4 Years in Ecuador: Reflections on Jumping off a Cliff

4 Years ago I gave (yes, gave) away all my furniture and piles of clothes, and jumped on a plane to Ecuador. Okay, I planned it for 5 years including building an online business so I could work remotely, but to many of those close to me it was a shock that I actually did it. Come to find out, many people have come forward saying they have dreamed of doing something similar but never worked up the courage to do it. 

I get it. 

Fast forward to today, and here are lessons learned and regrets to manage. 

Lesson #1: You Don’t Need to Give Everything Away 

I’m an all-or-nothing kind of human. If I work out at the gym, I’m in it 100%, and if I go off sugar or some such nonsense, it’s a total blackout on sweets. What this means, is that when I jump off the proverbial cliff, it’s a flying leap done screaming all the way down. This is why I am an entrepreneur and a minimalist; I’m ready to rock and roll at all times. 

You are probably not like this, I know. My eccentricities are rarely understood and many of you can relate to this. Having said that, now that I am living in South America, many of my friends brought over many suitcases, shipments, and crates of belongings that help them feel at home here. You can rent a very nice, 2 bedroom, furnished apartment for around $550+ so you don’t necessarily need your own stuff, but I do understand the sense of belonging that comes from sitting on your own sofa. 

For reference, I brought 3 suitcases, and two of them were for equipment…..

Lesson #2: Stay Centered and Don’t Freak Out

When I arrived I rented an Airbnb for a month to figure out where I wanted to live and which way was up. You can actually rent a place for a year or longer online so that you can land where you live, but I wanted time to feel things out. The place I rented had a mold problem, which led me, two days in, to write these words on a Cuenca, Ecuador Facebook group; “HELP! I need a place to live!”. 

A woman responded and we met for coffee that day with a friend of hers. Her friend showed me a short video they had taken while seeing an apartment that she loved, but couldn’t rent due to the stairs. Consequently, I jumped (yes, lots of jumping going on) into a cab and went to the location and introduced myself. After a short tour, I handed the owner the deposit and moved in the following day. I still live there. 

The place is 5 minutes from the largest bird park in Ecuador, has a gorgeous garden that the owner tends daily, and I have become close friends with not only the Ecuadorian owner, but her family as well. In other words, stay centered and don’t freak out. Rely on the amazing expat community and be bold. 

Lesson #3: Visa’s Are a Pain, But You Can Do It

Often, people start with one visa and then shift to another due to having to return to their country for various reasons, and then coming back. My advice is to use a reputable visa agency like Angel Visa’s and do your research. The bureaucracy is terrible, and sometimes totally illogical, but put on your big girl/boy pants and take a breath. Most countries around the world use bureaucracy to get more cash out of you and employ people so go at it with mirth, and don’t get too ratty.

Personally, I started with a remote workers visa and then switched to a professional visa in order to have the transition to permanent resident be easier. But that’s just me. There are several different types of visas with different requirements so do what makes sense for you. You can start your visa in the US and then finish it once you arrive, so be methodical and it will all be fine. 

Lesson #4:  Don’t Be Daft, Learn Spanish

If someone moves to an English speaking country like the United States, you would probably expect them to learn the language or at least try to speak it in life situations like the grocery store. By all accounts, you would be irritated if they just expected you to speak their language and acted like they were put-out that you didn’t. These are things westerners often do here and TBH, it makes me go into orbit. My own frustrations aside, you can learn another language and it is incredibly empowering to do so! 

I did not speak any Spanish when I arrived, but four years in, I can hold basic conversations and navigate life pretty well. It has built my confidence and helped me make friends with some amazing locals. I know it can be overwhelming for many, but start with something like Duo Lingo and work your way in. My encouragement is to not be daft; learn a new language, meet locals, and try weird food. Be bold, jump the fence. 

Sometime You Just Have to Leap

Did I make the right decision to move to South America? For me, this was the right choice. The jury is still out on whether I will stay in Ecuador, learning Spanish means I can now live in nearly any Spanish speaking country which opens up a whole world to me, and you know as a cliff jumper, I totally dig that.