Please be armed. R.I.P. God is in charge people. Please behave and live. Do not return and check into a Mexican Airbnb. Check in with Mexican consulate in the USA. Get a passport. Open Charles Schwab debit card to avoid ATM fees.
Sorry but I can't see the discount code anywhere. I looked in the drop down video description box as well. I must have a mental blind spot blocking me from seeing it. Or is this discount only for patreons?
LOL I lived abroad for 22 years and had a grandkid stateside, I would cry after FaceTime and wanted to give him a big hug. So, I picked up my life, my business and moved back started a new career, got all settled and the family with the grandkid decided to move to another state. dang. So live your own life, love when you can, visit as often as your can but the kiddos will not stop their life because you are around. lesson learned. sigh...now I am here, alone literally. what to do not? I have the bug and moving back has been very difficult. being older, it is more difficult to pick up, start over and move abroad again...of course...alone, also makes it more difficult. so guys be aware!
I have duel citizenship, I love both Ecuador and USA, despite all things, I love and I’m grateful to both countries. Thanks Amelia and JP, you had me at the beginning 😅.
I took Spanish in high school and college, and figured out why they speak so fast. The typical Spanish word is a couple of syllables longer than its English counterpart. Example: desk (1) and escritorio (5). There are a million more, but the more I studied Spanish, the more I noticed it. Just my two cents.
For us, the last month we spent in Manta, the Spanish really ramped up. We'd been learning on Duolingo, as well as some immersion (easily done in Texas) but when we got there we were both surprised at how much we remembered, how much we absorbed, and how we managed to communicate thoughts and concepts we didn't think we could. So your advice to to power through it is 100% valid.
So glad you guys did this video! People need to hear the reality of making such a big decision in their lives. It's not just about saving money- it's a real life change. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with Ecuador!
Every time you look better and better. The best regards for you in our country. Welcome. Thank you so much for your videos about Ecuador, which help foreigners to know about our culture, life and economy, helping so to grow the tourism to our country and to grow our economy.
Great video. Before someone moves they need to understand that life will be different. But very good to remember that you can go, enjoy and have a great time, then go elsewhere or back to your home country. Personally, I find coming back to the USA VERY difficult 🙂
I love listening to you two. You do an excellent job describing your lives as expats living in Ecuador and even though I’m 72, retired and have no plans of moving, you’re videos are very interesting ❤
I’m very happy about all the positive comments about Ecuador in response to people’s fears and concerns. You have really taken root. I hopefully will meet you soon.
I'm fortunate in having retired from an airline. It's standby, but very affordable for me to fly. I flew from Orlando to Buenos Aires via Miami for $168 last July.
Thanks for this video, guys. We chose Mexico over Ecuador a couple of years ago partially because we can definitely get back to see the kids and grandkids more often. The thing I've found, though, is that if you ever mention to other expats that you question your decision to move to Mexico, many expats will tell you that you didn't do your research, or you shouldn't try to change Mexico, or you're not cut out to be an expat. It seems like if you question your own choices, they think you're questioning theirs. Not the case, of course.
Excellent observation. People often get defensive when we discuss topics that they are struggling to deny or suppress. Classic overcompensation and projection.
@@AmeliaAndJP Thanks for the perspective. No doubt can be applied to any are of people's lives where they have to make a decision, and don't always want to be honest with themselves.
Obviously, thinking people always question their decisions, while others never want to hear anything that may put shade on their own decisions. I'm not going to be concerned about some of the thin skinned individuals out there and would certainly welcome people who feel free to discuss any issues that them may have had. I mean, living in the US or Canada isn't always a bowl of cherries is it.
That drives us crazy! Sometimes, we see 7 or 8 people walking next to each other, and since the sidewalk isn't wide enough, 2 or 3 have to walk in the street! Que loco!
In the next door country Peru people walks on the right side of the sidewalk, everywhere in the country. Pedestrians are very respectul walking on the streets and elder people are the priority. A lot of curb ramps for people with dissabilities implemented the last 15 years by law in Lima and main cities as well
After 2.5 yrs in Ecuador I can only say that it was the best decision of my life..I never had any problems ..Crime..much less than in current USA ..To be an expat you need to learn the language and become immersed in the local community..Too many do not make any attempts to learn Spanish ..it is barring them from truly experiencing this wondrous country ..
Hi There, Hector & Elizabeth from Dallas. Love your video's ! We are actually considering Cuenca for retirement, which is just a few years away. While English is our first language, we both speak Spanish fluently... Its actually between Pereira Colombia, and Cuenca Ecuador... I'll keep watching!!!! Please keep making them
Check population densities for Pereira and Cuernca. Total population is meaningless if the city is very large in area. Density, however, is another matter.
Re: Walking in Ecuador - I don’t know what America you lived in, but Americans aren’t always so planful or courteous in crowded places or on narrow sidewalks. I was in a busy Costco this weekend and small groups just rolled right into me. I think generalizing is not always so helpful. Re: Crime It’s gone up virtually everywhere in the USA, Europe, everywhere. Re: Welcome to Latin America! Political instability is how it’s been for a very long time. Taking the long view will educate you about Ecuador and its neighbors. MX has benefitted from NAFTA and it’s in the US interest that MX remain a stable country. But over the course of LatinAm history there’s been much political interference by the US.
The last comment really inspire me ... your decision to apply for the ecuadorean citizenship. I am so proud of you two . You are already ecuadorean citizens... salud
I was born in Cuenca, Ecuador. I'm also still serving in the U.S Military and I could say that I rather live in Ecuador. The bureaucracy in the United States it is not any different than the one in Ecuador. The freedom in the U.S is superficial. The food in Ecuador is fresh and actually organic. I'm a person who lived all over. I lived in Brooklyn, NY. I lived in Alaska. I now live in Pennsylvania. In August, 2022 I went to Ecuador and I will choose Ecuador any day.
