So I have been wanting and slowly studying to obtain my Ecuadorian driver’s license. Of course, the written exam is in Spanish. In the middle of August a set of at least 65 changes included in the reforms of the Organic Law on Traffic, Land Transportation, and Road Safety (LOTTSV), came into effect. But the one that is important for many ex-pats including me is that Ecuadorians residing abroad and foreigners may drive within the national territory using their driver’s licenses or driving permits issued in their country of residence. All I can think to say is whew and yippee!
I do not think Bill is thrilled with the aspect of me driving. But it will be nice to know if I need to drive I can do so legally. So what if I have trouble parallel parking which is the norm in Cotacachi and most of Ecuador? Our car is a stick shift which the Ecuadorians favor versus an automatic. Well, I drove my little red Volkswagen turbo stick shift for 5 years in Texas! The Ecuadorians drive either very aggressively or pass other cars without regard to what is in the oncoming lane. Or they drive like “Miss Daisy” all the while other drivers are honking their horns. You actually have to learn how to drive like an Ecuadorian which Billy Boy has mastered. But for me, it will be nice to just drive in town without always asking Bill to take me places.
Watch for my next blog which will answer the question of travelers about what to bring to wear in Ecuador.
Yes, Karen some folks living in San Miguel Homes & Gardens in little Cotacachi, Ecuador might tell prospective property buyers that it is not a legit HOA. However, the city has declared in writing that we are indeed recognized as an HOA and required to follow the Ecuadorian Horizontal Property Law. Makes sense to me if you live inside the walls of a gated community that you are responsible for paying your fair share to keep the community safe and beautiful. When in doubt you should check out the facts with the Cotacachi City Attorney, not just a private local attorney.
I never understood the term Ugly Americanuntil my experience in Ecuador. So you might think to live in Ecuador you might worry about the Ecuadorians, Columbians, or Venezuelans. So far the only folks we have had to worry with are the Ugly Americansthat are rude and bring their US attitude of entitlement packed in their luggage. We moved to Ecuador primarily because it is a county where we could actually live well on our retirement plus the wonderful weather and Andean’s Mountain beauty. What we did not count on was that other folks did the same but from a different class of people. Now that sounds snobby doesn’t it but I think people have a civic responsibility to treat others with kindness, and respect and pay their bills. I am no longer the President of San Miguel Homes & GardensHOAsimply because I could not take the abuse from the terrible emails sent to me by my neighbors. Society has lost the art of verbal communication and only can respond to others in a one-sided email devoid of body language and tone. I worked too many years in healthcare with bosses from “hell” to put up hateful nonsense. We are simply guests in this beautiful county. Enough said since I make an effort to keep my blogs upbeat so thank you for indulging me in this simple rant about my fellow Americans.
FedEx CEO Fred Smith told Fox Newsthat Huawei shipping errors were emblematic of an ongoing problem, with export controls creating “confusing situations” that tarnish the company’s reputation. Well, they are tarnishing their very own FedEx reputation when they lose their customer’s boxes and sell the contents at one of their 3 auction warehouses. Why would a business leader have to resort to such a despicable business practice to increase the company’s bottom line?
The maximum amount you will be reimbursed without insurance for a lost box is $100 without any type of discussion even if you provide receipts verifying value. It has been reported to me by a reader that they had insurance on valuable Thomas Kinkade Art that was destroyed by FedEx shipping and even with insurance they were never reimbursed for the loss. So, if any of your items are lost or damaged by FedEx expect a battle with a 1,000-pound gorilla. Wonder who will win?
Delivery company FedEx has sued the US Department of Commerce for requiring it to enforce export bans with extra screening efforts. In a statement, FedEx complained of an unfair and “impossible burden” of liability. “FedEx is a transportation company, not a law enforcement agency,” it says. The suit comes a few days after FedEx mistakenly refused to ship a Huawei phone because of potential legal issues.
FedEx’s complaint says the current Export Administration Regulations violate FedEx’s Fifth Amendment rights. “The language of the EAR imposes a constitutionally unsupportable choice for FedEx,” it says, claiming that FedEx has to either risk legal penalties or refuse to ship any package that seems even slightly risky.
FedEx CEO Fred Smith told Fox Newsthat Huawei shipping errors were emblematic of an ongoing problem, with export controls creating “confusing situations” that tarnish the company’s reputation.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross took issue with FedEx’s interpretation of the law. The regulation, he said, only meant that carriers like FedEx “cannot knowingly ship items” that are banned by export controls. “It does not require a common carrier to be a policeman or to know what’s in every package,” he told Fox.
FedEx has been accused of violating export controls before, though. The Department of Commerce fined it for shipping packages to a banned recipient between 2011 and 2012, saying FedEx “knew or should have known” its screening system missed slight variations of the company name. FedEx settled last year for more than $500,000. Conversely, the Chinese government recently said it’s investigating FedEx for misrouting some Huawei parcels, so erring on the side of caution can cause its own problems.
The government has placed several restrictions on US companies dealing with Huawei, partly because of an ongoing trade war with China and partly because of unclear security threats. There’s no blanket ban on transporting Huawei products, but FedEx argues that under the current regulations, its employees are likely to make mistakes in the name of avoiding legal trouble.
Readers you might get weary of my monthly articles concerning FedEx but I consider it my mission to help others avoid mishaps with FedEx.
