Being an ExPat - What it is Like to Live in Ecuador: June 2016

The stars represent app users who felt an aftershock

Yes, I have been neglecting the blog for a time and I feel pretty bad about it. Things have been tough here for awhile now and it felt too much like a chore, this writing thing. Perhaps I'm not being honest with you or myself if I do not fess up to what is probably a bit of depression. There is still fear here and things are not back to normal. They are not going to be for some time. It is not that things are bad for us. Not nearly as bad as they are for others anyway. It is however, very hard for us to exist through a disaster and the aftermath especially considering our lack of language skills.

In Florida we had the tropical systems just like most of the Eastern Seaboard. There is always stress during the season as this storm or that meanders through the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico. You have days to prepare.

As a matter of fact Florida is being warned about one now. It is not even a storm yet. That preparation causes stress too and generally, nothing ever comes of it. One year we had three storms affect Jacksonville back to back. This feels a little like that felt. It is magnified by the surprise of terramotos; the lack of warning. For us specifically it is magnified further because our family is so far away.

Rebuilding takes time

It is impossible to feel "normal". We lost our city, Portoviejo which was a part of our routine. Going to the markets and learning so much while there is really non-existent for us right now. We can't get a lot of what we used to get from Portoviejo grocery stores. So I guess we are now on a different learning curve.

We are in the winter months here which also means a lot of wind. This is fantastic weather time where we need no air conditioning.

The wind makes noise though. Sometimes when it rattles doors and windows I wake up thinking it is another aftershock. Sometimes a car starting or a truck/bus simply driving by will put me on edge. I do not know how many times I've looked at my wife or she at me asking, "Is it another one?".

A Crucita hotel has structural damage resulting in a red tag

Then there are the dreams. Again, not horrifyingly destructive but each one takes a toll. Sometimes sleep won't come. I keep expecting another tremor or worse. I dream about terramotos a few times a week now. This is less than before indicating healing has begun but it is tougher than I ever imagined. Sometimes I feel tremors even though there weren't any. My wife is in the same boat. So is everyone else.

Of course that includes the healing.

So. It is time to get over the not writing thing. Hopefully it will be somewhat cathartic. I think it was just after the event. I hope it will be now too.

Crucita is also healing. The Government is here, inspecting buildings and designating them as unsafe to occupy, can be occupied but requiring work, or safe to occupy. Red, yellow, and green. As the buildings are inspected the corresponding sticker is placed on it with the official designation. It is very good to see them working on it but also sad. There are quite a few buildings here with red tags. That means businesses that can't function and families without homes.

A Crucita restaurant with a green tag

For the latter, large tents have been erected in the the town square and other areas. They were sent by the Chinese and are getting a lot of use. For the former there is not much which can be done. Many of the businesses are also the owner's homes adding insult to injury. No one is sitting on their hands though. They are making their way however they can.

The businesses that survived and there are many, are making money.

They are the only places to purchase everyday living necessities right now. There has been no price gouging at all. In fact when getting cash was so hard, prices were lowered by the vendors on the spot. The people who need help most are getting it. The people who can give help are giving it.

Workers gather for prayer on the Malecon prior to beginning inspections

The terramoto seems to have left the domestic dogs and cats just as they were before. Our cats do not even flinch anymore when the aftershocks do come. We can not get cat litter here so beach sand is our thing now. Not fun I can tell you. Also, cat food is not easy to find. I never thought this could be a problem here but cats can not survive on tuna or even fresh fish alone. You might be surprised to know that they prefer nasty dried food to fresh fish off the boat.

We make them their own special food and pepper it with the dry when we can get it.

We have bottled water again and that in and of itself is a morale booster. There are good days and bad when it comes to our morale. We are scared and I am glad my wife and I have each other. Being alone in this would be insufferable. Hopefully we will soon be at the point where there is more good than bad. I say that not just for my wife and I, but for everyone in Ecuador. For all of us it is another beginning. Chao!

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©2016 TJ & Tamera Overman, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ReUse by permission only.

Being an ExPat - What it is Like to Live in Ecuador

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Sunday, June 5, 2016

भारत में आपका स्वागत है ! हम निश्चित रूप से आप आनंद उम्मीद है।

Healing - Yet Another Begining