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Ecuador Welcome Forum: Presidential Election:
The election and the runoff election are over and depending on which side of the political fence you are on, your party either narrowly achieved victory or was robbed by election fraud. Sound familiar ?
Yes, the right wing opposition still has people in the streets in certain cities, protesting the vote count, as I write and governing socialist party has some of their people celebrating. But by and large, is spite of what certain news outlets would like to make it, life goes on and everyone is pretty much back to their daily routines.
In spite of the hype and hypocrisies, folks here are pretty pragmatic. Yes, we're going through a rough patch economically, but nothing compared to the poor folks in Venezuela, Brazil, or Bolivia. No matter who won, the world wasn't going to come to an end.
I guess most people not living here or some newcomers may be concerned how the election and its aftermath will affect them. I really don't see where it will have any appreciable influence.
My wife and her family are very involved in politics - and were, like the country, pretty evenly divided between Moreno and Lasso - which made for some very lively family get togethers !
Personally, I felt better about voting down here, than I did in last fall's U.S. elections.
For those worried about Lenin Moreno continuing along the Correa Calle, I think people will be in for a surprise. He's a lot less divisive, more willing to listen, and I think, poco a poco you will see some of the ladrones and party hack being replaced as he quietly implements his own agenda - not business as usual. I also think relations with the U.S. will improve - provided the Trump government is open to it. ( That of course is a big IF ).
Ecuador Welcome Forum: duplicate emails:
Yes ! Yes ! I thought it was just me....I thought it was just me,,,,
Ecuador: Tourist health insurance:
If I'm interpreting correctly, a tourist ie. someone visiting for 90 days does not need proof of health insurance but should you wish to file for the extended tourist visa or any of the other longer types of visas, it is now required that you have proof of some form of medical insurance.
Many of us who live here carry IESS and often some other private insurance - very inexpensive compared to the States, and very easy to acquire. I still have my Medicare/Medicaid and VA should I happen to fall ill while in the U.S.
I wouldn't be overly concerned , if I were you. It is a bridge you can cross, should you decide to stay here for more than 3 months.
Ecuador Welcome Forum: Tourist visa stay.:
"...is it possible that if i exit into Peru after 60 days, that when i return to Ecuador i can get another 90 days?..."
No, not without filing for a Tourist Visa extension ( See Dana's post...In fact see Dana or talk to her directly - She knows better than anyone ).
Your original plan of 60 days Ecuador, then Peru, then return for another 30 days is obviously doable with a bus ticket Just make sure you count your days carefully.
Ecuador: "The Great Guest Mentality!":
Windshadow,
Perhaps if you think about it as living at a hotel or a resort where you also " pay to play". You don't own the hotel. If you are at a time share resort, you've paid for the privilege of staying there a certain amount of time ( visa ? ) but you don't own the property, you are still - to the staff - a guest.
I spent time in some countries where I definitely wasn't considered a guest. Vietnam comes immediately to mind.
But even in those places, I did try to " mind my manners " and treated people like with respect and deference rather than with an "ugly American attitude".
I have, in my younger years, been unceremoniously booted out of a couple or three countries - but that's a story best either left untold or related over a couple of single malt Irish whiskeys ( RedBreast preferred ).
Ecuador is my home and probably, my last hurrah. I have an Ecuadoran wife and step-family who I love dearly and am very happy with my life here. I still will always be ( affectionately or not ) considered el gringo and that will never change. This is not the country of my birth and in spite of the roots that I've laid down, a shift in government attitude - from either the U.S.A or Ecuador - or some malfeasance on my part ( particularly political ) could lead to my expulsion...ergo I am technically, permanent visa and all, a guest in this country until I obtain citizenship.
Ecuador Welcome Forum: Learning Spanish:
sinego,
Kudos ! Very well said.
You can't learn Spanish, if you don't practice, and you can't practice, if you surround yourself with only English speakers !
Everyone learns at their own pace but the fastest way to learn is to immerse yourself in the culture and the language. Words and phrases will come - not out of a book - but through practical experience and observation.
People here are very kind and understanding of someone attempting to learn and speak their language. The most important thing is that you make the attempt to communicate,
Don't ever think that you are too old or unable to learn a foreign language. I had a motorcycle accident about 15 years ago that seriously affected my memory skills - particularly linguistic memory ! Prior to the accident I was relatively proficient in several languages. I lost all of that ability ( including English comprehension ) because of the accident. Gradually my language skills in English returned and bits and pieces of other languages.
When I moved here, I was, in no way "proficient" in Spanish speaking and my comprehension problems are compounded by a gradual hearing/sound discrimination loss.
Circumstances were such, that there weren't any English speakers where I lived, so I was "immersed" whether I wanted to be or not.
