Gringos in Ecuador

We stand out like a sore thumb. Ecuadorians are very adept at quickly judging who you are and responding in kind. Prices go up immediately. All Americans and Europeans are rich in their eyes, no matter how you are dressed. You will be stared at especially if you have other than the ubiquitous coal black hair or if you have fair features. There is a rather disquieting habit Ecuadorians have of looking you directly in the eye for a long time. Total strangers will stare long and hard at you until you wonder what they want and why. But, I think it is just what they are used to doing and, after all, you do look unusual to them. Women look men right in the eye and don’t divert their gaze as they do in the US. But almost universally, there is an inbred attitude of class distinction and separation that finds our North American openness very strange. Nevertheless, almost all of the Ecuadorians we have met have been extremely generous and friendly which is contrary to what you read about how North Americans can never become close with the locals. Possibly because of our openness and friendliness, we have been welcomed into their homes and, though we struggle with language, we spend long hours talking. However, as much as we like to mix with the Ecuadorians, it is a great feeling when a group of Americans, Canadians, British, and other Europeans sit around and compare notes. To this end was formed the 5:30 Friday evening expatriate meetings at either the Eucalyptus Café or Zoe’s Café in Cuenca. Venues for the meetings change but either café will know where the English speaking community is meeting when you are visiting here. There will always be about 30 to 40 expatriates attending who make a real effort to welcome visitors and newcomers. Some 300 people here and abroad subscribe to a website called the Gringo Tree which gives the expatriate community shared sources of information about local events and pertinent news relating to residency and other important subjects.