My Cuenca Anniversary

On May 5, it will be one year that I have lived in the lovely city of Cuenca. I’ve learned a lot in that time. 1. There are no quiet places in Cuenca. It’s just a matter of finding a neighborhood that has the types of noises that don’t bother you. Hate loud explosions? Maybe […]

New home, new job

I have found a job! And just in time, too. I’ll be editing and refreshing content for a US real estate website, probably about 30 hours a week. Thank the fucking baby Jesus. I found a cheap room for rent too–with a tub!–in a large house closer to El Centro. But here’s the thing: My […]

It’s a miracle

Way back in 1999, I incurred about $26,000 in student loans. I have gone through years of paying when things are flush, to years of deferment when things are not, and by the time I got to 2023, the deferred interest had compounded making my new total $48,000. Yup, fo’ real, $48,000. I’m like, “I […]

I’m a resident!

I got my temporary resident Visa! Now I must stay in Ecuador for the next 2 years and at the end I can apply for my permanent resident visa. I believe I’m allowed to leave the country for 90 days in total during those two years, but I have no intention of going anywhere. I […]

Let’s talk about noise

Right now, as I’m currently writing this, there is a backhoe about 75 feet away digging up someone’s driveway. Forward, backward. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Forward, backward. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Times that by 100. This new apartment–which is absolutely gorgeous, btw–is the loudest place I have ever lived in my entire 60 years […]

CERTIFIED AND APPROVED!!!

If you don’t know, I have been waiting for almost four months for Senescyt–Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation here in Ecuador–to certify my degree so that I can take that with me to my Visa appointment to get my temporary residency visa this morning. By law, Senescyt has 60 days to complete […]

Compras de apartamentos

For you Gringos, that means I’ve been shopping for an apartment, and I can tell you: It’s exhausting! The rental market is very different here. An agent helps you to find the right apartment and then they get a commission on the terms and length of the lease. Most rental ads are posted on Facebook, […]

No one escapes the drought

You’d think that a small city at high altitude in the valley of the Andes next to a rain forest would be the last place where you’d see drought conditions. But you’d be wrong. For the past week, the city has been using rolling blackouts to conserve electricity, because the water levels are so low […]

The day of the dead

November 2 is the official holiday, but because it is also paired with Cuenca’s Independence Day, it’s like four days of festivities. Banks and businesses close, and Cuenca is filled with events, parades, traditional foods … and so many people. And there was so much art! This painting is magnificent. That is the artist, on […]

What’s up, doc?

I have been needing to get some updated labs done–all of them, actually–so I asked around on Facebook in my expat groups here for everyone’s favorite doctor. A Belgian woman was recommended to me, so I sent her a message on WhatsApp. And yes, that’s how it works here! You don’t call some understaffed office […]