We are aware of the negative cons of living in Ecuador, but have not really experienced these yet. There are some silly inconviences - so far not as many as our prior life in the US, but very different, petty things. Mostly, it is a matter of changing habits. Let's start with toilet paper.
Ecuador does provide standard toilets in many public places. The ones I have seen are generally well kept and clean. However, you cannot flush the toilet paper, and so there is a little trash can next to the toilet for it - their septic system cannot handle TP. This obviously seems kind of gross. We had to set up our own bathroom like this at home as well. We have used the opportunity to provide what is basically equivilent to adult baby wipes, which provide good cleanliness, and cut down on smells.
The other thing about public restrooms is that there generally is not TP IN the stalls. There is a provision at the entrance point to the restroom, and you must remember to grab some on your way in. At the mall, as in other places, this can cost 5 or 10 cents, certainly not a problem, except you have to have change with you. I have taken to caring a bit in a baggie in my purse, in case I forget, or don't have change. Speaking of change.....
The cash machine dispenses 20 dollars, sometimes 10's, and some places do not take credit cards, and cash is generally preferred, BUT people don't have change. It seems we are constantly asking each other for money - we will have larger bills, but not the 2 dollar cab fare (taxi drivers generally don't carry change), or a buck tip for the delivery person, etc. The quest for smaller currency comes up pretty much every day - on our exploratory trip we brought quite a few small bills, and went through them quickly. I have been looking for quarters, dollar coins (Ecuador is on the US dollar as I have mentioned, but their one dollars are coins, not bills). This is a minor nuisence.
We don't know how much stuff is supposed to cost. I am shopping for many home goods we need. As I have mentioned in a previous post, if it is not made here, it will cost more than we pay in the States. The problem is I frequenlty have no idea how much more. So if I see a price on say, a pot/pan set, I have no idea if this is just standard, or if I should keep looking at a different store. On Friday, a driver is taking me to some less expensive stores. I probably need to stay away from the mall for many things.
There are no pedestrian traffic lights. Pedestrians do not seem to have any right of way - you have to wait for the cars to clear and just run. Brian tells me it is like playing an old video game - frogger. I have finally located some pedestrian cross walks, that are not in the middle of a traffic circle with cars merging in and out so that has helped. And yesterday a kind police officer made all the traffic stop so I could cross.
There is no good cheese. Again, we were warned. We can at least find variety of cheeses, but the selection would make the staff at New Seasons weep.
The last one is to me the most problematic. You cannot drink the tap water. This in and of itself is not really a problem - we purchased a dispenser, like the one we have at work, that provides hot, room temp, and cold water. and you can outfit your apartment with a reverse osmosis. While this is expensive, it is a one time expense. But it is not being able to drink tap water that I miss, it is things like worrying about Maya drinking out of the toilet (paranoid about keeping toilet lids closed) , not having to bring a cup of water to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and being able to give dishes or fruit a quick rinse under the faucet. The RO would solve the last 2, but it likely would not reach to the bathroom, and certainly would not be outfitted so the dog could drink safely from the toilet.
All for now.
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