I came to Ecuador 7 years ago on a two-month vacation having just finished my doctoral studies in New York. My plan was to visit Ecuador Peru and Bolivia in those 2 months. But here I am 7 years later with roots in Quito and Cuenca.
One day as I was walking around Quito I passed by the door of an NGO and stopped in to find out in my very rudimentary Spanish what they did there. I ended up visiting 3 indigenous communities - at the Pacific coast, in the coastal lowlands, and in the Andes. I had an amazing time living with a family in each place and getting to learn about their culture and relationship to the environment. But the NGO itself was a total disaster! It was totally broke and very disorganized. When the owner offered me the chance to try to do something with it, I figured - why not? So I started to reorganize everything, set up a Spanish school to develop an income stream, redesigned the website, and began to make things work. It was a radical learning experience, and nothing I would ever have decided to come to Ecuador to do!
But after about 18 months it got to the point where it was working in spite of the owner, rather than with his help, so at that point I decided I could do no more and was all set to continue my original journey. However, realizing that I was surrounded by goodwill and people wanting to do something positive I decided to stay and with a small group of teachers, we left and set up our own NGO and Spanish school.
That was 6 years ago now, and from our very humble and very broke beginnings we have continued to grow and develop our vision of helping indigenous and marginalized communities to develop sustainably in various parts of the country. We have also developed a top-quality Spanish school, first in Quito, and now recently opened in Cuenca.
It used to be that Ecuador, along with Latin America in general, had a dreadful reputation, and people (ask my mother!) assumed that you would be in grave danger as soon as you set foot here. North American and European press and media has long overstated the dangers, creating an exaggerated picture of revolution and chaos. I often have to comment to newly-arriving students that 99% of Ecuadorians are wonderful and friendly people, and that you just need to develop a few simple strategies for avoiding risky situations. I am happy to say that after 7 years here I have not been robbed yet, although I have come close several times!
My plan when I arrived in Ecuador was to return afterwards to live in Hawaii, where I lived previously for 3 years. But what I have found here in Ecuador is a life that is rich in ways that I could not have imagined before coming here to experience it. And while I still have the image in the back of my mind of the paradise of Hawaii, I am totally happy to be settled here in Ecuador and be able to travel to other places and return here afterwards.
Work in Quito
Accommodation in Quito
Healthcare in Ecuador
The Working Holiday Visa for Ecuador
Food in Ecuador
Work in Ecuador
Family and children in Ecuador
Opening a bank account in Ecuador
