Ah the Fun of Living in a Foreign Land…
I’ve been busily prepping for my next Great Adventure (actually, a rather tame month-long return to Europe, but all new wondrous locales in Spain and Italy, so hey!) But I’m simply not keen on writing about the trials and tribulations of trying to muddle out a gazillion (constantly changing) covid regs (thank HEAVEN Italy just in the past week dropped their stupid “E-list” restrictions which… would have effectively prevented me from entering as a tourist for fully 14 days after leaving Ecuador – grrr!)
So nope, no fun in dwelling on that (though I must say, I very nearly cancelled my entire trip, so needless to say I’m oh so RELIEVED!)
Instead, I just ran across (gracias, Facebook!) a stray FB “Memory” from 6 years ago that… I must say, truly made me smile. So I just thought I’d pop in here to share it with my dear TL readers. Towit:
6 Years Ago…
lol – THIS is why I love living in a foreign country. Fully 2 years here in Ecuador, and still plenty of little challenges to keep me on my toes.
THE STORY:
So I’ve looked high and low for a vertical folder organizer for my desk (a.k.a. a “papalaria vertical” in Spanish, who knew?) Plenty of the horizontal style around, but apparently vertical just doesn’t tickle Cuencano toes.
In Seattle of course, I could just hop in my car, head up to Office Depot and be in and out with one in a matter of minutes – DONE.
But what fun would that be?
Here in El Centro it’s a bit more complicated (and thus, to me – a lot more fun!)
- I first head up to my best local chum at the nearby panaderia and ask him where I might find one (besides, Coral, et al, I’ve already tried). He sends me to a place called “Libreria Monsalve” (a largish office/school supply store) which… I once visited when I first arrived, but couldn’t for the life of me ever find again. 😉
- Libreria Monsalve: Nope. No verticals, only the usual horizontals there. But the (I swear, ever bend-over-backwards helpful) sales lasses send me a few blocks further north to a place called “Muebles Metalicos”. Right. Metal Furniture, of course (not!) Still, ya never know…
- So off I go to find the metal furniture shop, which btw… turns out to be tucked into an ally and the only reason I spotted it was due to the blue sparks (you know, welding sparks?) flying from the garage. There were also a boatload of metal bar chairs lined up, so I figured I’d hit pay dirt.
Long story short? Using my best Spanish and with the help of Google to find a photo of a similar file online, plus a good 40 minutes of the shop’s owner sketching out and measuring exactly what I wanted (and me frantically doing centimeter/inch conversions swiftly in my head)…The lad is going to make me one – with my requested “cuatro espacios” (4 spaces), and I can pick it up on “viernes” (Friday – note: days of the week aren’t capitalized in Spanish).
Now I may well have been able to find one ready-made at one of the malls. But I’ve always hated malls, and besides…
What fun would that be? 😀
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About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Inevitably you will be out looking for something else and will see exactly what you wanted – probably in a store run by an expat named Murphy 😉
Where do you hope hit in Europe?
Actually… I rarely shop in any of the expat shops/restaurants here in Cuenca, as I much preter to support the locals who so kindly allow me to live here.
And Europe? lol – I just yesterday returned from my month+ of skipping around Spain and Italy. Specifically, Barcelona, Venice (2nd visit), Bologna, Cinque Terre (*highly* recommeded), Puglia, and Sicily (incl. the Aolean Ilands of Lipari an Stromboli).
Overall, a great trip, but I must say… this dodderin’ lass is worn out – will take me days/weeks to recuperate! Still, I’m most grateful to still be healthy enough to explore new corners of the globe.
Been living in Cuenca almost 2 years, and I have to say, this is probably one of the most under-reported-but-should-be aspects of living here. It’s the same thing over and over… 1. I need a particular item. 2. Where might this item be found? 3. I can’t find this item (or a quality one) anywhere. 4. How much do I want this item? If the answer is ‘a lot’ then the search continues, or 5. Who can make this item for me? Who knew this would be one of the quirks of living in a country not our own? Still wouldn’t go back for all the all Staples and Office Depot’s in the world though 🙂
Agreed, Cindy. But I actually LIKE such challenges that living in a foreign land invariably serves up on a daily basis. I’ve often joked to friends that… (though I adore my old hood back in my native land) – were I to move back to Seattle – I’d be BORED out of my skull within a single week. Everything waaay to easy – no language, culture, etc. barriers to overcome – what fun would that be? 😉
I also live in Cuenca. I met you several years ago. I am going solo to Italy ( mostly Tuscany) in the fall and would love some tips. I am on a budget and I know you travel this way. Any tips would help. Or maybe we could meet for coffee before you leave. Thanks
Yes Heather I *knew* that name sounded familiar! 😉 So it’s solo (solo ROCKS!) for you to Italy too this year, eh?
Yes, yes, I must admit (though I’ve been known to spring for a $200 lunch in Peru, followed by a $2 dinner of street food) I’ve rather made it my business to hone my budget travel skills to a T over the years (and 50+ countries!) – be it Japan or Cambodia, or… Italy.
Yes, even western Europe can be done quite nicely on a budget. Always a matter of research, research, research, and… trade-offs! A $20 dorm bed in a hostel here, followed by a splurge to stay in a traditional “trillo” in Alberobello, Puglia, there.
Happy to share what I’ve learned (from admittedly, MONTHS of bleary-eyed online research on most every corner of Italy. Just pop me a PM on Facebook and we can set up a coffee next week.
I am going to miss you in Italy. Leaving for SouthEast Asia next week. Looking forward to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. A nice relaxing tour of places old and new. Have a great trip to Europe
Sorry to miss you on this trip, Larry. But I must say… up until just a week ago, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it to Italy at all this year. Stupid Italy had Ecuador on a stupid “E-list” which would have required me to wait 14 days after leaving Ecuador before I could enter (didImention S.T.U.P.I.D?) Italy.
I came –>|this|<-- close to cancelling my (non-refundable) air to Europe entirely, but - by some miracle - Italy finally came to their senses and did away with all the "A", "B", "C", "D" and especially the dreaded (and exceedingly **stupid** considering Ecuador has a higher vax rate and a lower case rate than the almighty U.S. of A.) "E-list" nonsense. So I'm able to go after all - yay! So it's back to SEA for you, eh? viaje seguro (buon viaggio?) It's such a magnificent and diverse world out there, and ever so lovely to be able to once again explore it, yes?