I read somewhere that a foreigner's response to America tells us as much about them as it does about us. I hope our musings about your beautiful country piques some interest in Ecuador. We love visitors.
- customer service. it exists.
- portion sizes. how is it that skinny people haven't gone extinct?
- respect for rules
- smiles and small talk with strangers
- good roads. everywhere. good drivers too.
- holy flat landscape! The SC mountains are hills, my friends.
- the boldness of seagulls
- sandstone cliffs in waning golden light. At 8pm.
- daily anticipation of the fog burning off
- deer and squirrels are cute
- free wifi (wee-fee). everywhere. and crazy fast.
- ubiquity of public restrooms. And TP.
- cypress trees, redwoods, California poppies
- drive thru hikes. who needs exercise? grab a sandwich.
- forethought.
- crosswalks
- pedestrian right of way
- commitment to public safety. too much. what about Darwin?
- efficiency. yes you CAN accomplish 5 errands in one day (Quito = 1 per day máximo)
- bay area acceptance of the gender continuum
- gun control. what have we learned?
- LA radio
- 10 cent charge for shopping bags in SC, SJ, Monterey. No more plastic. Nice work.
- progress of the green movement in general. composting has gone mainstream.
- public ability to form lines
- my ability to screw up English words and expressions
- Spanish everywhere. on its way to being accepted as a second first language. Vamos, California.
- Mexican food. It's a reason people visit the best coast.
- options. too many. for everything.
- the fear mongering. it's for real. c'mon people, no pasa nada!
- fierce market competition. mind-blowing quality standards.
- no one uses change. or cash for that matter.
- poverty. every country has it.
- 2 weeks vacation. How is that still legal in such a civilized nation?
- my own national pride, state pride, hometown pride. SC baby!
- the ease of (re)connecting with my own people. The US of A might be quasi crazy, but you Americans are a supreme delight. Peace, amigos.
