$$$Ca-Ching$$$

As the title of this post indicates, I will be addressing one of the most common questions about living in Ecuador...money.

Most people are a little surprised when they find out that the national currency of Ecuador is the US dollar.  I did a little research on the topic and found that Ecuador began using US currency in 2000 to help stabilise their economy.

But probably the most surprising thing about the US currency in Ecuador is the popular use of the US Sacajawea dollar coin and the fifty-cent piece. When the dollar coin was introduced in the US, it quickly died in popularity.  Now it seems most of these coins have ended up in Ecuador! I do not recall using the fifty-cent piece other than with the tooth fairy back home in the US.

Of course, using US currency is a big plus for those who have moved to, or are planning to visit Ecuador, but I have found that using the dollar coin is also a big plus when you live in the damp coastal areas.  In Ecuador, it is very difficult to turn in our used ripped or damaged bills, even the banks reject money that has been torn, so the use of coins makes it easier to keep your money safe and undamaged.  The damp salt air can be hazardous to your paper bills! Ecuador is a cash based society, so carrying around a credit card is useless unless you go to a major city or a shopping mall.  The nearest mall to us is about an hour's drive away and the nearest major city is Guayaquil, about 2 1/2 hours away. 

Now to address the other burning questions regarding the cost of living in Ecuador.  I mentioned in a previous post that the cost of living here is much lower than in the United States and now that we have lived here for three months, I can give some detailed examples.  Our internet, which is comparable to the service we had in Henryville, Indiana is $35 a month.  It's not super fast, but it meets our needs. Milton, from the internet company, comes around to the house on his motorcycle to collect our internet fee each month.  Directv is roughly $7 a week. You can go to the local hardware store and prepay for Directv service.  Gasoline is $1.48 a gallon.  Ecuador is a member country of OPEC and the price for gasoline has remained steady for some time. Our house in completely electric and we pay about $35 per month for electricity.  The company puts the bill in the slats in our front gate each month and we pay at the local CNEL office in Manglaralto. The billing works the same for our water as well.  We pay about $15-20 per month, but we have a pool to maintain so I am sure it's lower for others. We also buy bottled water for drinking purposes at $2 for a 5-gallon jug.  This lasts us about a week and a half because we work hard to stay hydrated. It's very easy to get sick in the tropics if you don't drink lots and lots of water. I carry water with me almost everywhere I go. 

Perhaps the biggest change in our spending compared to living in the US is the amount we pay for food.  We try to go to the big grocery store for staples about once a month.  We mostly buy cleaning supplies, pet food, toiletries, frozen meat, and basics like sugar and flour.  Then every few days at home in Manglaralto, we go to the local tiendas (shops) for fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, and bread.  We walk to the nearby town of Cadeate for our bread as it is known for its bakeries. We will also buy a whole chicken in Cadeate as well.  Now that the shop owners know us and realise we live here, the prices have dropped and I believe we may be getting the local prices for things. All in all, our grocery bill has been cut by at least half from when we lived in the US. The following is a photo of some produce we bought a week ago.  We paid about $3.60 for all of the items in the picture. 

We have a fish vendor come to our door about twice a week on his motorcycle with huge fresh shrimp and fish, which he will fillet for us.  The shrimp are about $7.50 per pound for the large ones and a whole fish can cost about $30, but that will feed us for about four meals.  

Eating out at a restaurant is also super cheap.  We have had delicious meals for no more than $10 an entree.  Lunch specials are usually about $3.  There are lots of choices as well.  We have a favorite Peruvian restaurant, a pizza place, sushi, Italian, Thai, Asian, etc....There are many choices; however, there are no fast food restaurants in our area.  We really haven't missed that, though.

Another added bonus of eating fresher foods and walking to go shopping is that we have lost a bit of weight.  Both Bill and I are now having trouble fitting into the shorts we brought with us.  I see a shopping trip for clothes in our near future. 

