Differences between the US and Ecuador/Galapagos

I've recently noticed some things that I take for advantage when I'm in the States.  The US is filled with different luxuries, such as:

1. Standardized butter packaging: Here, butter is not marked with tablespoon increments--it is sold only in a solid block, wrapped in paper, and labelled "mantequilla: 500g". This makes cooking more difficult than it is for me in the US. I'm glad that I have used butter often in the States because I have a good idea of how much a tablespoon is. Margarine is also very popular here, but it is obviously not butter. I have never had problems in a US supermarket when trying to find butter, but it is pretty scarce here.

2. Tap water: Tap water in the US is clear; tap water in the Galapagos is kinda brownish. Tap water in the US is drinkable, even if it might not be the tastiest due to chlorine or other additives. Tap water in Ecuador in general is not consumed due to health concerns. If I go to a restaurant in the US, I don't have to worry about the cleanliness of the water used in the preparation of my food. Additionally, the water supply in the States is seemingly infinite. I try to be conscious of my water use and conserve when I can, but I was never afraid that I would run out of water in the US. In the two months that I've been here, I've already experienced three water outages, one of which lasted for a few days.

3. Internet: In the US, I can access the internet almost anywhere.  Especially now that I have a smartphone, I am constantly connected.  HD videos load almost instantly and I have access to a variety of TV shows and movies online.  Here, internet is a luxury.  Low-quality youtube videos take a while to load, even if no one else is using the internet at the time.  Webpages are generally slow and often take longer than I would have the patience for in the US.

4. Paying with plastic: When I'm in Tacoma, I always carry a credit card with me.  Rarely do I worry about not being able to pay with it or needing to spend a certain amount of money to make a purchase [Libby, however, is a different story--cash is more necessary there than in Tacoma].  In Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, only four stores accept plastic.  I've only found one of them, and you have to spend $12 to make a purchase.

5. Language: Most of the US speaks English. Even though there might be some Southernisms that Montanans might not understand, the concepts can be explained relatively easily. My Spanish skills are improving, but it is often difficult when Ecuadorians don't understand me. I think that I'm communicating decently, but then the other person might have an accent or talk to quickly for me to understand, so I just give up.

6. Health Care: While the US may not be known for the best health care in the world, there are many competent providers that want to help you. Here, the pharmacists don't know what they're doing and do not have the resources to help you. One pharmacist tried to sell me a cream for my sunburn, but couldn't even tell me what the main ingredient did! We also have generally high standards for cleanliness in health care, meaning that health care professionals are aware of germ theory.

I don't bring these things up to complain, but rather to illustrate a point. I never really thought of how many different amenities I have in the US. I'm also pretty sure that I will feel like royalty when I return because I will have so many things that have been absent from my life for four months.  Most of the people reading this probably don't realize how comparatively well-off they are.