I’ve already established that Caraqueños are extremely affectionate people. Well, let me first clear up that I don’t personally have an issue with public displays of affection…actually, yes I do. I think it just always makes me feel as though I’m witnessing something private – like a terrible fight. However, it did get me thinking about how Venezuelans interact in romantic relationships. Every time we hang around a Venezuelan couple and they can’t go more than 2 minutes without kissing, I start wondering if they are more passionate than we are. My husband and I didn’t even act like that when we first got together (mostly because it’s just not my thing), so it amazes me that Venezuelans can keep that going after years together.

I think it’s mostly cultural. We (I’m speaking as a Haitian) don’t need all the affection to validate our feelings for each other, but they might. Even though it can make me uncomfortable, I try to think about how they would feel if they felt they had to refrain from touching each other But seriously, what if they’re on to something? What if the excessive petting leads to a stronger relationship? Well, according to this site, the Venezuelan divorce rate is only around 7% while the US is somewhere between 40-50%. Now, I know there are bunch of other factors at play (e.g. infidelity is highly accepted here), but it does make you go “hmmm”.

So, I’ve thought long and hard about this and have come to the conclusion that aside from holding hands and the occasional smooch, I don’t think my husband and I will incorporate incessant public displays of affection into our marriage any time soon. Hey, it works for us

Just about every expat blogger has a “Top (fill in the number) Technologies that I Can’t Live Without” list. This is mine:

1) MagicJack: I never made the leap into VoIP while I was in the States even though people kept telling me that it could save me so much money. Having a US number where friends and family can reach us has been very convenient – definitely worth the $19.95 per year. Having the MagicJack was also extremely helpful after the earthquake when everyone was scrambling to get in touch.

2) BlackBerry Messenger: BlackBerry phones are HUGE here in Venezuela. At first I couldn’t understand the obsession, then I was introduced to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). Your PIN allows to you to chat and send pictures at any time with anyone else using a BlackBerry for free in real time and it’s simply fantastic!

3) Kindle: As an avid reader, I don’t know how I would survive without my Kindle. Even though Amazon has pissed me off with the price slashing, etc., this little machine is tops. I have access to over 1 million books at any time. For me, that’s pure bliss.

I think access to the internet goes without saying, so I’m not going to list it as a separate item. What’s great though, when the internet is down (which is more frequent than the States), I can use my BBM to let my peeps know. I can also check e-mail and surf the web on an albeit little screen. So, my list is pretty short but what can I say, I’m a simple gal.