Q & A

Thursday, June 26, 2008

How do you communicate with the people of the towns that you visit? What is their sentiment towards having you there? A 4th grader from Catawba Springs Elementary in Lincoln County

We have four translators who travel with us at all times. Each participant has various levels of Spanish proficiency from beginner to advanced, but a smile needs no translation.

We have been welcomed with open arms and hearts by each village we have visited. The people have been very gracious hosts and have offered us the best foods and welcoming sentiments that we could ever wish for. As we drive through the countryside and towns, the people of Ecuador smile and wave as we circle round and round their streets and cities. Some of us have developed friendships along the way!

Has the slump in the US economy had any trickle down effects in the country of Ecuador? A teacher at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in Orange County

Ecuador’s economy is based on the US dollar, so any changes in the economy of the US will affect the economy of Ecuador. In general, prices are quite reasonable; however, we were amazed at the price of the gasoline. At first when we saw the prices posted on highway signs we thought, “Hey, the gas here is really CHEAP!” But then we realized that the prices on the signs reflected price per LITER and there are roughly 4 liters per gallon. So, $1.68 per liter is no great bargain! [Note: an attentive visitor from Oregon pointed out that gas actually is sold by the gallon in Ecuador, but as Miguel says "it is subsidized by the government. Very soon all subsidies are going to disappear and even the butane gas will go from 2.60 per tank to 15.00 per tank."]

Along with the US dollar, there are also coins that are Ecuadorian. They have their own version of the nickel, dime, quarter, fifty cent piece and use many of our Sacagawea dollar coins.

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