Monday, Nov 7, 2016
I went to see about getting my phone fixed today. I found him recommended through GringoPost. I got an email from him telling me his store hours, basically all day except between 1 and 2 pm.
When I put his shop address in google maps it pinned it at the intersection of Gran Columbia and Unidad Nacional. We are in El Centro at Tostao’s having coffee, so we need to get a taxi and head over there. The taxi let us out at the intersection of these two streets, where google maps pinned the business.
The name of this guy’s business is SmartRepair, and we looked everywhere around here for it. After asking for some help we discovered we were off by 12 blocks along Gran Columbia. Google maps pinned it very wrong.
Getting in another taxi we were dropped off at the business. We were actually within walking distance of it from Tostao’s . Uuugh! I need to develop a better feel for El Centro.
When we went to his business he wasn’t there. I tried calling him, no answer. I emailed him, and also Whatsapp’d him. Nothing. We hung around El Centro for another hour but no reply back.
Businesses not being open during stated business hours is common here. It’s not like a 50-50 chance of them being open, they usually are. It does happen frequently enough though that it isn’t surprising when they aren’t open.
I think since most businesses are owner operated, small mom and pop types, when something comes up that requires them to leave their store, they just do it. This is a very different mindset on operating a business than what I am used to in the US.
Heidi and I have owned our own brick and mortar business in the states. Not being open during posted hours will kill your traffic, and eventually kill your business. In this case I am going to have to try again tomorrow because I don’t have another option right now.
Wireless Phone Charger
The only thing that has “saved” me with my phone problem is the wireless charger I have that doesn’t use the phone port. Heidi had enough foresight to throw this charger in our electronics bag when we moved here. Sometimes I am very lucky with the “things” she likes to have. 🙂
Chau.
Life in Ecuador exhausts me! Oh, I don’t live there! Hopefully, I will develop more patience just by reading your posts! Sheesh…????
Lol Jean. Life in Ecuador is just different than life in the US. I’m the first one to admit I have to deal with “my” expectations everyday. I’m learning to chill-out more about things I cannot control. Because of how things get done here, I don’t have the pressure I used to feel living in the states to make everything go in a way I need it to, when I need it to. Ecuador has afforded me more space to just live in the experience I am having. I like that. Thanks for reading Jean. 🙂