This is about the not-so-obvious benefits of having Victor Ojeda help facilitate your driver’s license application or renewal, among many other things.
For seven and a half years, Victor has been my go-to secret for making life easier in Cuenca. He has helped me find things, buy things, file things, apply for things, schedule things, interpret things, plus drive me wherever and serve as translator.
But he just helped me renew my auto and motorcycle driver’s licenses, and it made me aware of the not-so-obvious benefits of having him on “my team”:
1. He has accumulated and stored all manner of vital information about me in his cell phone. So, when we’re going through any kind of bureaucratic process, he quickly answers everybody’s requests for information so I don’t have to. Usually, all I have to do is sign the required paperwork.
2. Between the language challenge, lack of knowledge about how things work, and the frustrations over seemingly senseless requirements, expats can be quite challenging for Ecuadorians to work with. But most Ecuadorian “processors” are very familiar with Victor, because he shows up almost every week with one or more expat clients he is working with. Since he helps avoid all of the above issues, Ecuadorians love to “see him coming.” He makes their lives so much easier. They regard him as a friend, so when he needs their help, you can see them “snap to” and readily get things done. I’ve seen it happen so many times, it’s very obvious to me now. It avoids so much frustration and saves so much time and “running around.”
3. Victor saves me time and money. First, because of our close working relationship, I often give him money to pay for third-party services and he dives in on his own and gets things done for me without my even having to leave home. Plus, because things are done right the first time, I’ve avoided all manner of “expensive lessons”, including “Gringo pricing.”
4. Victor helps me remember things. When we have to schedule things in advance (available appointments for the driver’s license exam were nearly three months out), he reminds me of the coming appointment and what I need to bring with me (like my original Cedula, not a copy). And in the case of the driver’s license, he obtained – well in advance – the latest printed study guide for me as well as provided me the URL and directions for using online study guides.
I can’t imagine trying to “do life” in Cuenca without Victor as my aide. Whether you need a little or a lot of help on any given thing, he’s a valuable and very affordable resource to have.
If you have any questions, let me know by email.
Address: Not applicable
Contact information: victorh0613@yahoo.com 098 731 3565
Recommended by Terry Dean Roberts: terrydeanroberts@gmail.com
