Ecuador May 2008
Dear family and friends,
Jim and I found out yesterday that the wheels of EC government are moving very slow. Our lawyer tells us it will probably be another month until we get our new visa. After we receive our visa then we can make our reservations to come to the US. In reality it is not surprising but we are ready to come back for a visit! We will let all of you know what our plans are when we know! :-)
Another funny story of living in a different country... When Jim and I bought the apartment we did not get paperwork until the lawyer registers the sale with some department in the government. We waited for one month and a half. During this time we were told we just have to wait to change our name on the electric bill. I have no idea who is paying.
Yesterday morning the guard in our building called to the apartment. Jim answers the phone, listens, cannot understand so hands the phone to me. Like I know something more! I listen and it sounds to me like there is going to be work going on they will shut off the electricity for a while. So I said OK. Our electricity went off. When we got downstairs to the guard he hands me a notice that said your electricity was turned off due to no payment. So we take a taxi to the electric company. Wait in line, like always. Get a number and then pay the amount. We ask about changing our name on the account. They tell us we need "documents, copies of passport,etc."
Jim and I then go across town to the lawyer to get the papers and then return to the electric company. Again we have to take a number and wait. We had E20, the board said they were working on number E84--we had to get to 100 and then go to 20! As we are sitting waiting this lady finds some numbers laying around and she passes them out. Now we are E12...yippee! About 10 minutes later this other man hands us a number E1, now we are cooking. So when we finally get to the lady she looks in the computer and says they have no record of usage of electricity in our apartment. She tells us we paid our neighbors electric bill. I ask so why then do we have not light. OK, you have to understand I´m trying to understand what is being said at rocket speed in Spanish. The young gal was very nice and then spoke to me like I´m in kindergarten. It was a hoot.
Finally there was someone who spoke English and could tell me that there is a problem and the electric company will need to check the wiring at the building and then make the financial correction. She tells us to come back on Friday ( I think). It´s Wednesday and there is no way it will be corrected in two days), so I ask if it would be better to come back next week? Yes, she says, I think it will be better.
As we get up to leave and everyone is happy that we understand each other and know that the system is all screwed up, I look over at the guard and he is laughing at the scene at the desk!
Living in Ecuador brings it challenges but the people are so nice and try so hard to help us! And yes,when we returned to the apartment that afternoon our electricity was turned back on! Life is good.
Take care and hope to see many of you soon!
Nancy and Jim
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Nancy Wesorick
Friends of Ecuador Schools
http://friendsofecuadorschools.com/
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