Hookahs not Hookers

Listen, pronunciation is key to any language.  It is amazing how one vowel sound or consonant blend can completely change the context of a conversation.  Take last Friday last night for example, Karl and I were making our way to another bar for the evening.  The rest of the volunteers made their rounds to the local favorites so off Karl and I went.  This being an Ecuadorian shuffle we tried to visit a better establishment than the local bump and grind bar that the other volunteers fancied, but it was closed.  As we were making our way back Karl asks me if I wanted to share a "Hoookaah."  It took my brain a moment to register the words that I was hearing.  Did I want to share a hooker with the director of the children´s program?  It only took me a few polite seconds to say "No, I do not want to share a hooker with you."  Now, many people in this situation may have found it bizarre that someone asked you to share a hooker, but in my case it did not. I have been on the planet for many moons and I´ve been asked many preguntas that I would have prefered to have never been asked.  Take this case for example, yes, I would prefer not to share a prostitute.  I know it´s Friday night and maybe that´s scene but this Colorado girl does not roll like that.  I was a little surprised that the option was available since Banos is a small tourist town. I inquired with Karl and asked if there where many hookers in Banos.  As I was waiting for his response I see that we were approaching a Hookah bar.  Click, click, click...now it started adding up.  It´s a hookah not a hooker he wanted to share!!! Phew!  I did explain to him the miscommunication in dialect and we had a good chuckle over it and the volunteers enjoyed hearing the tales too.  Karl and I did wind up sharing a "hookaaah" together after all.  There are many moments that I realize I am far away from home because experiencing bizarre things like this is common particualary in Latin America.  On my way home I listen to the roosters crowing at 12:30 in the morning, or when I am at the local hot springs trying to change into my bathing suite the door gets jammed and I have to crawl up and out of the changing room.  My friends commented that luckily I am active and can just climb out of everything!  Or perhaps when I was trying to Skpe my dear friend and the headphones would fit the head of a small 7 year old child but not a grown person. Then I ask for another headphone and one side of the ear piece hung down around my knee cap and made it really difficult for my friend to hear my voice.  Finally, frustrated at the situation I am waving my broken headphones around trying to have a miracle happen and strangely enough it does!  He whips out a brand new pair of headphones and I am thinking why on earth were you storing them?  Was there a particular occasion that would have warranted the use of them?  HELLO!!!  Bienvenidos to Bizarreville.  I actually enjoy these types of experiences after the fact because it is making up my adventures here in Ecuador.  Looks like I will be pushing onto Peru to help volunteer with a nutrition program for children.  Hope I encounter many hookahs and not hookers there......