Amelia And JP’s Unconventional Life Blog

We’d always been very drawn to South America, and dreams about moving to Buenos Aires, Chilean Patagonia, or the hills of Uruguay colored our life—to the extent that when we sat our children down and told them we were moving to Ecuador, they just shrugged and said, “Okay.” It was about time.

Maybe we would have only dreamed forever, but we grew increasingly dismayed by the pressures put on kids in modern American society and the consequential effects on both mental and physical health. The idea of raising our family in a laid back “tranquilo” culture where family and community are valued more than busyness and material success was very appealing. Ultimately, we moved in search of a new, better life for our children, just like millions of immigrants have done over the centuries.

Our biggest fears? We worried that any or all of our kids wouldn’t thrive, that they wouldn’t make friends, or settle into fulfilling lives. They didn’t ask for this significant life shakeup, and it would have been awful if we’d brought them into a situation that changed their trajectory for the worse, instead of the better.

The obstacles we faced were pretty typical: Selling our home and vehicles, getting our hands on visa paperwork, and—most challenging by far—explaining the move to family and friends, and saying those hard goodbyes.

Blake has a lot of specific tools he needs for his blacksmith shop, so we knew we’d be shipping a container. That meant we didn’t have to downsize dramatically, but we did have to pack hundreds of inventoried boxes in the very specific manner demanded by Ecuadorian customs, which was quite an endeavor.

Our life in Ecuador is more than we ever imagined or hoped for. We have an amazing community of friends—many whom we now consider family. Almost all of our friends are locals; we never visited Ecuador before moving here, and we were delighted to discover that we fit right in. Truthfully, moving to a different region of the US would have been more culture-shocking than moving to a village in southern Ecuador turned out to be. Ecuadorians are the loveliest people, kind and dignified, with this amazing sly and self deprecating sense of humor. After three and a half years, not one of us can imagine leaving. The kids are flourishing at the local school; they’re on the soccer team, take music lessons, and run around town with their friends. The best part of our life isn’t how interesting or exciting it is (though it is!); it’s how utterly normal it is—just in this beautiful, unexpected context.

Our best advice if you’re considering a move abroad? Even if you plan on your stay being temporary, treat it as if it’s forever. Plant roots. Build friendships. Learn the language. Don’t hold back. There’s no perfect place, but don’t fall into the trap of focusing on the negative; if you can’t embrace the differences, at least be able to laugh at them. Finally, treat everyone with an abundance of courtesy and respect. A lot of expats don’t intend to be rude, but come across that way because they don’t understand or practice basic cultural norms. Watch how locals interact and do your best to imitate—it doesn’t take much language to say: “Hello, good morning, how are you?” And smiling takes no language at all!

We devoured Amelia and JP’s Ecuador videos while preparing for our move! Even more than the practical tips for preparing to relocate and for adjusting to life abroad, their joy of discovery and respectful treatment of Ecuadorian culture—but through a helpful expat lens—grew our confidence that we could make a place for ourselves here.

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Originally, my main reason for moving abroad was political. Depending upon which way the 2016 election went, I didn’t want to live under a President that I thought would be bad for America. But then, my mom (who was living with me at the time) and I traveled to Ecuador to check it out, and we both fell in love with the country, the people, the food and the climate. At that point, we wanted to move to Ecuador for the right reasons.

In general, we were very comfortable moving abroad, as I grew up as an Air Force dependent, and my mom was an Air Force wife, so we were used to adapting to other cultures. Based upon our trip there, I really didn’t have any fears about moving to Ecuador specifically, but my mom was 85 years old at the time, with health issues. She was concerned about getting the care she needed.

My mom passed away before we could move to Ecuador, so it was just me. I speak just a little Spanish, so language was a bit of an obstacle, but with Google translate, I got by. I took your advice and the advice of others, and visited many times, to different areas to see where I would be most comfortable. Because I used you, and others, as a resource, I really didn’t face any obstacles. I didn’t bring much with me, other than personal items, as I read that almost everything I would need could be purchased there. I didn’t buy any property right off the bat, until I landed on the area I knew I wanted to settle in (Cuenca). By this time, I had made Ecuadorian friends, and they helped me through the buying process. So, for me, it was an easy transition, but I can see the struggles others go through that didn’t have the same resources I did. There are many ‘ads’ for facilitators, so if you don’t know someone personally, ask a lot of questions of expats who are living there now. They will tell you who the good ones are. I learned a lot of do’s and don’ts from them, which helped me avoid obstacles. Facebook is a great resource, as you can find groups living in the cities/towns you’re considering, and they are happy to answer your questions, and to share their experiences.

