nuances and charm.

transportation:

1. ecuadorian drivers honk every 4 minutes. reason or not. most of the time, not, it seems to me. 
2. there is no rhythm, rhyme, or reason to the bus system. you just wave it down from wherever you're standing and hop on. 
3. my host mom averages 7-near-fender-benders on any given 12-minute drive... generally followed up by her saying, "mi manejando es muy mal. muy, muy mal." comforting. 

food & weather: 

1. potatoes and rice are acceptable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ecuadorians love their carbs. 
2. i might have a parasite. cool. 
3. although there are only two real season (dry and wet), four seasons are generally experienced throughout the course of one day. cool, misty morning, sunny and warm midday, afternoon shower, chilly night. 

money: 

1. people get in a huffy is you hand them anything over a ten. 
2. the other day, i had to get $300 out in cash from the ATM... came out entirely in tens. had this money not been intended to pay rent (actually, deposit and rent), it would have been helpful, in light of #1. 
3. speaking of rent, mine is $167 per month, all bills included. and i have my own bathroom. 

miscellaneous: 

1. have you ever bought animal crackers from a woman who was breastfeeding? oh. i have. 

to be continued...