There is also an increase in "gringo" products coming to our area.  Many people from the US and other countries come to Ecuador and share their speciality foods.  We have a French baker in the nearby town of Olon, a Russian couple started a cheese, beer, and bread store also in Olon, and a brewery in Montanita makes really good beer and ciders.  

The cost of medical care and medicine is probably the most amazing difference here in Ecuador.  In the US, I took a prescription and even with my insurance co-pay, had to pay $50 a month.  I can get ninety days of the exact same medicine at the local farmacia (pharmacy) with no prescription for $16! Bill had to make a quick trip to the emergency room two months ago after fainting, and the cost was absolutely free.  We did pay $21 for the medicines that the doctor suggested he take.  Once we obtain our residency, we will be able to get health insurance for about $80 per month.  When we turn 65, our health care will be free. You can find many doctors who can speak English as many have been trained in the US. You can search the internet for many first-hand experiences regarding health care, elective surgeries, and other health care topics, but so far, our experiences have been very positive.  

On the flip side (I have to tell the whole truth, after all!), there are several categories of consumer goods which are quite expensive in Ecuador.  Cars are cost prohibitive.  Importing your own car can cost double the value of the car by the time you add import taxes.  Buying a car in Ecuador limits the brand of car you can choose. We see lots of Hyundai, a few Toyotas, and Chevrolets, and Great Wall, a Chinese-made car.  Bill and I decided that since the cost of buses and taxis is very cheap, and both systems are readily available, we are going to go without a car.  We are delighted to have no car payments, insurance issues, taxes, or repairs to pay for. So far it been a great decision (see the previous paragraph about weight loss!).

Appliances also tend to be quite expensive here as well.  You are also very limited to the brands which are offered.  Computers and televisions are very expensive.  We stopped by a computer/appliance store last weekend and the price of a laptop on a payment plan was going to be over $2000!  Recently Ecuador signed a trade agreement with Europe and there is hope that appliances and technology prices will drop.  

Finally, I'd like to comment a little on income in Ecuador.  Along the coast, the average salary for a worker is about $20 per day. We've met people who clean houses, make concrete blocks, sell popsicles on a bike, wash clothes, landscape, clean pools, run restaurants, work in a hospital, guard banks, ...you name it.  And even though the average wage is VERY different here in Ecuador than in the US, most every person we've met seems happy, has pride in his job, and has a smile and a wave for us. 

Even though no one makes a huge amount of money here and water can be in limited supply due to a recent drought, the Ecuadorian people have a tremendous amount of pride in their appearance and their possessions. Mothers work hard to keep their families' clothes spotless, taxi drivers are constantly wiping down their cars, and the local tienda owners are busy keeping their shops tidy. A retired friend of ours loves to use the word "tranquilo" when describing his life here in Ecuador.  I think that perfectly sums up the country we are growing to love more each day.

Our Happy Holidays

I am sorry for my delay in posting in this blog.  Usually the holidays for us are low key, with a few scattered events and a quiet Christmas as well as New Year's at home, but this year, it's a whole new world!

The first exciting event came on the 21st as we got to help out and witness first-hand the wonderful generosity of our dear friends Bob and Rox.  We rented a suite from them in June and as well when we returned in November.  Bob and Rox helped us so much with our decision to live in Ecuador. They both have huge hearts and we saw that in action when we attended their Christmas party for the neighborhood (barrio) children.  With the help of donations, but mostly single-handedly, Bob and Rox plan, purchase, and organize an event for around 350 kids and their mamas!  Each child gets to come up and visit Santa, receive a toy, a bag of treats, and have lunch in Bob and Rox's lovely backyard by the sea.  There is music, laughter, and lots of hugs and smiles.  The reaction of the children when Papa Noel appeared was priceless.  Bill and I had so much fun helping out that day. Bill helped take out the trays and trays of food for everyone, and I got to help the ladies put together the  lunches. Incredibly, Bob and Rox served us dinner on their deck that night as well! Bob even took pictures of each and every child with Santa, which he had printed and handed out to each family later in the week.  If you would like to help them with next year's event, you can find their blog by Googling "Bob and Rox Ecuador." It's on Squarespace.

