Category: Ecuador

Gifts from Her Father

Gifts from Her Father Zero Degrees Latitude featured image for “Gifts From Her Father” showing Raul Mendoza, Deborah Medley, and a young Melodia on a beach in Ecuador. Vintage family photograph overlaid with the story title and decorative editorial design elements.

by Deborah Medley In “Gifts From Her Father,” I reflect on the music, memories, and lessons Raul shared with us. Melodiaʼs father, Raul Mendoza, was a musician, a very good musician. He was a self- taught Latin percussionist who specialized in Latin Jazz, Salsa and Latin Ballroom. He played beautiful rumba, mambo, samba, cha-cha and […]

Caldo de Pata | Family Tradition, Memory & Home in Ecuador

Caldo de Pata | Family Tradition, Memory & Home in Ecuador Rustic bowl of Ecuadorian caldo de pata surrounded by traditional ingredients, symbolizing family, heritage, memory, and the flavors of home.

Some traditions stay with us long after we’ve left home. In this reflection, my mother shares memories of caldo de pata, a beloved Ecuadorian dish that became a symbol of family, culture, and belonging. Caldo de Pata Dedicated to my daughter Melodia who always oversaw the lunch preparation in our house in Ecuador. Though she […]