Ecuador VI - Misc Stuff

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador VI - Misc Stuff

Did you know that in 2000, Ecuador dollarized and now the U.S. dollar is the currency of Ecuador? Paper bills are the same as the ones used in the States but there are special Ecuadorian coins. http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/sovereign/dollar/2000/ecuador.htm

According to Wikipedia, these are the countries that are dollarized:

British Virgin Islands
East Timor (uses its own coins)
Ecuador (uses its own coins)
El Salvador
Marshall Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Palau
Panama (uses its own coins)
Turks and Caicos Islands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollarization

Ecuadorian nickels, a half-dollar, and a quarter

French fries (“papas” in Spanish) are quite popular. Here is Papa Sumprema (like Supreme Nachos or something but fries, not chips).

That’s a big Coke banner.

There are three main cell-phone providers in Ecuador. They are Porta, Allegra, and Movistar. Movistar has the coolest logo, hands down. It can also be seen in a lot of places. It’s a really cool logo.

Street vendors that sell to folks in cars stopped at stop lights are common. Cell minutes can be purchased from guys like this guy.

Dan with a smaller Movistar logo.

The Movistar logo looms outside of the office (actually this is from a sign at the airport)

Movistar is also in Colombia. Here are some Colombia Movistar images.

Ecuador V - Visit to Project EC-111

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador V - Visit to Project EC-111

On Thursday afternoon we visited Compassion project EC-111. This is a project that represents Compassion’s three core programs:

• The Child Development Program (CSP) that works with mothers of young and pre-born children to provide prenatal care, health screenings, training for mothers, and spiritual education.
• Child Development through Sponsorship which works with children to provide them with spiritual, physical, economic, and social benefits.
• Leadership Development Program (LDP)that provides and opportunity for exceptional graduates of the Child Development through Sponsorship program to attend University and receive Christian leadership training.

Both the CSP and Child Development through Sponsorship programs are run from the church which sits in the hills on the edge of Quito. Some graduates of the program are currently involved in LDP. The church is a bi-lingual church (Spanish and a local language) and has been a Compassion partner for several years.

Dan, Rich, and children.


Dan and children.

Children attending project activities

The church has started a little factory where several women are employed making clothing for retail sale. They each make approximately $170 per month.

Here is a picture from the outside. The clothing factory is on the third floor (indicated by the arrow)

Norma (left) has been Compassion’s partnership facilitator for this project. She is pictured with the project director.

Here is some of the clothing that has been made in the little factory.

The net in the foreground seems to be a volleyball net. The little dwelling in the corner is where the watchman for the church lives.

The project has a little garden area in the back.

The street where the church (and project) are located.

A view from the roof of the building where the project activities were occurring.

Ecuador IV - National Assembly

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador IV - National Assembly

Ecuador is having elections at the end of September to elect representatives to an assembly where the Ecuadorian constitution will be rewritten (or something along those lines). Signs advertising on behalf of various candidates are plentiful. According to the Latin American News Agency article at this link http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B981FAAFE-F339-40C9-AB24-52477825B386%7D)&language=EN more than 600 people appear on the national ballot (and more are on provincial ballots.

Here is a sampling of some of the signs.


One evening while we were out there were folks handing out posters and flags for Dale Patria. Below is one of those flags. I do not know if Dale Patria is a great guy or a crook. He does seem to be well funded.


Sign


People promoting List 27. The woman is the ex-wife of the President (or former president).

More folks marching in support of someone

More supporters of Dale Patria.

National Candidates. Truly, there are a bunch of them.

Some Regional Candidates

More Dale Patria supporters.

Ecuador III - Food

From: Dan Trumble

Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007

Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador III - Food

While it pained me to do so, I ended up sampling several different food options while in Ecuador.
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Juana took care of us with coffee, water, and snacks. The inset is humita which is made with corn and cheese. Doris, the Accountant in EC is the other one in the picture.

Lunch at Spaghetti. Pictured from left to right: Fernando (Country Director of Ecuador), Rich, Dan, Luz María (Accountant from Mexico), and Rafael (Ministry Services Manager for Ecuador).

Trout & caviar. I’m not sure I’ve ever had caviar before. Caviar is indicated by the arrow.

BK Stacker Cuadruple from Burger King

Rincon La Ronda Restaurante. I had tongue.

I also had blueberry juice

Soup. The big hunk of something is green plantains.

Lots of juice options are available in Ecuador

Fritada (fried pork). Also popped corn, some other corn stuff, plantain, and avocado. In the lower left corner is cheese soup with avocado.

Hot Chocolate and Cheese. Whoever heard of such a thing…but what a great idea!

Naranja juice, El Tomate Rellano (with tuna as it turns out), a hot chocolate with cheese…AND a hunk of steak that Rich wasn’t going to eat!

Ecuador II - Old Town Quito

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007
Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador II - Old Town Quito


On Friday night Rafael and his wife, Sofia, Isabel and her husband, Ronnie, Luz Maria, Rich and I went to the Old Town of Quito. This is where the Presidential house is located as well as the house for the Mayor of Quito. Also, lots of narrow, hilly streets and pretty old structures including churches and other stuff.

For more pictures and stuff, see http://www.gagme.com/greg/vacation/2004/galapagos/quito2.php

Old pretty buildings


A wedding was taking place.


Another old building.


We rode around on horse-drawn carriages. Here’s Rich and me.

The group at dinner after walking (and riding carriages) around Quito’s Old Town