This and That About Ecuador

I have read, observed, and been told about some interesting, amusing, fascinating and odd facts about Ecuador over the last few weeks. Here is a sampling:

Agriculture/ Farming

• There are 500 varieties of potatoes
• Guinea pigs, which are a staple, live inside people's houses in the country. How the guinea pigs react to a person i.e. if they stay calm or squeel, in indicates if the person has good or bad energy.
• Quinoa is five times the price of rice, making it beyond the means of many
• All the produce you find in the markets is organic
• There are four varieties of bananas

Social Framework

• Healthcare is free
• Education is free
• Daycare is free
• People who require assistance -- welfare -- are not given money but the services
• In Cuenca, there are daily free Zumba (or other dance or exercise classes) for all

Culture

• Ecuadorians are descendants of the Caribbean peopke
• Quechua, an indigenous language, is the second language taught in school
• Panama hats did not originate in Panama -- they are a product of Ecuador, made from the fronds of the toquilla palm, grown only in Ecuador

Exports

• Oil
• Shrimp
• Bananas
• Roses

Miscellaneous 

• The currency is the US dollar
• The voltage is 120v, the same as in Canada -- unlike other South American countries