Rox with Papa Noel, beginning the gift giving!

 Sometimes it's just too exciting and a nap is required. 

The next series of events which we attended and helped was the fundraising efforts of local expats who raised money to purchase a refrigeration system for the local orphanage.  There was a beautiful sunset concert, with music by college students from Quito.  There was a silent auction as well. Several expats also organized a lovely dinner to raise money.  I posted the web site for friends and family to donate to the cause and all the fundraising efforts were successful! The new refrigeration is purchased and will be installed shortly!  Bill and I recently visited the orphanage with our friend Erwin Musper.  I will write a post all about the orphanage at a later date, but I will tell you it was a life changing event for me. If you would like to donate to this wonderfull cause, please go to https://www.youcaring.com/orphanage-sant-maria-de-la-esperanza-ecuador-617532?fb_action_ids=1342146185798810&fb_action_types=youcaringcom%3Ashare. The money donated will help to keep freezer full of food for the 60-70 kids who live at the orphanage.

To thank the expats for their work on fund raising and also their work on putting together backpacks full of toys for every child in the orphanage, the children put together a beautiful Christmas pageant. Two wonderful friends of ours devoted many hours of practice helping some of the older girls learn to play keyboard and guitar.  They learned Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley. A local singer accompanied the girls. There was not a dry eye in the house.  The children also presented a pageant representing the birth of the baby Jesus with dancing and actors.  It was a special day.

These little boys were my favorite part of the pageant.  They loved spinning the straw hats on their heads before the performance started.  It was fun to watch the teachers trying to herd this group. 

 Our sweet friend, Woot, who is the perfect Papa Noel handed out gifts to each child in the orphanage.

Erwin speaking seriously to the wonderful woman who runs the orphanage. I imagine they're thinking up another great project to work on for the kids. 

Our son, Kevin flew in on Christmas Eve day.  What a perfect gift for me! We enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day visiting new friends and enjoying time together. We finished Christmas with a wonderful turkey dinner at our friends Bob and Rox.  To say that having Christmas dinner with wonderful friends while watching the sun set on the Pacific Ocean was a special event for us is an understatement.  I simply couldn't believe I was there!

New Year's celebrations in Manglaralto, and all over Ecuador, are full of traditions and fun.  For three days before New Year's, many young men in the community spend the evenings dressed as women.  They parade through the town and go door to door dancing and playing music.  These men are called "la mojigas" and it is expected that you give them small coins or beer to get them to move on.  Then on New Year's Eve, they shed their costumes and return back to their original form, and the party continues.  Another tradition throughout Ecuador is the burning of effigies.  Many households purchase an effigy to burn at midnight in order to get rid of the bad luck and start a fresh new year.  Many of the effigies are super heroes or comic book heroes.  This year, we purchased a Pikachu effigy and burned it on the beach at midnight as fireworks were going off up and down the coast.

There is always one old man and old woman in the group of dancers. They represent the old year. 

This was truly an unforgettable holiday for Bill and me.  I was so lucky to get to share it with Kevin and our new friends here in Ecuador.  Here's to many more celebrations!

Happy 2017!

Montanita

Bill and I are on week three of living here in Ecuador.  Today we took a little visit to Montanita, a nearby surfing and tourist based town.  From our hometown of Manglaralto, Montanita is a thirty minute walk on the beach.  Today we started out at high tide, so we had to take a few alternate routes and cross the seawall a few times to avoid the high waves.  You can also take a taxi in to Montanita for $1.50.

As we were walking into town, we saw many surfers out in the water hoping to catch a wave.  There were some really talented people out there doing flips and tricks as they found the perfect wave.

I'm not sure if your can see the little heads between waves, but there were about 20-30 surfers today.

Montanita has a large rock sea wall.  On the top of it are park benches and pieces of artwork.

 The ocean side of the boardwalk has a railing.

The city side is a long way down without a railing.  I don't think OSHA would approve!

