My family is from Ecuador and my abroad experiences consist of going to Ecuador to visit my family. My mom did a good job instilling her culture in me despite the fact that I was born here in the U.S. and consider myself an “American”. Thus, I speak the language, eat the food, listen to the music etc. When I go to Ecuador I don’t consider myself a tourist simply because I’m in the presence of my family partaking of the culture that I believe to be mine. However, after many trips I have realized that I am indeed a tourist.

I do not like to be considered a tourist because I want to feel like I belong in the culture that I have been raised with. Nonetheless, I would see the different treatment I would receive when I would visit Ecuador. I’m the “American” and automatically I receive better treatment. My family makes sure that I’m comfortable, have everything that I need, and content in my vacation. I am a guest to them, an outsider. I’m from America and automatically that entails privilege and better treatment which I definitely see as problematic. I’m put on a pedestal that I don’t deserve, I simply want to be one of the many, however I can never be. I haven’t lived in hunger. I haven’t had to drop out of school to work. I have a household with hot water and a steady source of income. I haven’t suffered the struggles that they have and thus, I can never be considered one of the many.

I have learned to embrace my differences. While I definitely do not want to be treated better than anyone else, I have embraced my “American” culture and have shared it with my family in Ecuador. In the same fashion, they have taught me about the intricacies of their culture that I do not know about. Instead of fighting the difference, I have grown to cherish them and learn from them.

Hence, I’m a tourist even in the country of my family. While being a tourist has negative connotations, there are many benefit of tourism. The most important is the culture exchange that occurs. Both tourist and native are exposed to things that they might have never otherwise been exposed to. They learn new things about a people different than them. Tourism also humbles people. When I got to Ecuador I realize all the blessing that I have and I am more appreciative of what I have. Nonetheless, I do not pity the underprivileged, rather I feel compelled to help them. Tourism can also bring about negative things such as exploitation, but in the end tourism helps economies and helps people learn about one another. I’m a tourist and I’m proud, but as a tourist I have a responsibility to learn and to teach.