Ecuatoriana

Yesterday, for the first time, I spoke like an Ecuatoriana--without my gringa accent.  We were waiting for class to start at my sister's university (I've starting going with her... I get to practice my calculus and my Spanish), and my sister was swatting at me over some joke.  I yelled "no me toques" (don't touch me), and everyone stopped laughing and stared.  Apparently it sounded like real Spanish, and not my slow, painfully thought out version.  I tried to say the same thing again, but whatever had worked the first time didn't work the second.  I was back to gringa speak.  But, either way, it was a little confidence boost that my Spanish is improving and I am learning to listen to the way that they speak here.  The only other phrase that I've ever said with a non-American accent is "mas o menos" (more or less).  The people on the coast of Ecuador speak very quickly, and usually drop the "s" on the end of words.  Saying something along the lines of "mahomenoh" usually does the trick.  I just have to keep practicing practicing practicing....