Quito is a beautiful glittering city. It’s sprawled out down a valley running south to north. On either side the houses go as far up the steep hillsides at they can. The buildings are mostly white but there are splashes of color here and there. It’s a city infused with culture. The culture is in the air, in the buildings, in the quiet, and in the loud. It’s in the blankets and the food. It’s in the faces. In the buses. In the hand motions, and in lack of personal space. It’s in this house and in my heart, but I don’t really know what it is. I can’t put words to it, but I feel it, and I’m starting to know it. I know small things for certain. I’ve noticed little things about the culture. Maybe, I even know enough to fit in as a local. Just kidding, I still stick out like a sore thumb, but hey I try. So without further ado, here’s five ways to live like a local, here in Quito, Ecuador.
-
Put Popcorn in your soup
The food in Ecuador is unique, to say the least. Throw the impression of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos out the window. Also, the food here isn’t spicy, so throw that out the window too. The food here consists of mostly stews and soups. Almost all my dinners are soups, and in my soup is popcorn, because that’s normal here. Also french fries are a classic. Ecuador is similar to most other South American countries in their love for empanadas (a savory pastry with meat and veggies breaded and fried), their endless fresh fruit, and their delicious juices. There are also many bakeries and corner stores. The most surprising part is the creativity in homemade sandwiches. Jelly and cheese sandwiches is apparently a thing and so is carmel and cream cheese on crackers. Don’t get me wrong, although the food is unique, it’s also mostly delicious, and the fresh juices are to die for.
-
Eat lunch after 1:00 pm
No one eats before one. If you go to restaurants at what feels to us like a normal lunch time, aka 12:00, it will be empty. Trust me, I’ve done this several times. The waiter will be really confused and ask if you are there for breakfast. Then you might have to explain that you are there for lunch but you are cool with eating breakfast for lunch, which will really confuse your waiter. (I’m sure my broken Spanish didn’t help either). Still, I’m sure they’ll be glad for your business, at whatever time you choose to come.
-
Buy fruit from the side of the road
There are vendors everywhere. Many people sell fresh fruit on the sidewalk usually for just a dollar. “¡Solo un dollarito!!” There are also vendors who come on the buses, and they sell everything from fruit to candy to music performances. There also vendors who walk out among cars at stoplights to sell similar things. I’m sure it’s very safe. If you buy fruit just make sure to wash it, or not if you’re cool with getting sick.
-
Don’t waste anything, ever.
There’s a sign in the bathroom of my ministry that says, please don’t waste the soap. I didn’t know wasting soap was a thing, honestly, but I’m determined not to do it. I’m not entirely sure if it’s just our base host, or if it’s everyone, but as far as I can tell Ecuadorians are very conscious of reducing waste. Go Ecuadorians! Although this is common elsewhere as well, I’ve noticed this theme more strongly here. You finish what’s on your plate, you eat what you buy, don’t use too much toilet paper, don’t waste the soap, don’t waste the water, don’t be an idiot, maybe start a compost, shower faster, and so on, you get the idea. Basically steward what you have well.
-
Have exact change
No, you can’t use that five dollar bill to buy this two dollar ice cream, what, are you crazy? So, Ecuador uses the dollar, which makes my life easier, but it’s also weird because in some ways it still feels like a different currency. Instead of one dollar bills they use dollar coins. If you were wondering where all of them went, they’re here, in Ecuador. They also use fifty cent pieces, in addition to all the normal coins. The weirdest part is that most vendors want exact or close to exact change. While it’s not usually as extreme as the icecream scenario, I have had that happen. Also, ATMs don’t seem to give out bill’s bigger than a twenty, which I find very interesting. Lastly, one hundred dollar bills are forbidden pretty much everywhere, not that I have any of those.
So there you have it, that’s five ways to live like a local in Ecuador!
