My First Taste of Ecuador: An Expat's Initial Journey
Hey everyone, and welcome to my blog about Ecuador in South America, for those interested in travel and new experiences. I wanted to share a bit about my first time visiting the country.
My journey started in September 2009. I was living in Newcastle, UK, my hometown, and working for a wine company. The job involved long hours doing wine tastings, and while I enjoyed meeting people and the wine itself was good, I reached a point where I felt ready for a change. It might seem a bit sudden, but I decided to quit my job and take off.
After making that decision, the question was: where to go? I wasn't drawn to the typical destinations, wanting to explore something a bit different. Thailand, the USA, South America – my mind was full of possibilities. I'd connected with people from various countries online, which added to the confusion. Eventually, a friend from South America, "Marlon", shared his reasons for why I should consider going there.
Some of the points he made were:
- The exchange rate between the British pound and the US dollar was favorable.
- The weather was consistently warm, with some rain, which was a welcome change from England.
- The country boasted beautiful scenery, including beaches, mountains, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon rainforest.
That was enough to pique my interest. I searched online and found flights from Newcastle to Guayaquil in Ecuador, with layovers in Amsterdam and Panama.
Upon arrival in Ecuador, there were some security questions about the purpose of my visit, which seemed quite thorough. As a tourist, I was initially granted a 90-day stay by filling out a simple form on the plane – a straightforward process. Other visa options are available with further research.
I landed in Guayaquil around 7:30 am after a long flight and was understandably tired. Marlon met me at the airport and drove me about three hours to his home in Portoviejo, located in the Manabí province.
I have to admit, as I arrived, I had a moment of questioning my decision. Traveling so far to a place where I only knew one person felt a little daunting. The first ten minutes of the drive were a bit of a culture shock, seeing poorer areas that I had only seen on television before. I tried to keep an open mind, as advised.
Portoviejo seemed like a fairly large place, possibly similar in size to Newcastle. I noticed quite a few people looking at me, likely because I was a foreigner. However, it didn't bother me; perhaps they were just curious.
Marlon had arranged a hotel for me, nothing fancy, but it was fine as I needed to rest. I thanked him for his help and we agreed to meet the next day. The following day, I was offered an apartment to rent for $100 per month, which seemed very reasonable. It was at that point that the reality of being there started to sink in.
I went to the shops to buy some essentials, and the price of beer immediately caught my attention – around 60p a bottle. Cigarettes were also inexpensive. It definitely felt like a good deal!
There are many stories, details about prices, and conversations I could share from that time. I plan to include photos and videos from my initial stay to provide a better picture.
When my initial three months were up and I had to fly back to the UK, I was surprised by how emotional I felt. I had genuinely grown to love the country and had made some good friends, including students at a local university where I occasionally sat in on classes and offered help. The lifestyle appealed to me greatly – a relaxed pace, easy access to beaches, fresh fruit and fish, and a generally healthy way of life. I felt refreshed and revitalized.
Returning home in January 2010 felt like a return to gloom. The contrast with the sunny life I had just experienced was stark. However, the memories of Ecuador stayed with me, and I knew I wanted to go back. That's exactly what happened. I returned in October 2010 and have been living here full-time ever since. It's been a bit of a whirlwind, but I have no regrets. I do miss my family and friends back home, which can be difficult at times, but this is where my life is now, and it was a positive decision for me.
I hope this gives you a little insight into my initial journey here. As I continue to live in Ecuador, I hope to share more information, including any mistakes I might make and general tips for living here. Who knows what I'll get up to next?
Feel free to leave a comment if you've been here before or are interested in following my experiences.
Cheers, and I'll speak to you soon
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