Alright, sista. Get your mean face on. I used to laugh when I would realize how differently I walk down the street in Quito, Ecuador, a city of three million people where I stick out like a sore thumb versus how I am in the town I grew up in. I look rude. I’m not…
Category: Culture
Please dress up for birthday parties
I was running a little late, but excited because me and my girlfriends were having a birthday brunch for one of my favorite friends! We picked a cute restaurant downtown and all chose to start the day at 8 a.m. I walked in, my black ankle boots clicking, hair curled, lipstick on, earrings in place,…
Spanish phrases you didn’t learn in school (that you’ll use in Ecuador…)
Want the free PDF cheatsheet to remember? Here it is. So we all learned about the red fire truck and “¿dónde está la biblioteca?,” right? Well, here’s some bad and good news – a lot of that stuff you (obviously) don’t use in everyday speech, and a lot of the phrases you do need to…
Safe taxi tips in Ecuador
Here are a few tips of how to take steps to make riding taxis more safe: Only ride legal vehicles, ones with the registration number (you can also use the Uber app.) Don’t get into unmarked vehicles. Send someone your taxi number and about when you should arrive, and that you’ll text them when you…
Don’t wear shorts in the mountains
After living 2 years in Quito, I could tell apart the other fair-skinned blondes who LIVE in the city and those who were VISITING the city. It was that easy. One of the biggest ones? Tourists wear shorts. If you’re going to the beach of Ecuador, wear shorts, flip flops, crazy hats, whatever. If you’re…
Blue Jeans
I want to tell you that Quiteños (people who are from Quito) don’t wear blue jeans, but when you arrive to the city you will quickly point out that it’s not true. I’m sure you will find exceptions. But I still want to say it to you, because it’s an important concept. We think jeans…
Gifts
Birthday parties usually involve giving a gift. So if you get invited to a birthday party in Quito, consider bringing a gift. They also dress up for birthday parties, special occasions, and going out. It shows respect. We’re used to “token” gifts, but that is less common in the culture. Don’t attach a little tea…