Montanita has many bars, restaurants, and stores.  There are the typical tourist stalls with handbags, flip-flops, and sunglasses for sale. There are also people who will rent you a few chairs and an umbrella out on the beach if you're visiting for the day.  This town has a very youthful feel to it.  There is music everywhere and young adult world travelers are always coming and going.  High season is coming up so the town is not crowded yet, but we hear it will be very soon.  There are lots and lots of hostels.  The rent for a night can be anywhere between $8-$20 per person, depending on if you want a private bathroom, Wifi, or hot showers.  

This is a really nice looking hostel just on the inside of the sea wall.  It also has a small pool.  The sign says $25 per couple or $12 per person.  

We walked around town and went to our favorite bakery with whole grain bread, but this time we bought a loaf of bread with cheese baked in for $1. We also tried a new restaurant and had the almuerzo, or lunch special.  In Montanita, it's a bit more expensive than at home in Manglaralto at $3.50, but still includes soup, rice, salad, and a protein.  Today's protein was fish or calamari. There are great ceviche stands throughout the town. Here's a photo of a ceviche plate I had on a previous trip.

One of the nicest things I have seen in almost every town we have visited in Ecuador is a playground area.  It is always clean and in the evenings, after school lets out and the weather cools a little, it's a busy place!

   

One of the things I love best about living in Ecuador is the fresh produce.  Many trucks run through the towns with their loudspeakers blaring, announcing the fruits and vegetables they have in stock. This truck was making its way around Montanita as we were there. Typically we've been able to find ten beautiful, ripe mangoes for $1.  Yesterday I bought an onion, one fourth of a red cabbage, a carrot, some bananas, two mangoes, an outstanding pineapple, and a handful of really sweet strawberries for $3.60.  

All in all it was a lovely way to spend a few hours.  Our waitress, Julietta, talked to us a while and asked where we were from (she's from Peru).  As we talked about the differences between the United States and Ecuador, she was amazed when I told her about the weather in November in Indiana. Remember, here in Ecuador summer is beginning! 

Our New Hometown

Many people have asked about where we are living in Ecuador.  I'll share a little info today.  We chose the coastal town of Manglaralto, Ecuador for a few reasons.

We really wanted to live on the beach!  If we were going to make all the effort of moving to another country, we wanted to see the ocean.  Real estate is so much cheaper in Ecuador, that with even my small teacher pension, we could rent or purchase someplace nice.  Manglaralto is right in the middle between the arid coastal region and the jungle coastal region. After spending Wednesday walking up and down the beach and knocking on doors, we were able to find a great house to rent for our budget. We'll be moving in a week.  

This is our rental "home away from home". We stayed here when we came down in June as well. If you'd like a wonderful suite on the beach, I can help you contact our hosts, Bob and Rox.

This is our new home.  We will be moving in a week right down the beach from our present suite.  

This is the beach.  As you can tell, it is an overcrowded tourist area. The beaches in Ecuador are all public access.  Each morning and evening the fishermen bring in their boats and the whole town helps to haul in the nets to collect the day's catch. Sea turtles are now coming up to lay their eggs, which will hatch some time around Christmas

Manglaralto is not too big or too small, it's just right for us!  We are within walking distance to Montanita, which is a popular tourist town.  Surfers and young world travelers come to Montanita for the excellent surfing and cheap hostels.  It has a very cool vibe, and lots of good restaurants and bars. We can walk there in about thirty minutes or take a taxi for $1.50.  We are also one hour (by bus) from a shopping mall should we need any big items and two hours from Guayaquil, a major city.

Bill tried a street vendors empanada.  He loved it!

We are slowing learning our way around Manglaralto.  We have found the bus stop, bike repair, hardware store, local expat bar, and beach restaurant.  We have learned where to get great whole grain fresh bread, the freshest chicken, and our favorite produce stand.  Every vendor has been kind to us, even through our terrible Spanish.  The town feels very safe and family oriented and everyone has a smile and a "buenos dias" as we walk by. Thanks to the expat friends we have met here, and the great advice we have received from them, this place is already starting to feel like home.

Travel Day/Day 1 of Many!

