Fiesta de San Pedro

When possible, we get out of town every weekend.  This weekend was filled with serendipity.  We went to Ayangue for scuba diving in the Pacific, our first time diving in that ocean.  Following the dive, we were famished.  New scuba diving friends had recommended the fresh lobster at Panchita's on the beach.  Delightful!  Inexpensive lobster tails in butter with all the trimmings.  World Cup game on TV in the corner of the beach shack.  Finished eating and our new friends invited us to take part in festivities celebrating Ayangue's patron saint, San Pedro.  In the center of this little fishing village, there was a brass band, dancers, and statues of St. Peter dressed as a sailor (being "fishers of men" Mateo 4:18-19), the fiesta queens, and an ocean-bound boat parade to the village of San Pedro just up the coast.  We ate it all up, boating with a professional fisherman and his family. Circumnavigated an island filled with thousands of pelicans and gulls.  More dancing and music at San Pedro, then back to the Ayangue beach for relaxation and a late afternoon trip home.  Great memories of the local fiesta and new friends!

Shelly enjoying Panchita's lobster!

With St. Peter on my right and the fiesta queens on my left;
a great day in the village!

The fisherman goes 10 miles out to sea at 5pm every night,
returning with his catch in these nets at 3 am.

Fisherman Jose and family

Pelicans and gulls on the Bird Island

Taking San Pedro for a cruise

American Passengers

Fun taking pictures of the American Passengers

All boats were decorated

New scuba and fiesta friend Carlos

  

The Washington Pigskins

I have been saying for years that the name of my favorite NFL team is offensive and disparaging to Native Americans.  Am delighted to see that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has once again canceled the team's trademark in this odious name.  It is long past time for a new team name.

My personal quest for years has been that the NFL adopt a very appropriate monicker:  one that is appropriate for the city that doles out the "pork" to the rest of the country, one that reflects the age-old name for a football, and one that adds a touch of fun and whimsy to a legendary franchise:  The Washington Pigskins.

What do you think?  Even if the team owner Daniel Snyder won't agree to change the name, the public and the media can just start calling the team the "Pigskins".  Let's choose not to be part of this ethnic slur any longer. Let's re-name the team ourselves.  From now on, we call that team the Washington Pigskins.

Other Duties as Assigned

These days, Shelly and I are spending most of our work time on the front lines of United States immigration law and policy.  We work as part of a large team of professionals in consulates and embassies all over the world administering the laws concerning immigration and visas.  Once in a while, though, we get to help out in other areas of the U.S. mission overseas, which we are glad to do.  We sometimes represent the U.S. at diplomatic functions, meetings or celebrations.  We have helped with training sessions and college fairs.  Other times, we help host traveling officials and trade missions from the U.S.  Today, I had the opportunity to welcome our boss, the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, Adam Namm, and escort he and his wife through downtown Guayaquil.  It was a pleasure and an honor to do that, and to spend time with great public servants.  We are really enjoying our time here in South America!

U.S. Ambassador Adam E. Namm

Where Have All the Dollars Gone?

After major economic upheavals in the 1999-2000 time period, Ecuador decided to switch its national currency from the Sucre to the United States Dollar.  Today, fourteen years later, Ecuador's economy is fueled by, and pockets are filled by, the likes of Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, Jackson, and Sacagawea.  Sacagawea???  Click here for information about this American hero.

If you ever wondered whatever happened to the Sacagawea dollar coin, then wonder no more. Seems they have all moved to Ecuador, and are doing very well in circulation here.  There seem to be massive numbers of these coins in regular commerce, and they wear out much less frequently than the $1 George Washington banknotes (5-6 years for bills, decades for coins).  It is so handy to hand over a coin when the item costs a dollar, or when the item in the vending machine costs a buck.

Other currencies have done the same thing with their lowest denominations---turn them into coins.  The smallest Euro paper currency is a 5, and other currencies are similar.

Makes me wonder if the USA shouldn't gradually abandon its love of the $1 bill and start using a beautiful coin, just as this small South American country has done.  A recent study says the USA would save over $4 billion over the next 30 years by switching to the dollar coin.  There could be other benefits, as we are seeing here.  The next study might take a look at how well the Sacagawea dollar is working in Ecuador . . . it may conclude that the Sacagawea dollar can work very well in the country it was "mint" for . . . the USA.

Otavalo: Ecuador's Famous Saturday Market

We spent a couple days working with our colleagues at the Embassy in Quito, then headed for the (higher) Andes to the traditional town of Otavalo for the weekend.  Top on our list was to experience the world famous Otavalo Saturday Market, well known for its textiles and fine weaving, but equally known for the presence of many traditional inhabitants of the region in their native clothing.  There is also an animal market selling every conceivable critter from guinea pigs to cows and llamas.  We were thrilled to be a part of such a unique experience.  Here are a few of our shots of the market and surrounding areas.