ECUADOR | Wednesday, 26 Sep 2007 | Views [571]
In 2000 when Ecuadorian currency reached a record high inflation, the government abruptly converted to US dollars. What did this mean for Ecuadorians? Well, for example, a family-owned home worth 800,000 sucres was suddenly a mere 4,000 dollars (excuse ... Read more >
Tags: Work
ECUADOR | Wednesday, 26 Sep 2007 | Views [611]
Today, Fulbright grantees were ordered to appear at the US Embassy for a security briefing. Our global, academic group was intermingled with four new embassy employees, and various embassy veterans administered the entire group. First we were obliged ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
ECUADOR | Tuesday, 25 Sep 2007 | Views [1145] | Comments [3]
While planning my trip to Ecuador, I took into account the essentials, including a book called ¨Climbing and Hiking in Ecuador,¨ written by Mark Thurber. Now of course I intended to bury into research and academia during my stay, but I also intended ... Read more >
Tags: Lost!
ECUADOR | Wednesday, 19 Sep 2007 | Views [892] | Comments [3]
I spent my entire first day in Quito flinging about the phrase " Que bello !" Well of course I meant " Que lindo " or " Que bueno ," but blank stares were hardly a source of correction. Was my pronunciation off? ... Read more >
Tags: I should have known better!
ECUADOR | Wednesday, 19 Sep 2007 | Views [622] | Comments [1]
As usual, I'm increasingly intrigued by the food system here. My family shops at the SuperMaxi, I imagine comparable to Stop & Shop. They shop there because, as opposed to the local markets, it offers fresh, clean, and organic products. ... Read more >
Tags: Food & eating
ECUADOR | Wednesday, 19 Sep 2007 | Views [789] | Comments [4]
Saturday, Sept. 15 2007 They say; " El cielo de Quito es como el caractar de las mujeres. Muy variable ." Well, if you ask me, I just blame it on the mountains. The city is surrounded by an extraordinary panorama of rolling ... Read more >
Tags: Family