When a taxi driver asks where I am from, my response is always the same: “¿Qué, no te parece que soy Ecuatoriana?” Of course I’m not Ecuadorian. I’m clearly North American- from the United States, specifically- and there’s not much I can do to mask this from my taxistas. To any Ecuadoria[...]
Posts Tagged ‘gringo’
October 20th, 2010 - 10:35 am § in Around Town, Culture, Dominican Republic, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
Gringo Pricing: Living in Competition or Solidarity?
Any expat learns quickly that fixed prices for goods and services in the Domincan Republic don’t exist. If you are a gringo, you are normally given a higher price. In turn, many expats feel taken advantage of and seek to get the local price that Dominicans would pay. There are times when individua[...]
Guilt of the Gringo
My friend count in Puerto Jimenez has dropped by one. Rachel, a youth-focused Peace Corps volunteer, finished her two-year stint this week. She’s off to travel and to eventually head back to the States. (We’ll stay friends on Facebook, so the number that matters will stay the same.) I[...]
May 7th, 2010 - 10:15 am § in Around Town, Ecuador
Confessions of an Urban Volunteer
There are certain things I know I like to have in order to be happy: ample exercise, a variety of foodstuffs (with lots of fresh fruits and veggies), and a network of interesting and intelligent friends who I can speak to in English (much as I hate to admit it). How many of those things would [...][...]
April 14th, 2010 - 10:46 am § in Guatemala, In the Field
Endless Latin America
Every month we’ll be posting an entry from a guest contributor who has some advice, resources, information and/or inspiration they want to share. This month’s guest contributor is Tom Hemingway. Tom Hemingway has explored the outer limits of Latin America from the U.S. to Argentina through many [...]
Inevitable Stereotypes
As a gringo in Colombia, more often than not, you will be asked, “So what did you think of Colombia before you decided to visit?” Being objective, before you make the trip, cocaine cartels and violence will pop into your head to some extent. You may not mention this and opt for a more pl[...]
Let’s Talk About the “G-Word:” Gringo
Here’s my gringo story: I was 18 and I had just arrived in Guatemala to work as a volunteer teacher with Global Vision International. It was my first time living abroad and I barely spoke Spanish. I left my hotel in Antigua to go exploring, and from the window of a house across the street, [..[...]
