Utilities, Curtains and Curbs

We have officially been living in our house now for one month.  Steve and I went to town to pay the utilities on Wednesday. 

Water bill: $1.50. 

Electric bill: $2.50.

Of course, we don’t have to worry about heat or air conditioning.  The only hot water is in the shower. 

Bottled water:  $8.00.  $2 per 5 gallons & we use about 2 per week.

Gas: $2.00 per cylinder.  One cylinder lasts about a month.  

Internet:  $23.00

That is it for utilities unless and until we hook up to a satellite system for TV.  That is still undecided.  We can get the networks from the US for free over the computer, but we would like to get the Ecuadorian stations.  Plus, at this point, we have no TV set, so we would have to go purchase one.   That just isn’t real high on the priority list. 

We finally got the nerve to go talk to a lady in town about some curtains.  It was a frustrating, and at the same time, hysterical conversation, but we did it.  She finally took control of the situation and made it clear that she and Steve were going to head to the house to see and measure the windows that needed coverings.  She will install on Tuesday.  We still need to find someone to build us the screens.  Our land-lady told us to get them made and she would take the costs off of our rent.  So, another conversation with a more-than-likely non-English speaker is soon to come.  UPDATE:  The screen fellow will be by tomorrow (Sunday) to measure.  We are moving along.

It is amazing that as soon as we start to feel like we know some of the language, we try to negotiate with someone and find out how much we still do not know.  We are getting good at “No entiendo” and “Por favor, hable más despacio”.  Poor Steve ends up with most of the work as I usually cannot get into the stores.  I am part of the conversation, but from the sidewalk.  It makes for interesting exchanges.  Sometimes I will pick up something Steve misses when we are being spoken to.  Sometimes it’s the reverse.  Sometimes we look at each other and say "Huh"?  So far, we have always managed to work it out. 

The stores around here, almost without exception, have a huge curb in the front.  The grocery store has ramps up to the front of the store – but then a curb.  If I am to get inside, I have to stand up and hold onto something stable while Steve hefts the wheelchair or scooter over the curb.  We do that at the grocery.  That is not always possible as sometimes there is not even anything to hang onto.   So far, I have been able to find ways onto the sidewalk, at least.  Once on a sidewalk, there is no guarantee that there will be another way back off, so then there’s some backtracking.   I am learning where I can and where I cannot use a sidewalk – when I cannot, I simply use the street.  Cars and trucks are good at giving me a wide berth as they do for bicyclists, dogs, vendors  or other slow moving vehicles .  I have seen two men in Sucua moving around in wheelchairs, so I am definitely not alone in that regard.