Expat Community > Ecuador

livefreebstrong
Joined 2014
Posts: 1022

Expats, do we need better manners?

10 years ago

Still by the computor so one more expat observation to get off my chest.

Why don't Expats acknowledgie one another more? 10 years ago a gringo would run into another gringo at a store and they would greet eachother. Not necessarily with a conversation, but with a smile or a nod. "Wow. You're a gringo and I'm a gringo and we're both here. Weird, right?" Boom. Done.

Now, everyone likes to pretend that there's not another gringo standing 10 feet away. Like were all just shopping for catsup at Sam's Club. Nothin unusual going on here. We're robably the only two people around who know what a real hot dog tastes like or that cars should be between the yellow lines instead of on them. So, don't we have enough in common to make eye contact?

We must appear very odd to locals who call out "good afternoon" to everyone when they enter a reception area. And we- Expats- can't even nod? What's the deal? What am I missing? What's going on out there in Gringo Land?

When I realized this phenomenon wasn't just my imagination (I like to double check that you know..)I decided to search for eye contact and smile at every Expat that I passed in the mall. Awkward? You betcha. And it took guts to keep doing it. No one likes rejection. When we spot an Expat on the side of the road and he or she is obviously not waiting for a cab or a bus, we stop and ask if everything's okay. You wouldn't do that in North America, but you would definitely do it here.

So, to all the new ones arriving, smile and relax.

AGS Worldwide Movers

AGS Worldwide Movers can move you to and from anywhere in the world.
Get Quote

AGS Worldwide Movers

AGS Worldwide Movers can move you to and from anywhere in the world.
Get Quote

Living in Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador share some of the pros and cons of living in Ecuador. Topics covered include where to live, the bureaucracy, the people and more.

Ecuador Forum
Join our Ecuador forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Ecuador.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Best Places to Live in Ecuador

If you're dreaming about living in Ecuador, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Ecuador in 2023.

Healthcare in Ecuador

Expats in Ecuador share their experiences with healthcare and overseas medical insurance in Ecuador.

Cost of Living in Ecuador

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Ecuador.

Moving to Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador offer advice to newcomers and people considering a move to Ecuador about clothing, sunscreen, renting before buying, gringo pricing, Ecuadorians politeness and much more.