMSA (International Mind Sport Association) declared poker as a mental sport a few years ago. Moreover, this game is legal in many developed countries like the United States, England, and México. Indeed, poker has been considered a mental game even by the International Olympic Committee, and it is possible it will be part of the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. According to Anthony Holden, president of the International Poker Federation, poker has a global impact because more than 150 million people play it around the world. For this reason, poker should not be stigmatized as a gambling game, but a mental game which could improve emotional and psychological skills. In this way, playing poker improves many personal abilities that could be useful in daily activities. A professional poker player is capable of being more concerned about details, which improves concentration, so poker players become better learners in every aspect of life, such as sports, work activities, and hobbies. Also, poker players must learn about emotional control in order to make the best

decisions based on their knowledge instead of their emotions. In particular, they have to learn how to react well in front of risky situations, and they must learn how to pretend nothing is happening in a lucky situation to see their hand to success. This could be useful not only in poker but also life. People who are more cerebral by making decisions commit less mistakes than others, so they become successful with their plans because they are more strategic and careful in every single detail of their lives. Furthermore, poker is “an excellent metaphor for life” (Jhon A. Johnson Ph.D., Life as Poker), for it teaches how to live facing unexpected situations in order to solve them successfully every day. This game helps people to be more analytical, and it not only teaches how to take advantage of the opportunities in life but also how to recover when everything is lost. Thus, poker teaches people how to be a winner in life. In effect, everything that was said proves that this “game” is not just a game. It is a mental activity which helps people to be warriors who constantly reinforce their purpose of life because they are always focusing on the accomplishment of their goals, no matter what. As a result, this kind of activity should not be forbidden, but controlled and regulated such as many other entertainment activities. Specifically, since 2011 gambling has been an illegal activity in Ecuador according to adjustments of a referendum at that time. Nevertheless, this regulation has caused more problems and risks to society than before when poker was fully legal here. Indeed, before this referendum Ecuador was one of the biggest

gambling centers in South America. They had 55 land-based casinos alone, in addition to 120 smaller slot parlors according to Pokerlaws.org. Then, after the gambling shut down, thousands of people were out of work. Indeed, this change caused the unmasking of the economic crisis in the country. The main reason why gambling became illegal in Ecuador was because of the intent to regulate money laundering and crime. Unfortunately, this law has not had positive results. For this reason, poker as a mental game, deserves another opportunity to be legal in Ecuador. The poker industry could be a very interesting and profitable business idea to develop in our country. Nevertheless, the first step our country has to take is to make it legal. Poker has too many beneficial aspects to be considered illegal. In fact, as an economic aspect it is a way to develop sources of employment and additional tax revenue and foreign investment. Moreover, it improves the life quality of those who can play it as a hobby to break the routine and reduce stress. Finally, poker gives people several skills which can be used in order to possibly attain success. Therefore, poker deserves the opportunity to be played in Ecuador under a lawful regulation which protects players and gives them all the facilities to play it.

Poker as the art of making decisions…

Charlas Informativas presented by Education USA: Take advantage of the weekly seminars that take place every Wednesday at 5pm in the Fulbright Room. Learn more about the American educational system, the application process, and admissions as well as Fulbright Scholarships. You simply have to be on time! Go to the Scholarship area of Fulbright and give some information to either Cecy or Alicia before you can enter the information session you hope to attend. Hope to see you there!

Thank you Steve White, Heather McGhee, and Jen Taubel for your time of service as valuable instructors at the ETP. Your dedication to your craft and contributions as instructors here will not be forgotten. Also, Jackie Davenport, good luck in San Diego!

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By: Walter Sacoto and Wladimir Llanos The video game industry is leading the global entertainment market. Also, it has become the most important area among creative and entertainment industries generating high expectations. According to Newzoo, a specialized market intelligence provider, in 2016, the video game industry generated around $100 billion worldwide (Newzoo, 2016). Video games have been considered only as a hobby even though there is a giant industry composed of people and companies running the business. Through the years, many companies have been involved in the industry. Game Companies such as Nintendo, Atari, and Sega were the pioneers in business entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s. Furthermore, these companies had their own studios design and create video games. They controlled the whole gaming industry at that time. Unfortunately, controlling the business had a bad impact on these companies, and a crisis emerged during that time because they preferred to make tons of money instead of satisfying their clients. For example, in 1982, after the theatrical premier of the movie E.T., Atari did not want to pass up the opportunity to make money using this title. A game based on the movie was created in a short period of time. There was no quality process during the creation. Both low sales and angry people were results of this ambitious strategy. The game is considered the worst game ever in the history of video games (The Odyssey Online, 2017). In contrast, in 1985, Nintendo presented a revolutionary game named Super Mario Bros. which changed everything ever since. Super Mario Bros. became the highest selling video game in the history and Nintendo

More than just a hobby…

hand, video games have been developing cognitive benefits for children in areas such as coordination, problem-solving skills, memory enhancement, attention and coordination, brain speed, enhancement of multitasking skills, and social skills (Eugenio, February). Moreover, people can take advantage of playing video games. Studying professions related to video games, finding job opportunities as game testers or game developers, and streaming their game experiences are opportunities created by the video game industry. For instance, last year in a world championship contest the prize pool was around $7 million spread among competitors who achieved first places

(Newzoo, 2016). Therefore, video games in some cases are more than a hobby. The entertainment business is constantly changing and creating tendencies related to video games. We are living in a new age when learning and knowledge have to be taken advantage of in different ways. Every continuous change involves responsibility for companies to be aware of the consumers’ demands if they want to keep running the video game industry.

gained a great advantage over its competitors while establishing a new standard in the business. Today, many years since the first days of the industry, there are new players running the video game industry and just one representing the old school. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have exploited technological progress to improve the way of creating consoles and games. Globalization has contributed to distributing video gaming worldwide using the internet as a key tool. For instance, if a new video game is scheduled to be released, you can enjoy the new experience that it brings a couple of minutes after its release. Easy access to information and software tools has contributed to the promotion of healthy and fair competition among thousands of companies interested in developing video games. There are at least 50 big video game design companies creating new content and making money every day

(gamedesigning.org, 2016). New ways to make money from users have been emerging in recent years. For example, there are games that do not require any payment to start playing immediately unless you want to pay a certain amount of money to unlock special content. Online gaming has also become a very popular service. However, it has a price for each console user. Additionally, job opportunities, professions, and controversy have come along with the video game industry. Concerns about video gaming are generating debates because there are people who think that playing video games is a waste of time. In fact, other groups believe that video games encourage teenagers to be violent, unsociable, repressed, and sedentary. On the other

Important End of the Cycle Reminders Registration

Tuesday, December 12th - Pre-Beginners to Level 1 students who pass and want the same schedule (8:00 AM to 7 PM)

Wednesday, December 13th – Level 2 and Level 3 students who pass and want the same schedule (8:00 AM to 7 PM)

Thursday, December 14th – Levels 4, 5, and 6 students who pass and want the same schedule (8 AM to 6:30 PM)

Friday, December 15th- Students repeating or changing schedules, or who skipped Cycle 3, 2017 (8:30 AM to 5 PM)

Monday, December 18th– New students for Prep Course, Pre-Beginners, Level 5, and Level 6 (8:30 AM to 7 PM)

Tuesday, December 19th- New students for Beginners and Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 (8:30 AM to 7 PM)

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018- First Day of Class – Cycle 2, 2018

IMPORTANT NOTE: All references for this edition have been verified and approved by the Academic Coordinator. They are kept on file. Should anyone wish to see them, please email etp@fulbright.org.ec