I recently went down for 3 weeks, my girlfriend is from there and made my visit much more enjoyable. The people were very warm and friendly, some areas beyond beautiful, but occasionally I found things making me miss the US. Won't go into negative details other than speeding, tailgating, horn blowing drivers and motorcyclists had me constantly holding my breath the first few days till I got used to it. I realized how lucky we are and sometimes take our country for granted. To each their own.
On the topic of flights to the States, I have some experience. I almost always fly into Miami as I have family in the area. Flying AA, it's a 4 hour direct flight. I am flying this month and I paid around $350 for my round trip ticket considering my 65+ discount (tercero edad) and the rebate of my VAT tax paid. So, usually flying for me is not a big issue but I can see that it could be for others. In my experience, the pluses of living in Quito far outweigh the negatives of living here. We don't need to struggle in retirement. There are so many places to choose from with very affordable terms. Keep up the good work, JP and Amelia!
Just finished the video, and I was shocked at that $2500 quote. We just got our tickets (one way mind you) from Phoenix to Quito via Atlanta. $900 for two. Points knocked it down to $600. We are only plnanning on 6-9 months in South America on this exploratory trip. We will likely come North via Panama and Mexico in hops. Tickets to Quito were no worse than Denver to CDMX.
I'm VERY interested in Ecuador because I want a cooler climate for my dog and me. Currently in the Yucatan been here two years and it's mighty hot jaja
@@talesfromtheleashexpatdogl1426 In Quito, we have Spring-like conditions for all 12 months. If you find Mexico too hot perhaps the mountains is your kind of life. No heating or air-conditioning needed here. I like living at 10,000 feet.
I’ve always moved to other countries by myself. I always attended language classes at the local schools or colleges in those countries. One of the things that I admire about Ecuador is the Spanish is easy to understand unlike Cuba and PR. I always want to achieve fluency in every country I live but as I get older new languages are becoming harder to learn. Ouch I must say I don’t need health care in Ecuador because the food source is sufficient to keep me healthy. I used to live in Santiago Chile and it was easier to fly back to Italy than fly to the US. My opinion the pros in Ecuador outweigh the cons.
Man you said it..!! I love ecuadorian Spanish, so clear and relatively easy to understand; Cubans and Puertoricans make me feel like I can't understand anything
I don’t think either one of you actually speak Spanish. I can understand your difficulty with Caribbean accent but if you truly understand a language you will understand all accents. Ecuadorians speak with an influence of the indigenous languages. Peru and Chile have a clearer accent if you just learned Spanish (I am not from either country). I suggest continuing your Spanish language learning and next time you speak to Cubans you’ll understand them better although their accent doesn’t appeal to you.
Amelia and JP , another great informative video. I can see for some people that a new language can be daunting to learn. I grew up speaking Portuguese and studied Spanish in school for many years. I always understood spanish , but I had to become accustomed to speaking it. Italian , French , Portuguese and Spanish all comes from latin.
Thanks for you video. Based on my informal survey of expats living in Cuenca seven years ago, I discovered that average person stayed only three years. Common reasons for returning home were: boredom, frustration, language barrier, missing grandkids, and health concerns. I did meet a few that had stayed for many more years, but was very rare.
REGARDING CRIME, THERE IS ONE COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH HAS VIRTUALLY NO CRIME, AND THAT IS SINGAPORE. EVERY GOVT. IN THIS WORLD NEEDS TO ADOPT THEIR JUDICIAL AND PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND VERY, VERY CHEAP LOW COST SYSTEM. CHECK IT OUT. PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP TO WHAT THEIR SYSTEM IS.
#3 In my seventh decade with medical issues having Medicare Advantage to pay all of it became critical so I saved tens of thousands by moving to Gulf Coast US.
I contemplated a move to Uruguay or Ecuador from the U.S. before moving back to Puerto Rico After watching a couple of your videos I discovered that Ecuador and Puerto Rico are pretty much the same. So, I’ll stay put until it’s necessary to move. Great info..
While I can resonate with a few points on your list, none would be my reason to leave. For the most part, I am loving my time here in EC for so many reasons. However, I now know I will leave once some other things in my life come to fruition. And it is because of the dogs, and dogs running free are ubiquitous here. I do not like city life and live in a small town, and overall I love it. The peaceful life here is amazing for me. But it is overrun by dogs, which I was coping with, until last week when I was attacked and bitten badly by two dogs while walking on the beach, after too many encounters over my 8 months in EC that scared me. And apparently it is not so uncommon. I love dogs and have worked with them, so fearing them is not my nature at all. (The upside is that I walked straight to my Dr's office and texted her from her waiting room, she saw me as soon as the people she was with left!) Despite all the dangers of a single woman in the US, I never feared for my physical safety. But the dog scene here has quickly shown me that this is actually a threat to my physical safety, and has now seriously limited my walking, which is my thing. Triste, pero asi es la vida. Glad I am a nomad, though, so I know I will be happy to eventually go live elsewhere. And will continue to enjoy EC while I remain as well. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people.
That is a problem on the beaches, especially in the rural towns. We know several people who were bitten while walking on the beach. I carried a walking stick, which was a good deterrent. They're typically not street dogs either. They belong to people who don't keep them on a leash or in a yard. It's another cultural difference that is very frustrating to us foreigners. Hope you're ok now!
Walking stick, or mace, should work fine. I avoid unattended dogs, too. No matter where you live, it's always something. If you live alone in the woods, you will find annoying or dangerous critters there, too.
Dogs running free was a problem when I lived in Nicaragua. I live in Colombia now, and you seldom see a dog off leash. They must shoot the biters, because I have never seen a dog do more than bark at someone. Colombia is different.
I'm new to Portugal and was in a small town for a month. At the end of my stay there I met a British couple and finally could speak freely. I'm undaunted and continuing to explore Portugal but i didn't realise how much I missed communicating easily...
