My Impression: Ecuadorian Lifestyle

In the heart of Old Quito

So far, I have been here eight days in Quito. This is such a beautiful city, where old meets new. Last week Saturday, a group of us new International hires went on a city bus tour that I would absolutely recommend. You can see my review of this on TripAdvisor here. We started at Parque la Carolina, which is in New Quito, and heads deep into the heart of Old Quito. My new home with my roommate is in New Quito, nestled between the neighborhoods of Gonzalez Suarez and Baton Alto. Just to the East of our home is a museum for a beloved Ecuadorian artist, called Guayasamin, and Parque Metropoliano. (I know I am missing some accents on the letters..... I have yet to figure out how to quickly do that on my USA keyboard) These locations are high on my list of places to go and see. For the park, one of my guidance counselors and LD specialists told me that the park is much better and safer to visit in the mornings and on the weekends. When I go there, I will make sure to give you all the inside scoop :-)

Anyway, this city is absolutely gorgeous. It is where the city meets the sky and geology. At the top of our building is a Terraza that displays this beautifully, as the clouds roll over the western peaks of the Pichincha.

View from el Panecillo toward south Quito

I have learned several truly Ecuadorian things so far, whether it is through personal observations or interactions with the locals.

Ecuadorian-isms

1. Driving

• Driving here, or at least riding in cars/buses/taxis, is like an inexpensive amusement ride at Universal Studios or Disney. There are traffic signals at each major intersection, and traffic signs at some minor intersections. People drive quite defensively, yet respectively. Through the madness, everyone has a with it-ness and I haven't seen a single accident yet.
• If you are at a major intersection, you need to make quick decisions of where you are going otherwise you will be greeted with someone's heavy hand on a horn. If you see a break in the traffic, you take it. If you don't take it, someone else will. In the case of the latter, you could end up stuck at an intersection much longer than you wish.
• In the minor intersections, you need to edge your way into traffic to claim a spot. Courtesy doesn't go a long way. For example, my apartment is located up the side of mountain... which I'll just call a hill for simplifying purposes... and from a rather busy un-marked intersection. If you don't make a move, others will take your turn and then some.
• With driving in general, the use of horns is very common. In most cases, it isn't used to call attention to improper driving. Rather, it is a form of communication that says to others at intersections or along long stretches of road that you are present and you are going to do something. Directional signals are very infrequently used.
• The major roads in New Quito are two or three lanes wide on each side, and then bottleneck into two lanes on doble via and una via roads, or one lane on una via. However, the volume of traffic is so large that the country/city restricts specific drivers on certain days during certain hours. This occurs in cycles of 5 days. On day one of the cycle, all cars with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are subject to the restriction. Day two of the cycle, it affects cars with plates ending in 3 and 4, and so on. I'll touch on what impact or reasoning I infer this has in the next section: Ecuadorian Time.
• I probably won't drive in this city for at least a year out, if ever. But I haven't even seen an accident yet.
2. Ecuadorian Time



Backed-up traffic in Old Quito

• Prior to my move, we were warned, nay foretold, of Ecuadorian Time. It simply means that "they" aren't known for their punctuality.
• I don't think in some/most cases it is necessarily on purpose. For example, the traffic here tends to be very congested during peak hours. It can take 4 minutes to drive a mile or it can take more than 10 minutes. My roommate and I ended up being about 15 minutes late to signing our housing contract because of traffic. 
• Another reason why lateness tends to occur is because it is really important to speak with every one on personal matters before professional matters. For example, let's say I am at school and I need to speak to a secretary about professional matters. If I go into the office and begin by talking about my personal needs, it is viewed as extremely disrespectful... the opposite of what we do in the states. To match the status quo, I would go into the office and great her with a "Buenos Tardes. Como estas?" and check in with her to make sure everything is good with her, and she with me. 
• One area where tardiness is expected is with going to someone's home for a party or dinner. If I am invited to dinner at 6 pm, I dare not arrive at 6 pm. Instead, I should arrive about 30 minutes late to allow my hosts to finish getting things prepared and finish getting themselves ready. 
• However, this comes with a grain of salt. In general, lateness to things is not considered to be disrespectful. One thing we have been told at FCAQ/Colegio Americano is that we should hold our students in my section to punctuality, since many of them will be applying to higher education institutions in the States and Canada.

A few other really interesting things I have learned while being here include:

• If you take the last beer, peanut, etc., from a container, you will be married by the end of the year. 
• When proposing a toast with drinks, a common and fun way of toasting is through saying, "Arriba, abajo, a centro, adentro." It means "Above, below, center, inside." Or you can keep it simple with "salud"

From the top of Basilica del Voto Nacional

• When someone sneezes, you also say, "Salud." If a second sneeze follows, you say "dinero," and the third, "amor." In other words, you are wishing him/her Health, Money, Love. How beautiful!!!!
• The largest grocery/everything chain in Ecuador is SUPERMAXI and MEGAMAXI. It's like the Target or Walmart of Ecuador.
• When shopping or using public transportation, be mindful of the type of currency you have. If I have a $20 bill, I can only expect to be able to use it in larger chains of stores. If I have only that for my transportation or at a market, they won't likely have change and I could be either (1) refused to get my services or (2) refused change. It's not being rude, rather realistic. It is best to have coins and smaller currency. 
• If you have money, you have a maid. Maids will literally do whatever you need them to do: laundry; cooking; grocery shopping; home cleaning. If they are employed by you over a certain amount of hours, you must provide services for them like social security. I don't know if I will be able to let go of doing my own laundry. At the MEGAMAXI, a bagger will push your cart to your car or a taxi and load it up... just make sure to tip him at 25-50 cents.
• Lunch is the largest meal of the day, consisting of three courses and juice typically. The first course is a soup or, sometimes, salad. The soups are so amazing here! The second course is a meat, rice, and vegetable. The last course is dessert. Dinner is slightly smaller, consisting of the meat/rice/veggie plate and possibly dessert.

I really hope that my observations are accurate and authentic to the perspectives of native Ecuadorians and others sharing similar experiences as myself. 

Comment below if there is something specific you want me to write about. Once the school year starts with students, I am sure I will be sharing some of my experiences as well (all positive ones, though).  To those of you back home, I miss and love you all, and I can't wait to get some visitors!!!