You know you are in Ecuador when...
... You take a swig of coffee or tea that someone has kindly made for you and it's so sweet you want to gag (Tip – ask for hot water – not cold cause it probably will have come straight from the tap)
... A 13 year old gives a prayer at the meeting or an 8 year old knows her bible it seems, better than you do.
...You spend $100 at the supermarket and that gives you 2 or 3 weeks worth of groceries – not 2 or 3 days worth!
...You wait long enough at a stall at the market and the price will drop dramatically if you look like you are not going to buy. I brought a alpaca wool scarf for $7 when the girl had started off at $12 coming down a $1 @ a time. By the time she got to $7 – I had to stop her – I felt too cruel!
... You wake up in the morning ad there's no water – no warning or explanation or how long it will be off for.
... No sooner is your foot on the first step of the bus and it takes off ( Yes Tee – the question is – How has she not fallen out yet). Some of the drivers really are maniacs – there have been a few near misses I can tell you! Also you may be entertained along the way when someone gets on to sing or play their instruments (of course they want your money)
... Petrol increases by 2 cents a gallon once in 2 months here – not 2 cents a liter once a day. It's now 32 cents a liter here and we don't have a car – boo hoo – what's with that!
... You try to buy a jacket but even the largest is too small! (Well not really 2 small but definitely 2 short in the sleeves for me).
... You can buy over the counter drugs at the pharmacy that will knock your socks off (no I haven't rushed there yet- but Lisa brought some muscle relaxant stuff and could hardly stand for a couple of hours).
... You dress in the morning for the yucky day it looks like – only to be sweltering by noon or you dress cause you think it will be warm and by noon it has rained so hard you are wet and consequently cold.
... The umbrella you buy in the shop lasts only 2 or 3 weeks max.
... You can buy a new release movie for $1.50 – seems no copyright laws exist here or at least nobody enforces them. Yes we have succumbed as sometimes we need to hear English spoken – not Spanish! (We have a rather large movie collection now).
...It takes ½ a day to get your official identification card called the censo and ½ a week to get it replaced if you loose it. Unfortunately I think I lost mine on the bus one day and it has been such a hassle to get another one – even though I have a stamp in my passport saying I had one.
... You have no trouble starting studies even with limited Spanish – it's keeping them going that's the problem. The people here have no sense of time and if something comes up – well see ya! ( Mind you that is how it is in NZ too – just not the limited Spanish part).
...You feel like something to eat that you recognise so order a hot dog and chips and coke. Out comes a cold dog on a cold bun, squirted with a heap of mustard, cold fries and raspberry fizz – stipulate cola cause any fizz drink to them is coco cola.
You know you are a “need greater” in Ecuador when...you quibble about a 25 cent bus ride and if you can afford it or not, then you get home with your feet dropping off because you decided to walk! Some days I can hardly drag myself up the stairs to go to bed – but guys – it is sooo worth it!