What I love most about living abroad are the new adventures I experience almost daily. Ecuador offers a vibrant blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and a relaxed pace of life. With the different ecosystems to explore, the variety of flora and fauna, and the multitude of activities available, there’s never a dull moment. The diverse traditions keep things interesting, while the fresh foods keep me healthy. The affordable cost of living and mild climate make it easy for me to enjoy a comfortable, adventurous lifestyle. The locals are a bit shy, but be patient… once they get to know and trust you, they are warm, friendly and helpful. I have been horseback riding, hiking, participated in a shaman healing ceremony, explored Inca ruins, attended concerts and art exhibits, etc., and look forward to new adventures all the time.

I got shingles last year (first time ever), so I walked into a clinic without an appointment, and without local insurance. Within 15 minutes, I saw the doctor… she was very efficient, gave me a shot for the pain, and prescriptions for antiviral cream, and pain meds. I paid less than $50 for everything. Overall, it was a very good experience in the healthcare system. As a resident (not a tourist), you’ll be required to have insurance. There is public insurance and also private insurance companies. You’ll need to decide which is better for you, based upon the experiences of others.

It’s incredible how cheap the food is, and everything is so fresh! If you order juice, they pull out the blender, put in the fruit of your choice, and make it right then. There is a set lunch menu called almuerzo (also the word for lunch), which ranges from $2.50-$4.00 and is enough food for two meals. They make the best ceviche on the coast, although you can also get it elsewhere. Things are made differently in the different regions, so don’t be surprised if the encebollado soup on the coast looks and tastes different when in the Sierra region.

People lose weight when they move to Ecuador, or spend any extended period of time there, because they eat less processed foods, walk more and engage in less stress-eating.

The best advice I could give to someone considering a move to Ecuador is before you move… a) Do your research! Make a few trips, or go on an extended trip (a tourist can spend up to 90 days on a tourist visa + a 90 day extension) to explore the type of environment you want to live in (hot, cooler, wet, high/low altitude, rural, city, etc.) before you settle down… Once you decide on an area, research the weather, the demographics, the amenities and services available, etc. b) Learn some basic Spanish and have a translator app or use Google translate. You’re in their country; you should try to speak their language. c) BE PATIENT … Ecuadorians aren’t as clock conscious as we are, so if they invite you to dinner at 7, you may not be eating until 9. If you must meet someone at a specific time (for example, a taxi to the airport), tell them “en punto,” otherwise you may run late. Don’t be upset about this… it’s their culture, and you’re in their country. They also don’t do things the same way we do, so be prepared to be adaptable to their customs and procedures. This is especially true if registering a car, buying a house, etc. d) Be polite… Americans tend to jump right into what they want to ask, but a little polite conversation goes a long way. You greet them, then say you hope they’re having a good day, or something nice about what they’re wearing, or whatever… after a half minute or so, you get to the point of asking what you want… even in texting and phone calls, not just in person. e) Be courteous and respectful… the same as you would expect to be treated. Do not expect the locals to do things your way… you’re in their country!

There are a lot of things to learn once you get there… phone service, Internet, medical, mail service, signing up for utilities, etc. If you rent, much of that is taken care of. One thing to note, it’s common for there not to be even a stove or refrigerator in a rental. People bring their own, and take then when they leave the property. So if you’re looking to rent, you might want to make sure appliances are included. Expats who live there are your best resource. Find the cafes where the expats hang out, and start asking questions. Make friends with locals… they’ll help you avoid being “gringo’d” (being charged more because you’re a foreigner).

Before I decided to make the move, I took JP and Amelia’s eCourses, and found them to be very helpful. Their videos are what got me excited about moving to Ecuador and exploring the places they talked about. They’re really what got me serious about moving to Ecuador. I also watched videos online, joined Facebook groups of expats living in the various regions, went online to the EC government website to find out rules and regs for expats, and while in-country, talked to as many people as I could to pick their brains about their experiences.

But I owe it to JP and Amelia for getting my ball rolling.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.