Things I Find Chistoso About Ecuador‏

The Lost Generation

In this week's addition of Things I Find Chistoso About Ecuador (We're still working on a theme song but yes it's in the works.) we explore the amazingly legally-illegal DVD and Video Game Market.

So I had a sneaking suspicion as I walked past all the DVD shops here. Why are the cases so funky here? They all look like those super-thin ones that you buy from Wal-mart to replace the ones you lose for Wii Sports. And none of the images seem to fit exactly - did somebody just print off a picture of the cover of the Avengers on plain old printer paper and stick it in there? And how can they be so cheap?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I finally got it confirmed that YES, it's perfectly fine for people here to just make copies of whatever the heck they want and sell them. You just need to have had the original first.

So pretty much all the DVDs are sold for a buck each and are nothing less than boot-legged copies of everything under the sun. Reasons to move to Ecuador. I'm half tempted to buy a cart-load before I leave but I don't know if I'd make it past customs. It's just so tempting to buy entire series of anime here for a few bucks.

It's also funny how anime has penetrated here. And it's pretty big, too. Like about as big as it is in the States, if not bigger. There are anime mascots in every other cabina and I've seen more than one cosplayer in plain daylight. We think that America is the cultural hegemon of the world, but Japan is sneaking in behind us. Be careful. They're coming.

And even funnier to me is the fact that the entire country is stuck in the generation of the PS2. Actually, that's all ANYONE plays. I don't think I've seen a single Gamecube here. Which is surprising, because as we all know, Gamecube won THAT generational fight hands down (We will discuss the others at another, undetermined point in the future.). They actually have PS2s that you can sit there and rent to play. Pay-to-play means something entirely different here. Everyone's favorite games are Resident Evil 4 and GTA: San Andreas. It's hilarious.

And what's MORE...I think that there's actually money to be made here in hacking and making NEW PS2 GAMES. Because that's all anyone has, it seems to me that they just hack together new PS2 games to sell. Or are they actually still making FIFA for the PS2? Because I don't think FIFA 2015 should exist for the PS2. Or is that just me?

Who Are You Here to Find?

On a more serious note, I've been thinking about this. You know, each of us is put here, in the specific place we are, for a reason.  From D&C 100:

 4 Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls.

Maybe there's something that only you can say to only this specific person here. Maybe that one thing will change their lives. I think I may have found some of mine. I just hope I can say what I need to. I want to help. Thankfully, there's a promise to each of us:

 5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

 6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

I've been learning to rely on this a lot. I can't worry about what I'm going to say; I have to rely on a greater power to know. But I'll know. It'll be given to me! And it can to you, too. Maybe you might now know who it is who you need to touch, but just lift up your voice and proclaim the good news. Really, that's all we're asked to do. If you've felt as it says in Alma 5:26 to sing the song of redeeming love...I hope you can feel so now. And I hope you're studying the scriptures and praying daily. It will bring peace and comfort into your life you can't imagine.

I'll try to be a bit more spiritual next time. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

1. So we bought a cake for our English class...but nobody showed up. I ate it in about two days. An excellent waste of $6.

2. See that ridge over there? That's my old sector. I see it all the time. Kinda funny.

3. While waiting for lunch one day it started to rain. Then it started to hail. I took a picture. Then it started to do it REALLY HARD. We never ate lunch. Also I think I forgot my coat in my old sector. (WHAT! Do you like how he just casually mentions this in a photo caption? Oh my goodness. It was his only coat too. Guess he will be wet and cold. AUGH.)