Don't Text, Don't Twitter.....

....and for good reason - I'm old!!!
Still believe that kids actually WANT parents to impose limits...That they actually DO need to hear the word "no" every now and then...That parents should be parents - not "Buddies".....That one should be able to take a person at their word....Trust that others will do their jobs, do what they say they will do when they said they would do it....and actually stand on "principal" to do the "right" thing despite the direction in which the politically expedient winds blow at the moment.
You know......."old guy stuff" - get my point?
If you haven't recognized it by now, in addition to holding on to a set of values that at times seem to have gone the way of the dinosaur, buggywhip, black and white TV, and the typewriter, my other "old guy" tip off involves the use of the Twitter and texting - I DON'T NOW, never have, and likely never will!
140 characters? One letter at a time on a phone where I struggle to see the numbers (let alone figure out that typing a "v" is three taps on the "8" - thanks but no thanks, I like it here just fine in the stone age and have every intention of remaining.
Were I forced to, I could probably learn to do that typing on a phone pad thing - but when it comes to the 140 character deal to Twit there's simply no hope.
Doubt I could order a cup of coffee in 140 characters - let alone actually "say" anything.
Yup....I'm wordy-first to admit it. Never be employed as an editor for Cliff Notes and quite frankly, neither care, nor intend to spend much time attempting to change - I don't have to (age has its benefits).
So, if you hadn't figured it out by now, and you're still here, and you are of the Tweat-ilk, feel free to hit the "back" button and return to the "slices of life" vignettes which define your comfort zone. No hard feelings. Know, though, that if you stay - you do so at your own risk and might venture into territory totally apart from that which you expected.
Take this post, for example - "Don't Text, don't twitter..." Six paragraphs down from the top you've got a pretty good idea of where it was going....might even say it could end here and be done with it....Why then, if you were to scroll down, would you see hundreds and hundreds of additional words?
Two reasons:
First.....NEVER, under ANY Circumstances say in 140 characters or less that which can be said in x hundred (or thousand) words (lest one be accused of being "twit-capable") - you have your little "quirks", I have mine.
Second...This post was originally entitled "Our New Best Friends Forever" and intended to provide a list of some of those really "special" folks we met on our journey, both to acknowledge our appreciation of their efforts on our behalf, and to provide a list of individuals whom we could recommend unconditionally to others who might wish to avail themselves of their services.
We wanted to introduce the topic with a couple of our observations of the Ecuadorian people in general and those we encountered and befriended specifically. That "morphed" into some thoughts about cultural differences and customs, which morphed into.....(you get the idea).
So.....change the title, add this opening explanation after the fact and "let 'er rip". (The "New Best Friends.." piece will follow, separately, and therefore - shorter (believe that?....where you been?)

Even after how ever many thousand kilometers of unbelievably scenic vistas - there is always another around the next bend

