A Shift in Expectations

When we first arrived in Ecuador, we were warned that there would be similarities to our own culture, as well as differences so vast that they boggle the mind. Luckily, I was raised by parents who toted my sister and myself along in their vast wanderings across the globe, so to me, parts of this new world almost seem a little farcical. For example:

It's strange to be wandering through a mid-size city in a south American country, and suddenly to hear the music of an ice cream truck break through the bustle and shouts of the every day.

It's even stranger, and endlessly delightful, to discover that there are in fact no ice cream trucks here - no, that music emanates from the trucks with tanks of water or gasoline driving around.

I'm unsure of why this being the norm fascinates me so - it makes complete sense for this to be the natural order of things here. Not many people have their own cars, tap water is generally non-potable, gas is used for cooking and heating, and both types of tanks are incredibly heavy.
It's a genius idea, really - but considering that my subconscious expectation of music flowing from a truck means excessive goodies just shifts this fact into the realm of hopelessly strange.

After learning about this truck and music combination, I've started noticing it everywhere I go. And it continues to make me grin and appreciate those little absurdities in my everyday life.