This week, and today in particular, has been a lesson in learning patience, ore perhaps I am relearning patience, which I learned the year I lived here, and lost in the two years away.
I have been without internet for a week. Days are defined by visits to 'El Espanol' to check messages at the office, or skyping patients or family, or keeping in touch with friends. Reading the titles of New York Times articles while Eric or Maya are catching up is my guilty pleasure. After the bus successfully picked Maya up, Eric and I tried to go to El Espanol, but it was not yet open, so we tried Boncaffee, the coffee shop we went to daily when we lived here. Usually I liked to look at 'El Comercio', the daily paper, but it was not available, and there was no internet in the coffee shop. There had been a favourite political magazine both Eric and I liked when we were here in 2009-10, but it was also nowhere to be seen. I wondered if the president of Ecuador closed it down, since it was very critical of him and he is not known to tolerate critical comments. This is ironic, in that he is protecting Assange and his right to free speech. We found another very bold article about Correa and his misteps.
The fellow behind the counter had worked at the Cafe when we lived here before, but he did not recognize us. I am sure that a couple of the customers did, but of course they all say hello and goodbye to everyone when they come and go.
The cable people were to arrive at 11, and they did, but they had all sorts of problems and stayed for hours to connect us. This is simply how things happen in our lives here. Sometimes people come on time, or they don't, and sometimes things are done efficiently, and sometimes everything takes hours and hours, and I am simply fine with that. I am certain I would not be fine with it at home in Baltimore, but here I am patient and calm.
We were addicted to our computers for a bit, and soon Maya was almost home (except that the bus had a flat tire and came much later than expected.....Eric and I waited patiently on the street. Maya was fine with waiting for the later ballet class. She seems very happy at school and I am so relieved. Eric and I are enjoying playing house in our new apartment.
I have been without internet for a week. Days are defined by visits to 'El Espanol' to check messages at the office, or skyping patients or family, or keeping in touch with friends. Reading the titles of New York Times articles while Eric or Maya are catching up is my guilty pleasure. After the bus successfully picked Maya up, Eric and I tried to go to El Espanol, but it was not yet open, so we tried Boncaffee, the coffee shop we went to daily when we lived here. Usually I liked to look at 'El Comercio', the daily paper, but it was not available, and there was no internet in the coffee shop. There had been a favourite political magazine both Eric and I liked when we were here in 2009-10, but it was also nowhere to be seen. I wondered if the president of Ecuador closed it down, since it was very critical of him and he is not known to tolerate critical comments. This is ironic, in that he is protecting Assange and his right to free speech. We found another very bold article about Correa and his misteps.
The fellow behind the counter had worked at the Cafe when we lived here before, but he did not recognize us. I am sure that a couple of the customers did, but of course they all say hello and goodbye to everyone when they come and go.
The cable people were to arrive at 11, and they did, but they had all sorts of problems and stayed for hours to connect us. This is simply how things happen in our lives here. Sometimes people come on time, or they don't, and sometimes things are done efficiently, and sometimes everything takes hours and hours, and I am simply fine with that. I am certain I would not be fine with it at home in Baltimore, but here I am patient and calm.
We were addicted to our computers for a bit, and soon Maya was almost home (except that the bus had a flat tire and came much later than expected.....Eric and I waited patiently on the street. Maya was fine with waiting for the later ballet class. She seems very happy at school and I am so relieved. Eric and I are enjoying playing house in our new apartment.
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