Brian and Sarah in Ecuador

 There are now all kinds of youtube channels about ex-pats living in Ecuador.  Many of them touch on two sides of a coin - "getting Gringo'd" (aka getting charged more than a local, the writer presumes because they are white) in which local vendors are blamed from inflating prices and "gentricifaction" in which ex-pats are blamed for the inflation of prices, because they pay them.  This usually involves some guilt shaming that by our existance, and not fighting over prices we are causing Ecuadorians to not be able to afford their own housing, and we need to stop.  People are shamed for not bartering more, not understanding the local market prices for all items and services, and for tipping to US standards, the latter of which is seen as "showing off". Having ex-pats in the community is a double edged sword.  We bring much needed money to businesses, but just like in the US, when wealthier people with a real estate edge (the profits from your sold prope...

 I am slowly settling back in to life in Ecuador.  I did miss it a ton, and felt a definite sense of peace driving around those first few days, seeing the familar building, neighborhoods, landmarks, etc.  It is not just the beach I have grown attached to.  I am also slowly seeing friends and re-acclimating back into the people and places that made up my fond routine in February.  It is slightly harder than I thought it would be.   Selling the house, setting up the apartment , moving out of the apartment, immigrating, the long 10 day journey to drive Maya to Miami, fly her to Quito, and have her driven to Manta, and showing up to a foreign country in a home with no furniture or household items, all took energy.  Then flying back and re-establishing myself at a new job, being gone for long hours took emotional energy, even given it was an usuasally pleasant travel assignment.  Then I had to say goodbye again.  So I arrived back at the cond...

 From talks of Ecuador, let's go back and visit the US again, for a moment.  I have been here for 4 1/2 months, and just clocked out and approved my timecard for the last time, and handed in my badge at Providence Portland Medical Center. +++Warning - this addresses the strike.  Because I start out defending the need for the way Providence handled the staffing needs during the strike, it may leave a bad taste that I am defending Providence in general.  For the most part, I am not - please read all before coming to a conclusion.  I think Providence is allowing the accusations of impropriety with their strike labor practice to deflect from the real issues. For the most part it was a very pleasant assignment.   I was warmly welcomed into the unit, and after a few weeks of covering vacations, random ill calls, and assisting with a new employee (called "caregiver" at Providence) orientation, I was assigned to a pleasant, fast paced observation unit, with ve...