Welcome to Germany, a neighbor to nine bordering countries and the land of beer, bratwurst and history. Germany has a long and complex political history, and locals have struggled to put the events of the WWII period them. Many Germans are reluctant to express any national pride even today, but the country is full of cultural richness. The country  is famous for the Black Forest, cuckoo clocks, chocolate, cars (Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen), wienerschnitzel, sauerbraten, sauerkraut, beer, wine, and schnapps. Germany is a democracy. There is a president, but his role is more or less ceremonial. The true head of government is the chancellor. The official language is German, though English is widely taught and often spoken as a second language.

Welcome to Ecuador, a tropical, marimba-filled gem in South America. 

With a mix of Incan, African and Spanish influences, it has a rich variety of cultural features. Music has always been a large part of life, now shown in its many dance festivals and marimba music. Colorful weaving and woodcarvings show off the vibrant artistic flavor of the country. 

Ecuador is a democratic republic, with an elected president every four years. Spanish is widely spoken, though it has a pattern all its own, and many native dialects from American Indians, such as Kichwa and Awapit are also used by many.