About GringoJeff

Status:

Expatriate  

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Ecuador Welcome Forum: Cuenca Drum Circle!:

For those who like to tap out a rhythm or shake a string of goat-nails, or play any kind of percussion instrument, Cuenca has a recently founded drum circle. See this Facebook page or email me directly for information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CuencaDrumming/ Certain other types of compatible instruments are welcome (e.g. flute, didgeridoo, etc.) as long as you can make it work with what is primarily a drumming group (djembes, congas, bongos, cajones, shakers, etc). If you simply want to come check it out, you can either watch and listen, dance to the beat, or try out an extra drum, simply show up. There is no charge to be part of this group, but depending on the location there may be a request for a small donation (whatever you can afford). Nobody will be watching or counting, so everyone should feel free to come. This is not just a a gringo function - Cuencanos and other Ecuadorian neighbors are most welcome. ----------------------- Para aquellos que les gusta tocar un ritmo o agitar una cadena de cabra-puntas, o tocar cualquier tipo de instrumento de percusión, Cuenca tiene un grupo de tambores de reciente fundación. Ver esta página en Facebook o por correo electrónico directamente me para obtener información: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CuencaDrumming/ Algunos otros tipos de instrumentos compatibles son bienvenidas (por ejemplo, la flauta, didgeridoo, etc), siempre y cuando usted puede hacerlo funcionar con lo que es ante todo un grupo de percusión (djembes, congas, bongos, Cajones, agitadores, etc.) Si simplemente quieres venir a echar un vistazo, puede ver y escuchar, bailar al ritmo, o probar un tambor extra, simplemente aparecer. No hay ningún cargo para formar parte de este grupo, pero dependiendo de la ubicación, puede haber una solicitud de una pequeña donación (lo que puede pagar). Nadie estará observando o contar, así que cada uno debe sentirse libre de venir. Esto no es sólo aa función gringo - Cuencanos y otros vecinos ecuatorianos son muy bienvenidos.

Ecuador: Coming back to Quito with an iMac:

As far as I know, you can bring two computers into the country--one old and one new. There are limits on the number of external memory devices you can bring in... 5, I think, but exactly what items they count and which they don't, I've never been able to figure out. Hard drives? USB drives? SD cards... no idea which of those they count. I came through Guayaquil and they barely glanced at my electronics. The only thing I'd' recommend (and it's only a precaution), but I'd remove any price tags and consider removing the laptop from its original packaging material. And only for the reason that nobody will then know that it's new, and that may help defray questions about potentially re-selling it here.

Ecuador Welcome Forum: what to do about cell phones.:

The post about Sprint Phones being worthless here is only partly correct. If you have a smart phone, AND if you purchased and signed up for a Magic Jack before you left the US/Canada, you can still use every feature of your Sprint smart phone that only requires WIFI. I can sit down in El Centro at the Coffee Tree, log into their WIFI, and call my friends and family back in the US as if I were still at the US address where I first registered my Magic Jack. Oh, I should say that it's a Magic Jack "plus" that you really want and need, and that they do have an app for, I believe, any smart phone. Keep in mind that there's WIFI all over Ecuador, so that means you can still call US and Canada for free (and they, you, unless they have domestic long-distance charges to call your registered number). For all intents and purposes, calls to and from my number are associated with a New Mexico phone number. Or you can choose your area code when you register your Magic Jack, so if most of your family lives in Vermont, use their area code when you get your phone number. Or have your existing home/cell number ported to Magic Jack. At home, then, the Magic Jack plus only needs to be plugged into a router (not your PC) so all you need is internet service, a standard house phone to plug into the magic jack, and an electrical outlet (if you use the router option for the MJ). Back to the whole Sprint thing, I canceled my service with them... and I planned on keeping my Samsung Galaxy S3.... but they wanted it back... unless I paid off my two-year contract balance. Why? Because when you buy a phone to work with a given provider, you are usually buying at carrier-subsidized prices. The phones would cost much more if purchased apart from a cell phone plan in-place. But I figured all the WIFI features -- especially the Magic Jack app -- makes it worth $150 to keep it and use it down here. The alternative is to see if you can buy a working smart phone (any carrier, I would guess), buy and register your Magic Jack ***IN the US or Canada*** install the wifi app for Magic Jack, and you'll have the means to make/receive all the calls you want for about $30 per year...and you're NOT tied to a PC, like you are with Skype. Okay, thems my 2 centavos.

Ecuador: What's the best VPN program for watching Netflix, Hulu, BBC:

So far I've not seen a response that states that they are specifically able to access HULU with their VPN. Any recent success on that front? I have ExpressVPN, but the configuration on my PC still causes problems with HULU. FREE EXTENSION for Chrome or Firefox: I've seen hola mentioned, but I've been using one that's rated much higher by users, and you can install it in about 10 seconds from the Chrome app/extension store. It's called BROWSEC, and it works perfectly with Pandora and Netflix. Not with HULU or BBC. But if you want a temporary freebie, I'd definitely check out Browsec. VOIP Phone Calls: No VPN required. If you have Magic Jack, (I do), Vonage, Skype, etc., you only need to use the interface / hardware for those services and connect through your internet service. Again, no VPN is required.

Ecuador: Best Pain medication available?:

I take narcotics for migraines, but I understand they aren't prescribed in Ecuador. Can anyone tell me the strongest pain medication that IS available in Ecuador? Also, is klonopin (clonazapam) available?

Date Joined:

1/4/2014

Total Posts:

15

Posts/Day:

0.01