That's interesting - you'd never told me that things were that difficult for you when you first moved to Ecuador. This also better explains our very different responses to the street dogs.

The larger issue, though, is one I struggle with - as you know. How do deal with my thrice-accursed INFJ emotions? I've gotten better at putting on a Stoic face - but it only goes so far. There doesn't seem to really be any great way to deal with the damned things; repressing them doesn't work, they won't be ignored, and one can only get so much distance from them. If you do figure it out, let me know.