Bit by bit, word by word, phrase by phrase, my Spanish skills build daily. I am by no means "fluent" but I can get get into a political discussion or argue with my wife, or play with my step-grandchildren. I do get frustrated, at times that I can't remember a particular word or phrase that I know I know - but that happens to me in English, as well. I blame Harley-Davidson rather than old age !
Watch you favorite American reruns in Spanish or sports in Spanish language broadcasting on television. I also like to watch the local news broadcast and ( because of my wife ) even watch some telenovelas and comedy shows.
I know I am "getting there" linguistically, when I can attempt to make bad puns in Spanish like I do in English ! Groans from listeners are universal....
Ecuador Welcome Forum: Parasites:
I can only speak for myself and my family. We've never had problems with parasites - that I am aware of ( of course the little buggers could be happily residing in my gut and I don't know it ).
I have lived and worked all over the world and may have a systemic immunity built up, but I've never been overly concerned here in Ecuador, compared to other countries.
I am not afraid to eat "street food" and we eat out at sidewalk restaurants often.
The only time, in 4 years, I had a problem was when I contracted a mild case of hepatitis from eating Kentucky Fried Chicken at the Mall ( something I would never do in the States ).
We get the large containers of drinking water delivered but use the tap water to cook, bathe, etc. It really is more force of habit than necessity drinking bottled water since the city water is potable but everyone prefers the bottled water here and I have used bottled water throughout my adult life.
We buy our food fresh in the mercados and aside from washing the veggies and fruits ( with tap water ) we take no other precautions.
Yogurt is very popular here and in fact we use it rather than milk to drink and on cereal. Probably the 'probiotics' in the yogurt help combat the bad bacteria in the gut. I don't know.
All I know is that we eat healthy, avoid a lot of fats , sugar and fried foods, do a lot of walking, and don't worry .
Ecuador Welcome Forum: Finalized our trip:
wind & ctharp,
Any language program is only as good as the person using it...the major problem with Rosetta Stone ( for example ) is people shell out big bucks for the program and then never use it !
If they do bother to open the box and start the program, they never finish it. It is sort of like all those folks buying gym memberships in January and by February or March, have stopped going and complain that it didn't work.
Let's face it, most people are too damn lazy to follow through on what they start.
Do I think R.S. is the greatest thing since sliced bread ? Not by a long shot ! It is excellent for what it is. It will, IF you use it correctly and take advantage of what it offers, give you some good basic vocabulary and pronunciation skills that will all you to navigate in the language. You are NOT going to be fluent. But you should be comfortable enough to get around and begin to 'think' in the language.
There are very good language programs, like Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, or Duolingo out there BUT they are only as good as the person using them. Most people start the programs, get discouraged because they aren't fluent in 48 hours, and quit. Then, they blame the program, or the teacher and then, of course, the people of the foreign country for being too lazy to learn English !
Ecuador Welcome Forum: Info:
I am not sure exactly what you have in mind regarding ticket purchase, so I am not sure how to reply but...
If you are planning on purchasing an "open jaws" airlines ticket ( multiple city booking ... ie Miami-Bogota/Bogota-Guayaquil/Guayaquil-Lima/Lima-Miami ) with you initial arrival in Columbia and your final departure from Peru, with Ecuador in between, you shouldn't have any difficulties in any country.
If, however, you are planning on purchasing one-way air tickets, as you go, you are asking for additional expense and could run into some hassles. A more interesting way to go about it ( if you feel adventuresome ) and see much more of the countries, would be to fly to either Bogota or Lima, bus through either country to Ecuador and then bus to your final destination. You can either purchase two one-way tickets ( expensive ) or an open jaws return ( ie. Miami -Bogota then Lima-Miami ). You would merely ( if required to ) show your return ticket to Customs & Immigration but I doubt, since you are just "passing through" that you would need to, Still, it's always a good idea to have your way home, handy.
Ecuador: So long and thanks for all the fish:
relyondiana,
Hope you have a wonderful adventure when you get here.
You're right. If you want the rose colored glasses view of Ecuador, your better off sticking to reading International Lying. If you want a straight up evaluation ( sometimes a little edgy or caustic ) then you've come to the right place.
Sometimes, those of us who try to respond to questions, tend to forget, that although we've been asked the question a thousand times, it is the first time for the inquirer. It's important for us to remember that when we give our responses.
There are, as you've noticed, a few notorious trolls on this site - who don't even live here ! There's also, several good hearted people, who don't suffer fools gladly and will, usually when provoked, verbally cut you to ribbons with razor sharp retorts. So be it !
You're right. If you can't take a little good natured kidding ,then perhaps, you shouldn't come here ( or at least shouldn't be reading the posts. )
I think you will do very well here and wish you nothing but the best. Please post your impressions when you get here. Fresh eyes and observations are always important not just to future expats and travelers but us old gringos - the operative word, unfortunately, being old.
Buenos suerte !
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