Appreciate your comments. I live in Golden and crime here in the Denver Metro might actually be a reason to Move! Car theft and stealing catalytic converters has become an epidemic. I don't think there has been a day that someone has NOT been shot and killed. It's really sad 😢. The quiet suburbs aren't so quiet anymore.
So true!!😏 NYC is not safe anymore, all crazy people have been let out and are hurting others. My son had his catalytic converters stolen, it cost him $1500 to replace and secure with a metal plate.😡
Was going to reply that leaving because of crime to return to the US, might be jumping from the pan into the fire depending on where you're returning to!
I took 2 years off in my late 40s and couldn't stand the monotony of figuring out what to do everyday. So I went back to work but now when I stop my full time job, I'll work part time on an internet based job as it's nice to have purpose in your life. That way I can travel and work a few hours every week.
Thanks for what You Both think about staying in Ecuador. Every thing what You say about in this video is right; but Expats thinking to leave because of the crime , You can take a look also tnat this situation is happening all over the world, due to the influence of certain people that came from a different country with pretty bad habits. Watching closer in the same USA; here in Phyli you'll see a lot of crimes every day and every hour, not even one day you missed a shooting. Just right now that I'm typing occur in Phyli occur another shooting. I hope one day soon it stops. Thanks to let Us know a lot of thins about Ecuador.
Thanks for posting these video's. They are so informative and balanced. I'm not planning on making a move myself but I love the content. I would certainly be taking Spanish lessons for a number of years before moving because I feel that half the fun of moving to a place like Ecuador is to experience another culture
Great content! Good information for folks to think about before moving abroad. Are there any statistics on repats with a broken relationship who had to leave and head back home?
Some great information for everyone to consider before moving here... I don't agree at all that they're soft spoken though. I guess you're probably talking about those who live in the Sierra, in the mountains, that I can see. On the coast they are louder than what I was used to in Canada for sure
I'm visiting a friend here, in Cuenca: I flew direct from New York (JFK) to Guayaquil in August on Jet Blue. I bought the most expensive RT ticket ($880) to make sure I could change my return ticket in case of paro or else. Flying back in 2+ weeks.
Here's the deal though, many unhappy people are unhappy no matter where they go. I should know. I am still working on sticking with my decisions and having realistic expectations. This serves me well in many facets of life.
Just wanted to drop a quick comment. Great videos. Very insightful. Not planning on moving to Ecuador or South America. Very interested in panama. However much of your critiques and insight would easily apply to any South American or central American country. I very much appreciate your insight
I admire you guys. I was there for 7 month. I can’t live there. The culture is one of the reason and the way they drive. Nobody respect the rules and the law. Ecuador is beautiful and a lot of people are great but Is not enough for me.
not sure how old this video is but Canada's health care is being destroyed Ontario where I am is a joke now I've had to downgrade my injectables cause what worked for mme is nolonger covered in y seniors drug care.
Muy hubby sometimes has to work with people who speak different languages. Recently he had to work with an Italian. They were able to communicate using a translation app on their phone. It worked beautifully.
@AmeliaAndJP What level of Spanish do you have in terms of CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)? There are online tests to find out the level. Per my understanding to comprehend fast spoken speech requires C2 (proficient) level. I figure it can be achieved after 8 years of study/practice.
Me daría mucha alegría que se hagan ciudadanos Ecuatorianos, gracias a ustedes muchos extranjeros vienen por turismo y a vivir en nuestro País y así dinamizando la economía.
Political situations ebb and flow in every country, even the US, as you mentioned in a recent video about reverse culture shock when you visited recently. As an American expat that has lived in various countries over the past 12 years I have seen political situations in some countries reach high conflict levels among the locals, but short of being caught up in a situation where I would be in physical danger I am able to rise above it all and not get involved like the locals as I really don't know the history or the reasons for conflict. I can't do that in my native US because I DO know the history and I DO have a strong opinion because it is MY country. So, I am able to go about my business and simply be an observer only and not get caught up in local political matters in all the countries in which I have lived and am much happier that way.
You might be forced to face local politico/economic issues when more countries push for a cashless, digital currency. The totalitarian control of your money is a serious threat to freedom, privacy, and liquidity.
I was surprised that the cloudiness didn't make the list. I just got back from five weeks there. Nice place, good people, the food was... the people were very nice. But the clouds. Good god. When you get to your tenth straight day of "oh look, another day and not a sky in the cloud", it gets a little old.
I’ve lived in some difficult places over the years. In preparation for one of the most difficult, the company sent all prospective families though a 2 day class. Americans do not always do well overseas. Heck, many don’t do well out of their home State. I believe one of the leading countries where Americans failed was England! This was attributed to companies believing any American could adapt to living in England. Not so.
I have been wanting to move to Mexico for a number of years because of the culture, and if I ever do get the chance to move there or Ecuador, immersing myself in the culture, language, lifestyle etc., is exactly what I would do. If I didn't want to do that I might as well stay where I am.
WRT boredom, I have sometimes thought that, if I move out of the area, I may miss some of the amenities here. Chapel Hill has some GREAT libraries (and for that matter, so does Duke, and maybe a few other places I haven't even checked out). And there's a lot of window shopping that could be fun to do (although I don't see myself doing that much actual purchasing at this stage). *But here's the funny thing:* I think that will decline in importance with time. Online commerce, and e-books and other electronic media, are continually ascending as a portion of my information. Suddenly, I've started seeing that, in the UNC library system, a lot of the books that look interesting are not available in the stacks. You have to access them online. And if you're not faculty, staff, or a student, that's not so easy. Even if you are, often I've liked to look up a book of interest in the stacks, then browse the nearby area to see what might also be of interest. I know there are sort-of analogs such as Amazon's "you may also like" feature, but it's not a direct equivalent. And then, there are brick/mortar stores that go away, and you need to look things up online. Might as well be abroad! So, in sum, for some things I might miss by moving, there may be less to miss as time goes on.
