In Retrospect: A Shoe Box's Guide to Culture Shock

Before leaving for Ecuador, I was throughly excited to develop my noveau-latina persona. Living in Vermont changed my wardrobe: I bought my first hiking boots, fleece and hemp pants that year, stopped shaving my legs and started wearing "all-natural" deodorant. I was so excited to move to a place where high heels and pantyhose were the norm; I even "google-image-searched" photos of Quito to see which of my clothes I should pack to fit in. You can imagine how thrilled I was to stumble upon a pair of Vera Wang brown leather high heels at the second-hand store in Brattleboro. I snatched them up for $20, and that night was so excited to wear them out to dinner at the Common Ground restaurant. During the 10 minute walk to dinner, I obtained 25 (yes, I counted!) blisters on my poor "rather-be-in-wool-socks-and-boots" feet.

Despite that painful event, I didn't get discouraged. I was still psyched for high heels in Ecuador. When I packed way back in July, I brought 7 pairs of shoes with me, some high-heeled, some a more modest flat. During my first few days here, I somehow survived by dodging rabid dogs and manholes in high heels. I went through a whole package of mole skin and band aids. I didn't care; I wanted to hear the tick-tock and feel like I was standing up straighter. I was certainly in the first phase of culture shock, characterized by blind acceptance, excitement and fascination with the new culture.

This soon changed when something clicked inside of me, or maybe I just tripped and fell on my face too many times. I wanted to reject that which I had previously accepted accepted so enthusiastically. I am not a high-heel wearer. The blisters, the sore ankles, the inability to walk fast... it was time for me to adapt more sensible shoes. I pulled my hiking boots from the depths of my closet, and donned them with big, clunky LL Bean pride. Oh, the looks I got: dressed up in ironed slacks and a blouse...and hiking boots. I was in the second stage of culture shock.

Finally, when I went home for Thanksgiving in November, I decided that I should dig my Canadian dressy-yet warm-yet comfortable-boots out of the attic, and exchanged them for a few pairs of uncomfortable high heels. Since returning to Ecuador in November, I have worn these black suede waterproof boots in the rain and in the sun. I've even gotten a complement on them from an Ecuadorian woman. Both functional and stylish, perhaps I have entered into the third stage of culture shock: adjustment. I am more comfortable in dealing with cross-cultural challenges. And my feet are not covered in blisters. :)