Hispanic Heritage Month is a national holiday observed between September 15 and October 15 to encompass and appreciate the several different holidays and cultures throughout Latino countries.
The University of Wyoming welcomes staff and students from several Spanish speaking countries, including Maria Zapata Povdea.
Povdea is originally from Ecuador, where Hispanic Heritage Month overlaps with Ecuador’s Independence day on October 9.
“Especially during that time, we usually will go to the malecón which is like the main plaza, or it’s actually like a port,” Povdea said. “But lately, there’s a movement to re-signify that and make sure the celebration is being understood from the point of view of the indigenous.”
Originally from the city of Guayaquil which has a population of 2.5 million, Povdea notes some cultural differences from her hometown versus Laramie as she pursues her Masters in Spanish and works as a teaching assistant.
“So it’s really different for me to be here in Laramie, which is extremely cold for me,” Povdea said. “I personally like hiking and trekking a lot so I was kind of looking forward to it because I heard that this place is very good for that. What I’m very, very surprised about is how inexistent public transportation is, it is so incredibly bad.”
Aside from the weather, Povdea is actually used to cultural shifts as she has spent much of her life traveling from Japan, to South Africa, and more.
“The reverse culture shock is a lot harder than culture shock. Because I think culture shock is funny. Most of the cases are like, ‘Oh, this is interesting,’” Povdea said.
“When I was living in my hometown, I think that’s one of those cultural features that you’re supposed to be lively. You’re supposed to be very open, you are supposed to be talkative and all that stuff and in Japan when you’re too talkative people think that you cannot control your character.”
Povdea also shared some information about how Ecuadorian culture is different from that of other Central and South American countries.
“There are also two groups, the Tsáchila and the Quichua, which have their own dialects and impacts on the Spanish language in Ecuador that do not translate the way the Mayan language has impacted and interviewed with the Spanish of Mexico,” Povdea said.
“I think mostly because for example, in Mexico, Mexico has managed, at least in Latin America, to expand a lot of cultural things like in terms of communications, drawings, cartoons and telenovelas and whatnot.”
As a teaching assistant, Povdea notes it’s important to understand and appreciate all cultural differences.
“It’s a responsibility of us all to better understand our own positions because we can’t expect others to understand that if we’re not very clear about it, but I personally try to help my students understand that there are different views.”