I´m from Ecuador what I could say about this is that I know lots of expats living here around all this country and they are completely happy living here and most of them don´t want to go back to their countries because they have said that they have never had and lived wonderful experiences here, they got in love with this country; so it is great you have gone away!!
Yep...homesickness...definitely what is holding us back from moving! 😛😄 But, after watching your channel, you have really inspired us to visit! We are saving up for it now 👍👍🤗😃
I sent both kids home from GYE to Oakland and used Spirit Air and both flights, 2 years apart were 600 dollars each. I will be eligible for citizenship next year too! :) Also moving to Manta soon too *My son's flight was bumped to Jet Blue at the last minute and it was the same price) It does take 24 hours to get to San Francisco California area from Guayaquil or Manta. Manta will have more and more US direct flights soon. You can fly direct form Los Angeles to Manta now too which is very convenient.
Correction. Ecuador is in the same continent, just not in the same zone. 5 continents. 5 Olympic rings each representing one continent. Africa, America, Europe, Asia and Oceania
As someone VERY ready to leave Cambodia as soon as I can get a direct flight back to Laos in November, cultural differences that cause me to cringe come to mind: 1) People here will never say they don't know something. They will always offer an answer whether they know the answer or not. That is particularly concerning when asking directions or asking a tuk-tuk driver if they know a specific destination. You can easily end up in a dark place where you have no idea where you are being confronted for more money by an angry driver who fully believes you owe him more money because he had to drive around so much. 2) Losing face. As expats it's EXTREMELY important that we do nothing that might cause someone to lose face or be embarrassed (hence always responding with an answer in #1), BUT my students being ridiculed to tears by other students or other teachers is commonplace and also quite common for local folks, school administrators, or health officials in dealing with expats. This is a serious one. I know of two people killed because others perceived them to have caused them to lose face. 3) If you ask for information about a process in Cambodia, you will be given a "partial truth" and never be given what we might think of as the full information. You will be told what the person thinks you want to here. Example: I rented an apartment in a very quiet area of Siem Reap. Not easy to find. 2 weeks in, I woke up to the trees next to my apartment being sawed down and the beginning of metal pounding on metal 8 or so hours a day. When I inquired about it with the landlord, they assured me the construction of a small metal street restaurant would take one week. It DID take one week, but it also took 7 weeks more than that to build a small house and put up a cement wall. We don't all think in similar ways.
Wow! $2500 airline tickets! I relocated to manila and I still get my tickets for $700 to $800, round trip, out of Chicago. It's slightly more expensive now to fly FROM Manila. I just returned to US for 2 weeks to finish some business and visit the kids and friends. To fly from Manila to the US and back, I still paid only $870 round trip from Manila to Chicago and back for September 28 to October 16.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Save 20% on the Ecuador Expat Fast Track eCourse through Sunday, October 9th! Read reviews and sign up here: liveabroadnow.com/course/
Please be armed.
R.I.P.
God is in charge people.
Please behave and live.
Do not return and check into a Mexican Airbnb.
Check in with Mexican consulate in the USA. Get a passport. Open Charles Schwab debit card to avoid ATM fees.
Sorry but I can't see the discount code anywhere. I looked in the drop down video description box as well. I must have a mental blind spot blocking me from seeing it. Or is this discount only for patreons?
@@kenmcrae8591 If you just click the link to buy now, it automatically takes the discount.
🇪🇨 EN EL IMPERIO VIVIMOS LOS LADRONES.
RAFAEL CORREA Alías MAMELUCO ($)
Hello how are you
LOL I lived abroad for 22 years and had a grandkid stateside, I would cry after FaceTime and wanted to give him a big hug. So, I picked up my life, my business and moved back started a new career, got all settled and the family with the grandkid decided to move to another state. dang. So live your own life, love when you can, visit as often as your can but the kiddos will not stop their life because you are around. lesson learned. sigh...now I am here, alone literally. what to do not? I have the bug and moving back has been very difficult. being older, it is more difficult to pick up, start over and move abroad again...of course...alone, also makes it more difficult. so guys be aware!
So we'll said
So so well said God Bless
Very very true
Going through the same thing
Absolutely true, you can't live your life for your kids and grandkids. If you do the liklihood is you will find yourself lonely and unhappy.
I have duel citizenship, I love both Ecuador and USA, despite all things, I love and I’m grateful to both countries. Thanks Amelia and JP, you had me at the beginning 😅.
I took Spanish in high school and college, and figured out why they speak so fast. The typical Spanish word is a couple of syllables longer than its English counterpart. Example: desk (1) and escritorio (5). There are a million more, but the more I studied Spanish, the more I noticed it. Just my two cents.
Ex-pats should learn the 3 A's before moving..Adjust, Adapt and Accept.
Appreciate the honest information you guys provide whether positive or negative.
For us, the last month we spent in Manta, the Spanish really ramped up. We'd been learning on Duolingo, as well as some immersion (easily done in Texas) but when we got there we were both surprised at how much we remembered, how much we absorbed, and how we managed to communicate thoughts and concepts we didn't think we could. So your advice to to power through it is 100% valid.
That's great! Felicidades! 🥳
So glad you guys did this video! People need to hear the reality of making such a big decision in their lives. It's not just about saving money- it's a real life change. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with Ecuador!
Every time you look better and better. The best regards for you in our country. Welcome. Thank you so much for your videos about Ecuador, which help foreigners to know about our culture, life and economy, helping so to grow the tourism to our country and to grow our economy.
Wow, thank you! Viva Ecuador! 🇪🇨🥳
It's taken a toll everywhere!!!!
Great video. Before someone moves they need to understand that life will be different. But very good to remember that you can go, enjoy and have a great time, then go elsewhere or back to your home country. Personally, I find coming back to the USA VERY difficult 🙂
I love listening to you two. You do an excellent job describing your lives as expats living in Ecuador and even though I’m 72, retired and have no plans of moving, you’re videos are very interesting ❤
Wow, thank you!
