Incorrect Assumptions

Electronics
Before we got here, we didn´t really expect anything special from our host family electronics wise. I think we were hoping that they would have a washing machine and in best best case senario we would have a computer with slow dial up internet. In reality, there are two computers here with I think is wireless internet that (when it works) seems pretty fast. Everyone seems to basically have the common luxuries that we American´s are use to. Everyone has cell phones and home computer or personal laptops. I shouldn´t have been so afraid to bring my own cell phone or Yoni´s older laptop that we could have at the very least left in our rooms and used when we were home.

Security
Security is high, there are gates everywhere, with keys or codes, there are high brick walls or fences everywhere, and not like the dinky chain link fenses that we use to keep dogs in, but like exterior walls, made of cememnt with crushed beer bottles (with the sharp end up) cememted into the top of the walls. There are locks on all bedroom doors in our house, and it feels very safe to keep valuables in my room, no problem. The family can be trusted and the house is very safe becuase of the security precautions.

Prices
Things are super super expensive here. We were told things would be very cheap here, but in reality because of import tax clothing and most others items are priced similarily or more expensive than the USA. Shoes are particularily expensive, because how I understand it, the was a bill passed that would encourage production of Ecuadorian shoes, and that all imports would be very very highly taxed, but since there are not enough resources here to produced lots of Ecuadorian made shoes, most of the shoes are from the United States (through sweat shops in Asia of course) and cost a ridiculously high amount.

On Gaurd
My assumption had been that I would always have to wear my geaky traveler money belt under my shirt where ever I went, and that I would have no choice but to keep things under my cloths opposed to in a purse or pocket. I carry a hand bag almost every where I go, there isn´t a big issue, Yoni carries his wallet in his pocket. I have never been a pick pocket attempt and have never seen anything like it happen. I assume that it does probably late at night when it´s more dangerous to be out or on crowded busses etc. But if you use common sense then most things work out. Our host family lives in the poorer and more dangerous South Quito, but if you are smart about what you do, you don´t have to be over cautious with your money or other personal items.

There are probably some other assumptions that I left out, but for now hopefully this will give you some advice when traveling to developing countries. Be smart, but there really is not that same need to be OVER cautious.