RE: Life through the eyes of a Westerner...

The more you have, the more work you will have to maintain what you have. That is the nature of capitalism. You buy one thing and watch it grow old, you repair it and eventually have to buy another object. In Ecuador, things are made to last. In order to successfully adapt to Ecuadorian life you need to rethink the disposible paradigm of the west. In Ecuador, Door's are made of Wood, walls brick and concrete, things are solid to say the least. Moreover, if you want a imported good, you better want it because, the upkeep and cost is considerably higher than America due to the high taxes of importation. I was fortunate living in Quito Ecuador, my land lord provided me with may luxuries in my apartment. I had a analog TV, an antenna for reception, a blender, a comfortable bed, chairs, complete dishes and access to the internet. These things are simple however, life in Ecuador is a lot more manual. If you plan on moving here, you better think of scaling down. The transition is possible but, not easy. All the things, I was accustomed to in the American Capitalist system go away. The hyper consumerist life style goes by the way side in Ecuador. My life in Ecuador taught me  that a smile from a beautiful woman, an enriching conversation, a walk in a forest, a visit to an isolated beach or a desert can provide far more satisfaction that any object, you will ever purchase. If you feel the same, read on.

In this paper, I will focus on life changes living in the Republic of Ecuador, examining of everyday life, interactions with people, exposure to a natural world and coping with the exposure to western capitalism. All of these things are inextricable linked to form life in Ecuador. At times, life is tough as well as tiring but, it is the simple things that will pull you through. An example of simplicity can be found in my consumption in the current moment. While writing this blog, I have a glass of Tomate De Arbole juice, a rich cup of Ecuadorian Coffee and a large mug of liquid Fruitilla (Strawberry) yogurt. Juice, Coffee and Yogurt are everyday things in America. You don't think twice about using these daily liquids however, simple these three liquids are in America. The quality is in question, is it organic? grown by americans? and is it fresh? Tomate De Arbole grows in Ecuador, it is a rich Tomato type juice, filling and not found anywhere in the US. I bought a bag of the fruit for a dollar and in the majority is grown organically. You can make a weeks juice for a dollar. Where in the US is that possible? As simple as a juice may seem, it really is a luxury. Ecuadorian coffee is rich and smooth, or rico y suave in Spanish. For a few dollars, you can buy a bag of Coffee that lasts a few weeks. All Ecuadorian coffee is organic and picked by Ecuadorians. My liquid yogurt is another luxury or lujo in Spanish. It is sweet but, not too much, just right and soothes the stomach everytime. Mostly everything is made naturally however, I have heard there have been some sightings of Splenda as an ingrediate lately. Just look out for that trash!