Andrellita
@Andrellita
American expat in Ecuador
Forum posts
30
Contacts
3
About me
American
Lives in Quito
Speaks English and Spanish
Registration: 07 April 2013
Your experience of culture shock in Ecuador by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Ecuador. What ...
To use an old quote, If someone doesn't have a smile, give him one of yours. Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Ecuador by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Ecuador. What ...
Hi, I'm being misinterpreted by an over- sensitive gringo. I love linguistics, and one of my favorite mis-translations is one I saw at the Basilica once that read, "Dear estimated guests..." from the word estimados, which translates ... Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Ecuador by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Ecuador. What ...
Hi, "Solo por ser amable me llaman mujeriego" translates "Just because I'm being amiable (to women), they call me a womanizer." Your translation is a typical gringo translation, but it's off the mark. Sorry. Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Ecuador by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Ecuador. What ...
The culture shock here for me pales in comparison to the culture change taking place in so-called America - as if South America is less than or non-existent compared to North America. I grew up in a ranch, mixed with the Latino villagers in social ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
Wrong. Dengue is another problem, but not like chikunguna. You don;t read the headlines here nor the ongoing news, so please check your info before trying to correct mine. Just because you know about one doesn't mean you know about the other. Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
Right on, Nataly. Without International Living I wouldn't have known about or purchased in Quito in 2004. NOW i enjoy living here high on the Andes where life is good. I mentioned earlier that chicungunya mosquitoes are a threat in lower ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
I will not. Why should I lay my budget bare to a snobbish remark? For more demeaning remarks? I know everyone can figure out his own budget without my help. I won't even bother to answer your remarks ever again. All I did was share what was ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
No, you don't have to "live in a cardboard box and eat spam every day" That;s an insult to those of us who know how to live within our means. If you read my previous post, I live very well and take trips to boot - also I've ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
I own my apartment - since 2004. I have a million dollar view of the whole historic center from my 4th floor mini balcony. It's just right in size for a single person with everything I need, including a laundry/storage room. I don't want ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
Why would I use a tour bus when I've been to all the stops and this before the city tour bus was implemented? I use the trolley and regular bus line for 12 cents a ride as a tercer edad (sr. citizen) -- twice as much for all the way to Mitad ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
The main change, of course, was the change of presidency from Lucio Gutierrez to Rafael Correa. Rafael has implemented the hourly tour bus with a full day fare where you can stop anywhere at any time and board anywhere without having to pay more. ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
Before I came to Ecuador I went to an IL seminar in Panama, came for 3 days to Quito immediately after the seminar and fell in love with what I found, purchased an apartment in the historic center and eventually moved here. I speak Spanish ... Read More
Robbed/Scammed By Farmer's Market Vendor by wlae84
This really has been bothering me. I have to get this off my chest... So I went to the farmer's market yesterday. I gave the old lady 50 cents and took 5 oranges. She took the oranges out of my bag, put them back in the bin. And then put her ...
More on express kidnappings in today's online El Comercio... 5 taxis and 8 drivers have been apprehended. More to look for according to El Commercio: 1) When calling for a taxi by phone, ask for a radio taxi with orange plates. Verify when ... Read More
Robbed/Scammed By Farmer's Market Vendor by wlae84
This really has been bothering me. I have to get this off my chest... So I went to the farmer's market yesterday. I gave the old lady 50 cents and took 5 oranges. She took the oranges out of my bag, put them back in the bin. And then put her ...
Meanwhile, back to taxi safety according to this morning's El Commercio newspaper online . Express kidnapping, although isolated, is alive and well in Quito, Guayaquil and Santo Domingo. It seems to happen at night, where several yellow cars ... Read More
Robbed/Scammed By Farmer's Market Vendor by wlae84
This really has been bothering me. I have to get this off my chest... So I went to the farmer's market yesterday. I gave the old lady 50 cents and took 5 oranges. She took the oranges out of my bag, put them back in the bin. And then put her ...
