More Fun Facts

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I signed up to do an Independent Study on Latino Culture to incorporate with our stay in Ecuador. I've had to keep a journal for each week here about my experiences. While so much of our time has solely been about Emilia, we've definitely learned some interesting things about Ecuador. I wrote a Fun Facts post back in August -- this is my very own version, in no particular order:

*In most public bathrooms they do not have toilet paper. About 50% don't have toilet seats either. This is problematic when you have a 4-year old who "needs" to use the bathroom often.

*Men do not have facial hair (we did meet one who did have a short beard, but the next time we saw him it was gone).

*Baldness also seems not to exist.

*Public buses will stop for nearly anyone who flags them down, even if they are not at a posted bus stop. But if you want on, you better be prepared to take a running jump for it!

*Nobody has change. Anywhere. Even if you are in a store, or at the mall, they likely will not be able to break your $20 bill. Also, if your total is $2.99, they call it $3.

*When shopping, prices already include the tax (12%). Something that rings up on the cash register as $2.99 is posted as $3 and the sales clerk charges you $3 (see above).

*Roadside crews use machetes to cut down the weeds. Big, huge machetes.

*All of the mannequins and models are blonde hair and blue eyed. Even the majority of the babies and barbies sold in stores here are blonde. I was extremely disappointed when shopping for a dolls.

*There is no point to having lines in Ecuador, because people don't bother to respect them and just walk right in front of you. Nobody makes a fuss about it though, because everyone does it.

*While they use US currency, it seems as though there aren't any $1 bills in circulation. Whenever you get change that requires $1 bills, you instead receive $1 coins.

Speaking of learning, we're not the only ones!! This is a video of E. So you understand, she is one of the fastest, messiest eaters. Ever. So we've been working on slowing down and chewing our food. Of course when I decided to start this I couldn't remember the Spanish word for chew, so I just said chew. E thought I was saying choo, as in choo-choo train. So now, when she eats, she says "choo ... choo ..." and does the motion with her hand as you see below :)

 

 

 

I've also started with some simple sign language ... so far "please" and "thank you". I only used the Spanish por favor, and gracias, but she must have heard me say thank you, and started saying it herself!!

 

Every day is a new adventure!!