Yesterday was our travel day.  After selling all of our possessions at the auction Sunday, we slept on the floor with the pets.  We thought of staying at a friend's house or a hotel, but Bill and I both knew we wouldn't really get any sleep, so we spent one last night in Henryville.

The flights were smooth and everyone was friendly as Bill and I escorted our dog, Abby, and cat Cami, through four different airports.  We had heard horror stories about people entering Ecuador with their pets only to have them quarantined or turned away.  I have to say, it was very easy AFTER we made sure to have the proper documentation. The customs official seemed at little shocked after I gave him a BIG hug as he signed off on our paperwork. Bienvenidos a Ecuador!

My friend Beth asked me to describe the process of transporting our animals.  First, we contacted the airlines online and printed their "emotional support animal" document.  I did not want my pets to travel in the cargo portion of the plane.  If you have a doctor sign this document, then your pets are considered service animals and can fly in the cabin with you.  However, that being said, we did call both of the airlines we used and double checked to make them aware they were coming.  We also found the Ecuadorian document needed to bring pets in the country online.  Your vet has to be certified to fill these out.  Once the animals are checked, all shots are updated, and records are collected, then I had to travel to the USDA office in Indianapolis to have them approved and certified. This must happen within TEN days of departure.  We had Abby on a leash and carried Cami in a carry-on approved soft-sided container. The only hiccup through the day was that we have had to leave the TSA approved area to let Abby relieve herself.  Time was an issue for us, and Abby usually has no problems while we were at work, so she made it through the day.  She was so excited to be petted by everyone, I don't think it occurred to her to go! 

So now we are in our temporary house on the beach.  Bob and Rox, our gracious hosts, made sure we had everything we needed for our first night.  They even supplied a litter box and food for each pet! If you are ever interested in coming to Ecuador, Bob and Rox have two lovely places for rent right on the beach.  Let me know, and I'll be happy to put you in contact with them.  We will start looking for a long term rental on Thursday, but we know we have several options.  Abby and Cami (and Bill) are taking much needed naps as I speak and things are calming down.  

We walked down the beach earlier today to our favorite lunch-time restaurant, Rocio's.  We found this little cabana in June as I saw several workers' trucks parked in front and many people eating there, so I knew it must be good food.  They have no indoor seating.  Everything is under a thatched roof, steps from the Pacific Ocean.  Most restaurants have a lunch special for $3 (US), which includes a soup, main course of a meat, rice and plantains, and freshly squeezed "jugo del dia" (juice of the day). Today's juice was tamarind fruit.  It was yummy.

The soup was a vegetable-beef with large pieces of meat and potatoes as well as sliced corn on the cob. The main course was a stew with fried plantains, rice, fresh limes, and pico de gallo.  The daily special changes every day.  It was delicious food.  

On our way home, I bought everything needed to make fresh guacamole for $3.  I thought I'd make a little snack as we watch the election results come in tonight. Bill is in charge of the fruity drinks.   

Thanks again to all the friends and family who came to see us these last few days in the United States, and thank-you to our Ecuadorian friends for helping us through the process of moving our lives here.  I may join the nappers, now.  

Peace. 

Getting Closer to the Big Day!

Another week has passed and many new accomplishments have been checked off of our list before our departure!  The travel lockers have arrived and are quickly being filled.

Bill and I traveled to Indianapolis Friday to get the LAST needed document from the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Office and then ran right across the street to the capital building to get it apostilled. We felt like we had won the lottery as we found an open parking spot with time leftover on the meter in downtown Indianapolis. 

Our dear friends in Ecuador continue to send us valuable tidbits of packing essentials and have shared hints and tricks to make the move easier. We surely could not have done this move without the help and advice of Bob and Rox in Manglaralto and Cyndy in Olon. 

Each day, I attempt to organize auction items.  I've been trying to fill at least ten boxes a day.  It really is incredible how much stuff a couple can gather!  I'm not a hoarder at all, but there will be a lot of items in the auction next week.