..and well produced by this couple, great in camera, and solid video and editing.
You both look so happy. I plan move to Guatemala. It's close to the USA also. The culture and people are wonderful.
Both of you are great communicators. Love your videos
Gracias!
To make matters worse now not only do Ecuadorians have less work or are not making as much but the gasoline prices have more than doubled.
I’m very happy about all the positive comments about Ecuador in response to people’s fears and concerns. You have really taken root. I hopefully will meet you soon.
I'm fortunate in having retired from an airline. It's standby, but very affordable for me to fly. I flew from Orlando to Buenos Aires via Miami for $168 last July.
Heading to Colombia in a few days... will tag you guys on my pics
Thanks for this video, guys. We chose Mexico over Ecuador a couple of years ago partially because we can definitely get back to see the kids and grandkids more often. The thing I've found, though, is that if you ever mention to other expats that you question your decision to move to Mexico, many expats will tell you that you didn't do your research, or you shouldn't try to change Mexico, or you're not cut out to be an expat. It seems like if you question your own choices, they think you're questioning theirs. Not the case, of course.
Excellent observation. People often get defensive when we discuss topics that they are struggling to deny or suppress. Classic overcompensation and projection.
@@AmeliaAndJP Thanks for the perspective. No doubt can be applied to any are of people's lives where they have to make a decision, and don't always want to be honest with themselves.
I don't worry about what others think of me and my decisions as it's none of my business what people think of me .
Obviously, thinking people always question their decisions, while others never want to hear anything that may put shade on their own decisions. I'm not going to be concerned about some of the thin skinned individuals out there and would certainly welcome people who feel free to discuss any issues that them may have had. I mean, living in the US or Canada isn't always a bowl of cherries is it.
With respect, expats little by little ruin the country they move to - eventually.
Love watching your videos! Traveling is my passion and Ecuador is on my list. Keep them coming!
Oh my goodness...you are so right that nobody gets out of the way when approaching others on sidewalk!!!
That drives us crazy! Sometimes, we see 7 or 8 people walking next to each other, and since the sidewalk isn't wide enough, 2 or 3 have to walk in the street! Que loco!
Same way in Spain.
Heh, we had the same standoff in a mall in Manta... It was funny to us.
Walk on the left side. No one stays to the right. Often it is easier to walk on the left.
In the next door country Peru people walks on the right side of the sidewalk, everywhere in the country. Pedestrians are very respectul walking on the streets and elder people are the priority. A lot of curb ramps for people with dissabilities implemented the last 15 years by law in Lima and main cities as well
After 2.5 yrs in Ecuador I can only say that it was the best decision of my life..I never had any problems ..Crime..much less than in current USA ..To be an expat you need to learn the language and become immersed in the local community..Too many do not make any attempts to learn Spanish ..it is barring them from truly experiencing this wondrous country ..
Hi There, Hector & Elizabeth from Dallas. Love your video's ! We are actually considering Cuenca for retirement, which is just a few years away. While English is our first language, we both speak Spanish fluently... Its actually between Pereira Colombia, and Cuenca Ecuador... I'll keep watching!!!! Please keep making them
Check population densities for Pereira and Cuernca. Total population is meaningless if the city is very large in area. Density, however, is another matter.
Re: Walking in Ecuador - I don’t know what America you lived in, but Americans aren’t always so planful or courteous in crowded places or on narrow sidewalks. I was in a busy Costco this weekend and small groups just rolled right into me. I think generalizing is not always so helpful.
Re: Crime It’s gone up virtually everywhere in the USA, Europe, everywhere.
Re: Welcome to Latin America! Political instability is how it’s been for a very long time. Taking the long view will educate you about Ecuador and its neighbors. MX has benefitted from NAFTA and it’s in the US interest that MX remain a stable country. But over the course of LatinAm history there’s been much political interference by the US.
As the 'immigration' numbers rise? So does the crime rate. Nothing to see here. According to the left.
Agreed, I see the same problem here in America too.
Thank you guys for choosing Ecuador! 🇪🇨
I love your videos, they touch on the important points I need answered. Great work, thanks.
The last comment really inspire me ... your decision to apply for the ecuadorean citizenship. I am so proud of you two .
You are already ecuadorean citizens... salud
You guys produce awesome content! Please keep up the good work.
I don't find Spanish speakers in the US to be soft spoken at all. I live in the US and in Arizona there are many Spanish speakers and they are LOUD.
Thank you for information from the heart ! Enjoy and stay happy ....
I was born in Cuenca, Ecuador. I'm also still serving in the U.S Military and I could say that I rather live in Ecuador. The bureaucracy in the United States it is not any different than the one in Ecuador. The freedom in the U.S is superficial. The food in Ecuador is fresh and actually organic. I'm a person who lived all over. I lived in Brooklyn, NY. I lived in Alaska. I now live in Pennsylvania. In August, 2022 I went to Ecuador and I will choose Ecuador any day.
I recently went down for 3 weeks, my girlfriend is from there and made my visit much more enjoyable. The people were very warm and friendly, some areas beyond beautiful, but occasionally I found things making me miss the US. Won't go into negative details other than speeding, tailgating, horn blowing drivers and motorcyclists had me constantly holding my breath the first few days till I got used to it. I realized how lucky we are and sometimes take our country for granted. To each their own.
On the topic of flights to the States, I have some experience. I almost always fly into Miami as I have family in the area. Flying AA, it's a 4 hour direct flight. I am flying this month and I paid around $350 for my round trip ticket considering my 65+ discount (tercero edad) and the rebate of my VAT tax paid. So, usually flying for me is not a big issue but I can see that it could be for others. In my experience, the pluses of living in Quito far outweigh the negatives of living here. We don't need to struggle in retirement. There are so many places to choose from with very affordable terms. Keep up the good work, JP and Amelia!
