1973

I often imagine that life here is what life was like in the 1970's, with a large South American twist.

Very limited cell phone use leads to more physical interactions than back at home.  Meetings aren't arranged by "I'll call you later" but rather with  "I'll see you there at 8:30." Goods aren't sold on Cragislist, but by word of mouth.  One day, as we drove down the street we pulled over next to a pair of boys walking a small dog.  My host mother then explained to them that she was selling a puppy and to call if they were interested.  We never recieved a call from them, but instead from a man whom a relative told about the puppies.  All information is spread by friends talking to friends.

Even when buying things, it's not done in a grand fashion.  People don't go to the supermarket to buy their bread, but to small bakeries.  Fruit is locally grown, or even grown at home.  I don't think Ebay has quite made its way to Ecuador yet.

On the way to town expect to encounter a pickup truck driving by with two or three people in the back, or a man riding a ATV/dirtbike down the main street.  These two things are common sights around here.  Driving rules here are pretty loose, and I've heard some residents say they've never even seen a traffic stop.  Adding to that, I've heard drunk driving laws aren't enforced nearly as strictly as in the US.  I once asked what the legal blood alcohol limit was and it took a group a few moments to finally agree on 0.08.    

Seeing that I didn't exist in the 1970's, none of this post is very accurate at all.  I do believe though, that if I could take away the merengue music and play some Led Zeppelin, bring back bell bottom jeans, and maybe switch languages to English I'd be living in small town USA, 1973 right now.