Leo hung around the skate park while he wasn't selling sweets in and around the park. He's a real hustler. We'd make small talk a lot and he'd do laps on my bike around the transition section of the skate park. Sometimes he would send tricks with out much thought or consideration for his well being. Ya gotta respect the confidence. One time he took a hard fall on my bike so we walked across the street so I could get him something to drink. I tried to pay in card and it caused suspicion in the cashier. She asked where the card is from the which I replied the "the US". She looked at me, then the card, then at Leo. Then Leo said "I know he doesn't look like it but he's American". I carried cash after that. Leo is from the coast of Ecuador and has an accent that was tough from me to follow at times. I appreciated his patience for me. I always felt like I was asking him to repeat stuff and sometimes I felt rude doing it but he's a nice guy.
One day I took a break from working on the code for this website and went fro a walk in the afternoon. I stopped by the park and saw Leo so we started chatting. A few minutes went by and a pair of Quito's finest approached us and asked us what we have. I told them what I had: my phone and headphones. They asked some questions and then frisked us both. One of them said dedos juntos while forcing my hands above my head and then said pulgares tambien while tapping my thumbs. Until then, I didn't know the distinction could be made that way between the different fingers. Thanks officer. They left us alone after. Something silly seemed to happen often at that skate park. I just added this one to the list. Traveling is wonderful for the stories you pick up along the way. On one of the lighter days I snapped a photo of the dudes messing around with a soccer ball when it came around to Leo.
I did one last lap around Parque Carolina the day before my flight out of Ecuador just to take it in and maybe say goodbye to anyone. I had broken my hand and needed to fly home for surgery. When I walked up to the skate park I saw my dude with his hoop of caramel candy sitting on a ledge. I told him what happened, that I was leaving, and explained to him that I was making this website to write about all the experiences I had learning Spanish or language in general. I told him I needed his picture because I wanted to write about him. He said sure and I stuck my iPhone in his face with my one good hand (lol). I talked to Leo just about every time I was there and likely have spoken with him just as much as I've spoken with anyone from Ecuador in the time I lived there. He's a good guy and I hope to see him again. I cant say he taught me a specific word, phrase, or colloquialism, but he did speak to me and that allowed me to get comfortable doing just that in my target language. For that I'm grateful.
freddydrew
commented
11 months ago
Leo hung around the skate park while he wasn't selling sweets in and around the park. He's a real hustler. We'd make small talk a lot and he'd do laps on my bike around the transition section of the skate park. Sometimes he would send tricks with out much thought or consideration for his well being. Ya gotta respect the confidence. One time he took a hard fall on my bike so we walked across the street so I could get him something to drink. I tried to pay in card and it caused suspicion in the cashier. She asked where the card is from the which I replied the "the US". She looked at me, then the card, then at Leo. Then Leo said "I know he doesn't look like it but he's American". I carried cash after that. Leo is from the coast of Ecuador and has an accent that was tough from me to follow at times. I appreciated his patience for me. I always felt like I was asking him to repeat stuff and sometimes I felt rude doing it but he's a nice guy.
One day I took a break from working on the code for this website and went fro a walk in the afternoon. I stopped by the park and saw Leo so we started chatting. A few minutes went by and a pair of Quito's finest approached us and asked us what we have. I told them what I had: my phone and headphones. They asked some questions and then frisked us both. One of them said dedos juntos while forcing my hands above my head and then said pulgares tambien while tapping my thumbs. Until then, I didn't know the distinction could be made that way between the different fingers. Thanks officer. They left us alone after. Something silly seemed to happen often at that skate park. I just added this one to the list. Traveling is wonderful for the stories you pick up along the way. On one of the lighter days I snapped a photo of the dudes messing around with a soccer ball when it came around to Leo.
I did one last lap around Parque Carolina the day before my flight out of Ecuador just to take it in and maybe say goodbye to anyone. I had broken my hand and needed to fly home for surgery. When I walked up to the skate park I saw my dude with his hoop of caramel candy sitting on a ledge. I told him what happened, that I was leaving, and explained to him that I was making this website to write about all the experiences I had learning Spanish or language in general. I told him I needed his picture because I wanted to write about him. He said sure and I stuck my iPhone in his face with my one good hand (lol). I talked to Leo just about every time I was there and likely have spoken with him just as much as I've spoken with anyone from Ecuador in the time I lived there. He's a good guy and I hope to see him again. I cant say he taught me a specific word, phrase, or colloquialism, but he did speak to me and that allowed me to get comfortable doing just that in my target language. For that I'm grateful.