We've taken that flight several times. It's a pretty easy flight. 👍
Just finished the video, and I was shocked at that $2500 quote. We just got our tickets (one way mind you) from Phoenix to Quito via Atlanta. $900 for two. Points knocked it down to $600.
We are only plnanning on 6-9 months in South America on this exploratory trip. We will likely come North via Panama and Mexico in hops. Tickets to Quito were no worse than Denver to CDMX.
I'm VERY interested in Ecuador because I want a cooler climate for my dog and me. Currently in the Yucatan been here two years and it's mighty hot jaja
@@talesfromtheleashexpatdogl1426 In Quito, we have Spring-like conditions for all 12 months. If you find Mexico too hot perhaps the mountains is your kind of life. No heating or air-conditioning needed here. I like living at 10,000 feet.
Yes, that is weird. I usually pay anywhere from 350 to 600 round-trip Atlanta to GYE
I’ve always moved to other countries by myself. I always attended language classes at the local schools or colleges in those countries.
One of the things that I admire about Ecuador is the Spanish is easy to understand unlike Cuba and PR. I always want to achieve fluency in every country I live but as I get older new languages are becoming harder to learn. Ouch
I must say I don’t need health care in Ecuador because the food source is sufficient to keep me healthy.
I used to live in Santiago Chile and it was easier to fly back to Italy than fly to the US.
My opinion the pros in Ecuador outweigh the cons.
Man you said it..!! I love ecuadorian Spanish, so clear and relatively easy to understand; Cubans and Puertoricans make me feel like I can't understand anything
I don’t think either one of you actually speak Spanish. I can understand your difficulty with Caribbean accent but if you truly understand a language you will understand all accents. Ecuadorians speak with an influence of the indigenous languages. Peru and Chile have a clearer accent if you just learned Spanish (I am not from either country). I suggest continuing your Spanish language learning and next time you speak to Cubans you’ll understand them better although their accent doesn’t appeal to you.
@@crudohr i don’t understand jíbaro and guajiro very well. When they do speak Spanish I understand everything.
@@alessio272 I see, my apologies for misinterpreting what you meant. It’s dialects that you don’t understand. Understood, all the best.
@@crudohr that’s ok amico mio.
Thank you for posting about this. You showed it can happen to the best of us. Give yourselves grace. xoxo
Amelia and JP , another great informative video. I can see for some people that a new language can be daunting to learn. I grew up speaking Portuguese and studied Spanish in school for many years. I always understood spanish , but I had to become accustomed to speaking it. Italian , French , Portuguese and Spanish all comes from latin.
Hello how are you
My folks born in cuenca , gbu the both of u thank u for the vast pictures of my Homeland , thank u for the best videos
Wonderful video. Thank you for your love to Ecuador and for being so positive always. Saludos 🌹
Thanks!
We really appreciate the Super Thanks! Muchas gracias! 🥳
Ecuador is quite unsettled as of this posting. Hope you are okay.
Very good, high-quality analysis.
Thanks for you video. Based on my informal survey of expats living in Cuenca seven years ago, I discovered that average person stayed only three years. Common reasons for returning home were: boredom, frustration, language barrier, missing grandkids, and health concerns. I did meet a few that had stayed for many more years, but was very rare.
We know over a thousand expats in EC, but only a dozen or so who have left.
I keep apartment in Otavalo Good info....Thx
REGARDING CRIME, THERE IS ONE COUNTRY ON PLANET EARTH HAS VIRTUALLY NO CRIME, AND THAT IS SINGAPORE. EVERY GOVT. IN THIS WORLD NEEDS TO ADOPT THEIR JUDICIAL AND PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND VERY, VERY CHEAP LOW COST SYSTEM. CHECK IT OUT. PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP TO WHAT THEIR SYSTEM IS.
#3 In my seventh decade with medical issues having Medicare Advantage to pay all of it became critical so I saved tens of thousands by moving to Gulf Coast US.
I contemplated a move to Uruguay or Ecuador from the U.S. before moving back to Puerto Rico
After watching a couple of your videos I discovered that Ecuador and Puerto Rico are pretty much the same.
So, I’ll stay put until it’s necessary to move.
Great info..
Nice to meet you guys today in chapala. Sorry for talking a lot 😢was shocked to meet you
It was great meeting you! We love your energy! 😊
@@AmeliaAndJP I have a question :) is it cheaper to get insurance there in Quito or just pay cash for every time someone goes to doctor?
While I can resonate with a few points on your list, none would be my reason to leave. For the most part, I am loving my time here in EC for so many reasons. However, I now know I will leave once some other things in my life come to fruition. And it is because of the dogs, and dogs running free are ubiquitous here. I do not like city life and live in a small town, and overall I love it. The peaceful life here is amazing for me. But it is overrun by dogs, which I was coping with, until last week when I was attacked and bitten badly by two dogs while walking on the beach, after too many encounters over my 8 months in EC that scared me. And apparently it is not so uncommon. I love dogs and have worked with them, so fearing them is not my nature at all. (The upside is that I walked straight to my Dr's office and texted her from her waiting room, she saw me as soon as the people she was with left!) Despite all the dangers of a single woman in the US, I never feared for my physical safety. But the dog scene here has quickly shown me that this is actually a threat to my physical safety, and has now seriously limited my walking, which is my thing. Triste, pero asi es la vida. Glad I am a nomad, though, so I know I will be happy to eventually go live elsewhere. And will continue to enjoy EC while I remain as well. It is a beautiful country with beautiful people.
That is a problem on the beaches, especially in the rural towns. We know several people who were bitten while walking on the beach. I carried a walking stick, which was a good deterrent. They're typically not street dogs either. They belong to people who don't keep them on a leash or in a yard. It's another cultural difference that is very frustrating to us foreigners. Hope you're ok now!
Walking stick, or mace, should work fine. I avoid unattended dogs, too. No matter where you live, it's always something. If you live alone in the woods, you will find annoying or dangerous critters there, too.
