Jeff Van Pelt
Articles by Jeff Van Pelt :
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You have to be joking!
By Jeff Van Pelt “I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most – to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s… -
Firsthand accounts of the situation in Venezuela
By Jeff Van Pelt On February 24, my wife and I attended a very moving presentation at Fishbon del Sur, given by a panel of 3 Venezuelan refugees, one a… -
Rebels, respect and the lack thereof
I was a rebel in high school. The year was 1970 and Virginia Beach had largely avoided the upheavals of the 1960s, but we were making up for lost time.… -
Faux Pas, Bloopers, and other embarrassing moments in Spanish
So, pene means penis in Spanish. Hold that in mind. I was volunteering for English conversation groups at a local university. The two young female students I was talking to… -
How will you like living in Ecuador … after two years? Some advice for expat wannabes
By Jeff Van Pelt Are you thinking about moving to Ecuador? If so, it might be wise to ask why approximately 50% of expats who move here eventually return to… -
‘Ecuadogs’: Navigating the canine gauntlet
By Jeff Van Pelt One of the cultural differences first noticed by gringo expats upon arrival in Ecuador is the myriad dogs running loose, or sleeping, in the streets. In… -
When communicating with someone in a second language, speak to be understood
By Jeff Van Pelt, Ed.D. If you are learning either Spanish or English as a second language, you have probably had the experience of “I am reading and writing it…