Meanwhile, back to taxi safety according to this morning's El Commercio newspaper online . Express kidnapping, although isolated, is alive and well in Quito, Guayaquil and Santo Domingo. It seems to happen at night, where several yellow cars ... Read More
Robbed/Scammed By Farmer's Market Vendor by wlae84
This really has been bothering me. I have to get this off my chest... So I went to the farmer's market yesterday. I gave the old lady 50 cents and took 5 oranges. She took the oranges out of my bag, put them back in the bin. And then put her ...
I consider losing a few cents or dollars in Ecuador as nothing compared to the "legal thievery" that goes on where we gringos came from. When I go to a store to buy, I make sure to cash my bills higher than $5, and always have loads of ... Read More
Social Security direct deposit to Ecuador Bank by MByerly
Which local (Ecuadorian) banks will accept direct deposits from SS? I found a site a couple years ago stating that there are 2 bank here in Ecuador who accept the direct deposit, but have forgotten which they were. I am thinking one was Guayaquil, ...
ATM machines work if the bank has a contract with the US bank it's dealing with. If your card stops working as my daughter's did, then the contract expired. Hers only works with Banco Central del Ecuador now, but we don't use a bank in ... Read More
Recliners by Jacque Messer
I know this is wierd but we're thinking we might have to ship a container to Cuenca just because since my beloved had bypass surgery he cannot sleep in a bed. He has been sleeping in his LaziBoy for 2 years. Whenever we go on vacation the poor ...
Hi! I, too, need a recliner and discovered PYCA carries them, although they sell out pretty fast! Read More
Social Security direct deposit to Ecuador Bank by MByerly
Which local (Ecuadorian) banks will accept direct deposits from SS? I found a site a couple years ago stating that there are 2 bank here in Ecuador who accept the direct deposit, but have forgotten which they were. I am thinking one was Guayaquil, ...
Guayaquil Bank gave me a hard time flipflopping, so I use Produbanco, which is the second bank that is used by SS, and I am very pleased with it, as I also used it for accepting wiring for purchase of an apartment with no problems Also, I learned ... Read More
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
In 2004 I attended an IL seminar in Panama. I really wanted an excuse to go and check out Panama. On a lunch break, I took a taxi to the colonial area, and the driver told me not to get out and walk in the drug-infested Casco Viejo (which is what ... Read More
Flying into Quito, traveling to Manta, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Do able? by RyanSchaefer
My friend and I would like to fly into Quito then travel to Manta, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Staying in each city for a week. Now I know the transportation system in the cities are good, but how easily could we travel between them?
Flying would be best if you're not strapped for cash. Read More
Tip About Taxis in Quito by Andrellita
My tour guide friend, Angel, a native Ecuadorian from Guaranda, has lived in Quito a lot longer than I have (which is a little more than a year). He informed me that orange-plated taxis are registered and safe. White-plated taxis are not ...
Hi, the numbers on the roof match the license plate number, and are meant to make taxis easier to identify, so crime is least likely to happen in these. Helicopters are used a lot by the police in Quito. Also, if you get to know the driver and ... Read More
Tip About Taxis in Quito
My tour guide friend, Angel, a native Ecuadorian from Guaranda, has lived in Quito a lot longer than I have (which is a little more than a year). He informed me that orange-plated taxis are registered and safe. White-plated taxis are not ... Read More
Moving to Quito....freaking out about La Mariscal assaults by yggdrasill
I'm moving to Quito with my husband. I'm worried about safety. Don't get me wrong--I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but I'm a bit out of practice with a third world country and I won't have a car. There's been about 580 assaults in La ...
Quito is a city over 2 million people, and compared to cities around the world is fairly safe. In this era, we need to practice caution everywhere like never before. When I first purchased my apartment in 2004, crime here, except for pickpockets, ... Read More
Moving to Quito....freaking out about La Mariscal assaults by yggdrasill
I'm moving to Quito with my husband. I'm worried about safety. Don't get me wrong--I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but I'm a bit out of practice with a third world country and I won't have a car. There's been about 580 assaults in La ...
Hi... I'm an elderly woman, and I've lived in the historic center of Quito for over a year, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I don't know about the assaults you mention in La Mariscal. I only know that, if you're an obvious ... Read More