Bill and I have been trying to connect with our close friends as often possible and our son, Kevin, has been hanging out with us as we make visits.  I know we will see these dear friends in Ecuador, but the good-byes have been difficult.  

David, Bill, and Steve

Best Friends!

So it is forward we go!  We know this will be a busy eight days, but we are looking forward to dancing on the beach in Manglaralto and staring at the beautiful sunset by next Monday evening. 

Happy Halloween Eve!

The Road to Ecuador

So this is the first post to Bill and Shawn's Ecuador Adventure!

Many people have asked about our decision making process and the issues with moving to another country, so I thought I'd start this blog for anyone interested in our journey.

I plan to post pictures and stories as we make our move to Ecuador. We have a lot of people asking the same questions about the "why" of it all, so I'll try to make it as short as possible.

Two years ago, as I watching "Beachfront Bargain Hunt" on HGTV, they featured a little island called Roatan in Honduras.  I researched it a little and found that Honduras is a great place for retirees to settle.  We loved our time in Roatan (2015) but continued our research.  We had about five countries which we considered and researched extensively.  The following year (June 2016), we traveled to Manglaralto, Ecuador.   Initially, I was not attracted to Ecuador, but after a few days, it seemed like home!

Our lovely hosts made sure to show us the local fruit stands, bakery, grocery, and good restaurants in Manglaralto. We quickly realized that the vibe in Ecuador is peaceful, friendly, and kind.  We traveled up and down the coast and explored other towns, big and small. The language barrier was not a major issue as everyone we met made a great effort to communicate with us.  There's a lot to be said for talking with your hands!

Salinas

Puerto Lopez

Rocio's, one of our favorite restaurants in Manglaralto.

We made several ex-pat friends who graciously shared their experiences with us.  Not one person ever expressed any regret about their move.  Everyone was so kind to give us hints and tips about making our move easier.  

After returning home, Bill and I sat down for a serious heart-to-heart.  We spoke with a financial adviser who specializes in teacher retirement and our real estate agent.  We talked and reviewed all our options.  We agreed that "someday" Ecuador would be a great place to live.  After another long conversation across the dinner table a few days later, we decided that we shouldn't wait until "someday". With the cost of living so reasonable in Ecuador, we knew that my teacher retirement would afford us a very comfortable life and still be able to travel from time to time. Medical care is extremely affordable and high quality.  Ecuador uses the US dollar as currency. So.....what if there isn't ever a "someday"?  My father worked hard his whole life and found out he had colon cancer one month from retirement.  I learned a valuable lesson from that experience. 

Although I still have a strong passion for my teaching career, and we love our home in the middle of the forest, we decided to see if we could make the dream of living on the ocean a reality!  We put our house on the market in July and started the paperwork trail to acquire visas to live in Ecuador. For the last few weeks, we have obtained records (birth certificates, college diplomas, etc...) and had them apostilled, which is a documented agreement between countries to accept official documents. 

After we found a buyer for the house, we called the auctioneer to sell the contents.  The buyers have agreed to keep our chickens and three pet geese.  There is no real "road to Ecuador" so it is not affordable for us to ship the contents of our house. This is the most difficult part of moving for me.  I know the story behind every piece of furniture and every framed piece on the wall.  But I have been assured by friends in Ecuador that this will be the most freeing experience for me.  We know that our only child, Kevin, doesn't need to be shackled with trying to manage the household items after we're gone, so the plan is to take six suitcases, one dog, and one cat.  

Abby 

We finally set the moving date and purchased the airline tickets!  As the auction will be November 6th, and we will no longer have a bed or a car, we will be leaving on Monday, November 7th.  We will complete our civic duty and vote before we leave. 

Bill and I are both terrified and thrilled.  My last day of school was October 19th.  It still doesn't seem real.  Bill's last day is November 2nd.  Our friend, Dale Moss, heard about the move and featured us in a lovely article in The Evening News, so now our little community knows.  We're really doing this!  

The good-byes have begun. 

Ready or not, Ecuador, here we come.  

Sunset from our rental suite in Manglaralto.