Chinese immigrants in Ecuador

The driver who took us from Baños to Ambato today pointed out the best chifa in town.  We had a decent meal there of wontons, noodles, chicken and vegetables.  The food tasted exactly how I imagine my mom's cooking would be if she were working with Ecuadorian ingredients.  It wasn't as fancy as the food at the Happy Panda in Quito, but it was more homey and authentic.

Happy to see Chinese people in Ecuador, I struck up a conversation with the owners, a young couple who immigrated here from China 10 years ago.  I loved that, when asked what vegetarian dishes she recommended, the woman blurted out, "none!"  By way of explanation, she sheepishly said there are no good vegetables here for Chinese food -- just onions and cabbages.  

We had a funny mish-mosh conversation,  mostly in Chinese, sprinkled with Spanish, further complicated when Neil decided to try out his Chinese too.  It was sobering to hear about their life.  In 10 years since immigrating to Ecuador, she and her husband haven't had a day off, let alone a vacation.  The mom runs the front of the house, and her husband cooks.  They have no one trustworthy to run the place in their place.  And they have to be open 7 days a week to survive.  Like so many immigrants, the woman told me she just hopes her daughter studies hard so she can have a better, easier life.  It's like they're striving for the American dream, but sadly, they're in Ambato -- the 4th largest city in Ecuador.