FAQ

When I was first getting ready to come down here for 2 years, I sent out a list of Frequently Asked Questions that I kept getting from people.  Now, almost 2 years later, I thought it might be interesting to do another one, but of questions that people here ask me, along with my typical response.

Where are you from?
~depending on my mood, how ornery I'm feeling that day, will change  my answer, but it's usually a combination of: for the past year and a half, Macas, the United States, or Oregon.  Which leads to the next question...

Oregon?  Where's that?
~It's on the north Pacific, just north of California.  Or, if they've said that they have relatives on the East Coast (where approximately 99% of Ecuadorians move to, based on my informal poll here), then I'll say that it's on the other side of the country, about 3 or 4 days driving in the car.

Do you like it in Macas/Ecuador?
~I love it here!  It's so pretty and everyone's friendly.  I also like living in a smaller community where you can know a lot of people.

Do you have an Ecuadorian boyfriend?
~nope, just friends.  Which leads to the next question...

So you must have a boyfriend in the US, right?
~nope, just friends there, too.  Which leads to the next question/suggestion....

You should marry an Ecuadorian and live here for the rest of your life!/Why don't you marry an Ecuadorian and live here for the rest of your life?
~I'll marry whoever God wants me to, whether he's from Ecuador, the US or somewhere else, I don't know. :)

What do you do here?/What are you doing here?
~I teach English at Emanuel Christian School.  Which usually leads to either a comment that they know someone there, or me being asked if it's an evangelical school.

How do you get paid?
~I'm with a mission organization, which sends me money to live on.

Do you miss the States?
~I really, really miss my niece and nephew, one was just born last week and one turns 1 tomorrow.  I miss having my own classroom and being close to my family, but I love being here, with many of my friends.

When are you going back to the States next?
~I'm going back the end of July.  Which leads to the next....

When are you coming back here?
~I'll come back during vacations (there's no summer here, so saying during the summer holds little meaning!) for the students' graduation and for summer school.

How did you learn Spanish?/You speak Spanish really well for only having been here for a year!/etc
~I took classes in high school, just like my students are learning English and I was a Spanish kindergarten teacher for 6 years before coming here.

Do you like the food here?
~I love it!  My favorite's maduros con quesillo (mature plantains with homemade soft cheese). :)

How can you walk barefoot?! (asked when I was dressed as a Shuar for the parade last spring)
~I'm from the country, I'm used to going barefoot outside, it's more comfortable! :)

Can you teach me how to make cookies? (mostly by students)
~I'd love to, but I don't know when I'll have time.  (a few students have come by and made cookies with me and we always have fun!)

That's all that I can think of, off the top of my head, I'm sure I'll come up with more later. :)