Some observations thus far in Ecuador. Much easier to keep track of on paper when your computer is on the fritz.

1. A dish towel can double as a fly swatter

2. Nothing ever needs to be refrigerated

3. Men are surprised that women can work

4. Kids go to school when they want to

5. We keep our salt in a shaker while Ecuadorians have a dish and tablespoon for salt

6. Ecuadorians walk inconceivably slow in the street but put them on a mountain and its a race

7. If you’re walking in the Paramo and don’t have good boots you might as well wear roller skates

8. Avocados and popcorn are almost as much staples as potatoes and rice

9. Popcorn goes in soup

10. Salt can be added to salad

11. All gringos look the same. People keep calling me Emma, the name of the Swedish volunteer who was here quite some time ago

12. A regular lunch might consist of rice, pasta, beans, and potatoes

13. A fruit salad could be topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and shredded cheese

14. Sometimes barley flour is added to hot chocolate to make a kind of sweet soup

15. There is no other noise in the world that can compare to the chorus of 100 hungry guinea pigs
16. Wearing one earring is somewhat normal. There are much more important things to do than to look for the other one
17. You can get anyone to eat almost anything by just holding it up to their mouth
18. If you leave your window open at night you can expect a beetle the size of a small stunt plane to fly in and then fly into all the walls before it finally settles down on the floor somewhere in defeat

I'm making a new album on facebook about the most excellent things in Ecuador! Since I'm using my counterpart's modem I'm trying to limit my time on the internet so check it out!