cultural dislocation relocation

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.

We were blessed with five fantastic weeks in the United States of America this summer. Well, the state of California anyway. These are the things that strike a couple of expats living in Ecuador, gone for the large majority of two years. Perspective fosters inner peace.

- 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.