Dogs running free was a problem when I lived in Nicaragua. I live in Colombia now, and you seldom see a dog off leash. They must shoot the biters, because I have never seen a dog do more than bark at someone. Colombia is different.
So sorry that happened to you! , dog pollution problem in many places
I had to give up biking because of the dogs. It became too dangerous.
I'm new to Portugal and was in a small town for a month. At the end of my stay there I met a British couple and finally could speak freely. I'm undaunted and continuing to explore Portugal but i didn't realise how much I missed communicating easily...
Mexico is waiting fot you guys!!🥳🥳🇲🇽🇲🇽
Appreciate your comments. I live in Golden and crime here in the Denver Metro might actually be a reason to Move! Car theft and stealing catalytic converters has become an epidemic. I don't think there has been a day that someone has NOT been shot and killed. It's really sad 😢. The quiet suburbs aren't so quiet anymore.
Same in Tulsa now, too.
So true!!😏 NYC is not safe anymore, all crazy people have been let out and are hurting others. My son had his catalytic converters stolen, it cost him $1500 to replace and secure with a metal plate.😡
We've heard things have gotten really bad in Denver. We're so thankful we left!
Was going to reply that leaving because of crime to return to the US, might be jumping from the pan into the fire depending on where you're returning to!
I live here in Bayside Queens NYC, a very safe neighborhood, but I take the subway just if I have to, standing on the platform is very dangerous now.
When I go back to America for a month I get homesick for my home in Cuenca.😁
We get homesick for Ecuador too!
I admire you guys.
Great vids guys!
You guys look great. Happy and healthy! Blessed I’d say. Keep it up 🙏
I took 2 years off in my late 40s and couldn't stand the monotony of figuring out what to do everyday. So I went back to work but now when I stop my full time job, I'll work part time on an internet based job as it's nice to have purpose in your life. That way I can travel and work a few hours every week.
Great information JP and Amelia!
Thank you!
great video
Great info, nicely presented, thanks.
Thanks for what You Both think about staying in Ecuador. Every thing what You say about in this video is right; but Expats thinking to leave because of the crime , You can take a look also tnat this situation is happening all over the world, due to the influence of certain people that came from a different country with pretty bad habits. Watching closer in the same USA; here in Phyli you'll see a lot of crimes every day and every hour, not even one day you missed a shooting. Just right now that I'm typing occur in Phyli occur another shooting. I hope one day soon it stops. Thanks to let Us know a lot of thins about Ecuador.
Very true. Crime has increased everywhere, especially in the US.
New York City is worst then ever.
Thanks for posting these video's. They are so informative and balanced. I'm not planning on making a move myself but I love the content. I would certainly be taking Spanish lessons for a number of years before moving because I feel that half the fun of moving to a place like Ecuador is to experience another culture
You are so welcome!
I can’t wait until you guys get your Ecuadorian citizenship. You will be my compatriotas! Lol 🇪🇨
Us too!
Great content! Good information for folks to think about before moving abroad. Are there any statistics on repats with a broken relationship who had to leave and head back home?
There aren’t a lot of stats about expats for anything.
I would miss Christmas and frosty the snowman..
Some great information for everyone to consider before moving here... I don't agree at all that they're soft spoken though. I guess you're probably talking about those who live in the Sierra, in the mountains, that I can see. On the coast they are louder than what I was used to in Canada for sure
GREAT it’s best to live among your own kind.
I'm visiting a friend here, in Cuenca: I flew direct from New York (JFK) to Guayaquil in August on Jet Blue. I bought the most expensive RT ticket ($880) to make sure I could change my return ticket in case of paro or else. Flying back in 2+ weeks.
Here's the deal though, many unhappy people are unhappy no matter where they go. I should know. I am still working on sticking with my decisions and having realistic expectations. This serves me well in many facets of life.
Just wanted to drop a quick comment. Great videos. Very insightful. Not planning on moving to Ecuador or South America. Very interested in panama. However much of your critiques and insight would easily apply to any South American or central American country. I very much appreciate your insight
I admire you guys. I was there for 7 month. I can’t live there. The culture is one of the reason and the way they drive. Nobody respect the rules and the law. Ecuador is beautiful and a lot of people are great but Is not enough for me.
We've been to a lot of countries, and everyone drives badly! 😂
I decided if we move there, taxis are the only way to go.
LOL, you should drive in Peru! I couldn't wait to get out of Peru, and driving in Ecuador was a breath of sweet and safe calm.
Beautiful video ❤
not sure how old this video is but Canada's health care is being destroyed Ontario where I am is a joke now I've had to downgrade my injectables cause what worked for mme is nolonger covered in y seniors drug care.
Functional is good enough guys. Fluency will follow
Muy hubby sometimes has to work with people who speak different languages. Recently he had to work with an Italian. They were able to communicate using a translation app on their phone. It worked beautifully.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for such an informative video.....but I especially LOVE JP's startling opener! 😧🤣🤣
Haha! Glad you liked it! 😂
@AmeliaAndJP What level of Spanish do you have in terms of CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)? There are online tests to find out the level. Per my understanding to comprehend fast spoken speech requires C2 (proficient) level. I figure it can be achieved after 8 years of study/practice.
Me daría mucha alegría que se hagan ciudadanos Ecuatorianos, gracias a ustedes muchos extranjeros vienen por turismo y a vivir en nuestro País y así dinamizando la economía.
Gracias! 😊🇪🇨
Air Canada had direct flight to Quito from toronto. It was short lived due to COVID and they have not restarted it yet 🙁
Political situations ebb and flow in every country, even the US, as you mentioned in a recent video about reverse culture shock when you visited recently. As an American expat that has lived in various countries over the past 12 years I have seen political situations in some countries reach high conflict levels among the locals, but short of being caught up in a situation where I would be in physical danger I am able to rise above it all and not get involved like the locals as I really don't know the history or the reasons for conflict. I can't do that in my native US because I DO know the history and I DO have a strong opinion because it is MY country. So, I am able to go about my business and simply be an observer only and not get caught up in local political matters in all the countries in which I have lived and am much happier that way.