 
As breathtakingly beautiful and diverse as Ecuador is, its true beauty lies in its people.
Beauty not in terms of outward physical appearance (though that is certainly there), but rather the inner beauty of their compassion, friendliness, commitment to family, reverence of both land and spirit, and genuine love of life.
For a foreigner, on their first visit to Ecuador, especially ones coming from what is commonly described as a "first world" culture (us), the "beauty" can, at first glance, be difficult to appreciate.
This is, indeed, a very different culture, and as much as I despise the term "third world" (as I'm guessing would the Ecuadorians as  well) it is one which most would understand in the context in which we use it here.
Despite spending a significant amount of time and effort over the past year or so to attain an understanding of the cultural differences which we would encounter (an exercise we would highly recommend to anyone considering visiting prior to their doing so), there really is no substitute for actual "boots on the ground". As much as you might think you actually "understand" the cultural differences prior to your arrival, you won't until you experience them first hand. Prior experiences in other "foreign" countries might help, but Ecuador is truly unique in many aspects and simply must be experienced first hand.
The "pre-trip" learning will make you aware of many of cultural differences which exist. Depending on from whom you obtain the information, some will be accurate and some will be either overblown or presented totally out of context. Things like "bars on the windows", "watch out for pickpockets", "don't ride the bus at night", or "abject poverty" are all, to some degree, true, but at the same time, in many cases, hyperbole.
Does petty crime exist in the touristy areas of the major cities? - of course (just as it does in NYC, Paris, or London)
Will you be intimidated by the fact that almost every property is surrounded by a 6 foot high "security wall" (some topped with broken glass) - probably...we were.
Does "abject poverty" describe the conditions under which much of the population lives (especially on the coast)? - at first glance, and based on your definition of "abject poverty",..probably so.
Please do not take our comments to imply that one need not be vigilant and take normal safety precautions (avoid "high risk" areas of cities at night, don't "flash" easily stolen jewelry, electronics, cash, etc) but also do not fall prey to the "doom and gloomers" who would have you believe there is a low life hiding behind every bush or on every bus. In our 5 weeks, and maybe we were just "lucky", but not once did we feel threatened or in jeopardy. We did take "normal" precautions - as we would do under any other circumstances.
This is not to say, though, that there are not significant cultural differences...there are....and gaining an understanding of them is imperative if one is to hope to assimilate.
With only 5 weeks exposure to the country, and virtually no comprehension of the language, we can't begin to believe that we have attained that "understanding"...we can, however, offer what we took away in hopes of providing a "real life" experience as opposed to those who might have an ulterior motive for providing theirs.
Possibly the most stark example, for us, involved the prevalence of security walls, gates, and window grates. They are, indeed, everywhere. It will likely be your first impression upon arrival in Ecuador and will reinforce all the "doom and gloom" stuff you've read. If you, like us, land in Quito (or Guayaquil), you'll be overwhelmed by it. If you, like us, travel to other parts of the country, hoping (and expecting) that it's just a "city" thing...you'll be disappointed to find that it's not. It's nation-wide....cities, towns, hamlets, countryside.
The doom and gloomers warnings seem warranted...maybe there really are criminals behind every bush ready to rape, pillage, and kill.
Maybe they are, maybe we were just lucky, or maybe it's a prime example of "culture shock" we're not quite capable of understanding.
Others have tried to explain the difference between how "we" define "stealing" in our culture and how "they" do. It's a concept most of us will have great difficulty comprehending but goes something along the lines of - if you have something (material) that you are not using, it's not "stealing" if I take it because I need it for my family. That is, of course, a monstrously oversimplified  generalization, but I would encourage you to "google" the concept for a more indepth explanation.
That being said, one need only look at the actual "security" afforded by those 6 foot high, sometimes broken glass topped, "security" walls. In the cities, they might actually fully encompass the property (as in, all four sides). Outside the cities though, and especially on the coast, the walls will be rock solid on three walls and either non-existent altogether, or a mere 2 foot high picket fence that wouldn't keep out a chicken on the beach side.
That the 6 foot high walls exist is the cultural statement that says "keep out"....that the fourth side wouldn't keep out a fly matters not.
All that said, are there properties on the beach with 24/7 armed guards?....you bet there are...and maybe that shoots (bad choice of words) my theory totally out of the water, but based on my (very limited, 5 week) experience, I'm betting it has much more to do with the cultural understanding of the word "steal" than the security provided by a three walled fence.
One other quick example and we'll let it go for now as ours are merely "observations" and certainly worthy of nothing more than, possibly, your consideration. As visitors to a land in which we recognize that a significant  percentage of the population exists at an income level that would be classified at home as "below poverty" many of us feel a need to "help" in whatever little way we can. The first, and most obvious method to do so is via the "tip" - a time honored tradition at home and very "personal", small way in which we can "help". And so we do. A buck "tip" here for the $2 taxi ride (which even with the tip comes to less than 1/3 of it would have been at home), or leaving the change from a $5 when paying for your $2.50 almuerzo (which would have cost double at least, anywhere else). Just a small thing and certainly not a lot of money but does our heart good to feel like we've "helped" in our own little way.
It surprised us to learn, and probably will you too, that the reaction of that person you "tipped" was likely exactly the opposite of what you might expect. Chances are your "generosity" and "good intentions" garnered not gratitude but rather disrespect. It isn't that the recipient of your largesse didn't need the money or even that they aren't appreciative (as we would hope) but rather that you have portrayed yourself, in their eyes, as one who doesn't understand the value of money and as such is unworthy of their respect.
A second aspect of the over (excessive) tipping propensity can result in more dire and longer lasting consequences. Take the situation where you venture into a small, neighborhood cabana frequented almost exclusively by "locals". They eat there every day and may never leave a dime more than the posted price (which may or may not include a 10% "servico") - it's the generally accepted practice and in many cases quite literally all they can afford. Waiters and waitresses and patrons alike understand how (and why) it works. Over time, you, me, and a few of our compatriots begin frequenting the joint bringing with us our "home" tipping ways. Throw another 10, 20% on top...hey it's still dirt cheap (and it makes me feel good). Doesn't take long before the service people begin to "expect" it, and not much longer after that the practice begins to gain "acceptance" and is "expected" from all patrons (local and gringo alike).
While one can argue that such an outcome would be a "good" thing in that it elevates the income level of the server, the other side of the coin is that it simultaneously raises the cost of that lunch for the "local" who was already stretched to the limit to afford it before the "increase".
Ecuador is unlike many other countries of the world in many, many ways - not the least of which is the fact that, for the most part the Ecuadorian people genuinely like us "gringos". The "ugly American" syndrome has yet to (and hopefully, will not) rear its ugly head. While the culture "shock" and differences might often make it difficult for "us" to comprehend, let alone agree with, customs and traditions which diverge from our own we must never forget that regardless of the degree to which we are able to "assimilate" we are still "visitors" and thereby obligated to respect the ways of our hosts.