You might be forced to face local politico/economic issues when more countries push for a cashless, digital currency. The totalitarian control of your money is a serious threat to freedom, privacy, and liquidity.
I was surprised that the cloudiness didn't make the list. I just got back from five weeks there. Nice place, good people, the food was... the people were very nice. But the clouds. Good god. When you get to your tenth straight day of "oh look, another day and not a sky in the cloud", it gets a little old.
It's just the opposite here in Manta. A cloudy day is a rare thing.
@@rvdareyet7201 Damn, I was only like 50 miles South, in Montañita. If I had known I'd have hopped on a bus.
I’ve lived in some difficult places over the years. In preparation for one of the most difficult, the company sent all prospective families though a 2 day class. Americans do not always do well overseas. Heck, many don’t do well out of their home State. I believe one of the leading countries where Americans failed was England! This was attributed to companies believing any American could adapt to living in England. Not so.
Wow very good
7:22 What is "that last pyro"?
I love Cuenca, having lived there a number of times . If I go to Ecuador for a friends wedding I will definitely visit my beloved Cuenca.
God Bless Thank you for the awesome information
I have been wanting to move to Mexico for a number of years because of the culture, and if I ever do get the chance to move there or Ecuador, immersing myself in the culture, language, lifestyle etc., is exactly what I would do. If I didn't want to do that I might as well stay where I am.
Really informative. Thank you.
WRT boredom, I have sometimes thought that, if I move out of the area, I may miss some of the amenities here. Chapel Hill has some GREAT libraries (and for that matter, so does Duke, and maybe a few other places I haven't even checked out). And there's a lot of window shopping that could be fun to do (although I don't see myself doing that much actual purchasing at this stage). *But here's the funny thing:* I think that will decline in importance with time. Online commerce, and e-books and other electronic media, are continually ascending as a portion of my information. Suddenly, I've started seeing that, in the UNC library system, a lot of the books that look interesting are not available in the stacks. You have to access them online. And if you're not faculty, staff, or a student, that's not so easy. Even if you are, often I've liked to look up a book of interest in the stacks, then browse the nearby area to see what might also be of interest. I know there are sort-of analogs such as Amazon's "you may also like" feature, but it's not a direct equivalent.
And then, there are brick/mortar stores that go away, and you need to look things up online. Might as well be abroad! So, in sum, for some things I might miss by moving, there may be less to miss as time goes on.
Hei amelia good moorning ..thanks for even more good info
I hope stay connected and each watching
I´m from Ecuador what I could say about this is that I know lots of expats living here around all this country and they are completely happy living here and most of them don´t want to go back to their countries because they have said that they have never had and lived wonderful experiences here, they got in love with this country; so it is great you have gone away!!
I could say its about the same in Brazil.
it's about these priceless moments. 12:52
Running into each other is culturally acceptable in Japan too. Have you ever seen video of the crush on Japan’s commuter trains at rush hour? Oh My!
That whole scene of shoving more and more people onto the trains just gives me gasping claustrophobia!
Yep...homesickness...definitely what is holding us back from moving! 😛😄
But, after watching your channel, you have really inspired us to visit! We are saving up for it now 👍👍🤗😃
Great! I bet you're really excited!
I sent both kids home from GYE to Oakland and used Spirit Air and both flights, 2 years apart were 600 dollars each. I will be eligible for citizenship next year too! :) Also moving to Manta soon too *My son's flight was bumped to Jet Blue at the last minute and it was the same price) It does take 24 hours to get to San Francisco California area from Guayaquil or Manta. Manta will have more and more US direct flights soon. You can fly direct form Los Angeles to Manta now too which is very convenient.
Correction. Ecuador is in the same continent, just not in the same zone. 5 continents. 5 Olympic rings each representing one continent. Africa, America, Europe, Asia and Oceania
Truth to be told...there are 7 continents:
Asia,Europe,Africa,North America,South America,Australia/Oceania,Antarctica.
LOL. “Sure enough they just run into each other…”
As someone VERY ready to leave Cambodia as soon as I can get a direct flight back to Laos in November, cultural differences that cause me to cringe come to mind: 1) People here will never say they don't know something. They will always offer an answer whether they know the answer or not. That is particularly concerning when asking directions or asking a tuk-tuk driver if they know a specific destination. You can easily end up in a dark place where you have no idea where you are being confronted for more money by an angry driver who fully believes you owe him more money because he had to drive around so much.
2) Losing face. As expats it's EXTREMELY important that we do nothing that might cause someone to lose face or be embarrassed (hence always responding with an answer in #1), BUT my students being ridiculed to tears by other students or other teachers is commonplace and also quite common for local folks, school administrators, or health officials in dealing with expats. This is a serious one. I know of two people killed because others perceived them to have caused them to lose face.
3) If you ask for information about a process in Cambodia, you will be given a "partial truth" and never be given what we might think of as the full information. You will be told what the person thinks you want to here. Example: I rented an apartment in a very quiet area of Siem Reap. Not easy to find. 2 weeks in, I woke up to the trees next to my apartment being sawed down and the beginning of metal pounding on metal 8 or so hours a day. When I inquired about it with the landlord, they assured me the construction of a small metal street restaurant would take one week. It DID take one week, but it also took 7 weeks more than that to build a small house and put up a cement wall. We don't all think in similar ways.
Good job, thank you
Wow! $2500 airline tickets! I relocated to manila and I still get my tickets for $700 to $800, round trip, out of Chicago. It's slightly more expensive now to fly FROM Manila. I just returned to US for 2 weeks to finish some business and visit the kids and friends. To fly from Manila to the US and back, I still paid only $870 round trip from Manila to Chicago and back for September 28 to October 16.