My Cuencaversary - I Am Not An Expat

Tomorrow, February, 26th is the seventh anniversary of the day I arrived in Ecuador to live permanently. I showed up in Cuenca with just four suitcases; I didn't know a single person and had no idea where I would live. I had a reservation for a small bedroom in a rooming house, beyond that, I had no specific plans. Today, seven years later, I have a life beyond anything I could have possibly imagined.

In the past seven years I have experienced two nationwide strikes that shut down the country for weeks, during COVID I was locked down (like most of the world) in my apartment for months, and watched as the cartels waged a war of terror and corruption in the coastal regions of this country that used to be the safest in South America. I had surgery in this past July with an extended recovery. Most recently Ecuador experienced the worst drought in its history leading to electricity blackouts for up to fourteen hours a day for months. From the safety of my little community I have watched as wars and political turmoil have taken place around the world. Oh, and I rocked and rolled through more earthquakes than I can count.

Friends Visiting From Abroad - Francis From Canada and Naru From Japan

On the positive side, I have taken thousands of photographs and have had three exhibitions of my work in Cuenca and Quito. I have road-tripped around the country multiple times and have taken a motorized canoe deep into the Amazon for a week long stay in the jungle. In addition to Ecuador, I have explored parts of Colombia, Peru, and Chile. I have enjoyed live music by some of the finest musicians I have ever heard and been exposed to some of the greatest art in Latin America along with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Twenty of my friends and family have come to visit, for which I am exceedingly grateful. But best of all, and maybe most importantly, I have encountered some of the most amazing, adventurous, kind, talented, quirky, and gracious people I have ever met. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful community of friends that have become like family.

Deep In the Amazon

I have many, many Ecuadorian friends, but the majority of the people in my community are, like me, immigrants. Yes, I refer to myself as an immigrant rather than an expat. If you Google "expat vs. immigrant" you will find an endless list of opinions on the difference. For me, the word "expat" among other things implies privilege. It also implies a temporary status, like working or studying abroad for a limited amount of time with a planned return to one's "passport" country at some point. The second does not apply to me, I have no idea what the future holds, but I currently have no plans to leave Ecuador. As I stated above, the majority of my friends and social circle are from somewhere other than Ecuador. Collectively we come from places like Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Australia, Norway, South Africa, China, Belgium, The Philippines, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. Some of us came here to escape hardships and others, like me, came for a slower pace and a little adventure. But, what we all have in common is the desire for a better quality of life. I have lived in three countries other than the United States and traveled to dozens of others in my life and I have never felt more welcome outside of the country of my birth as I do in Ecuador. I have never once been made to feel unwanted or like I don't belong. If the Ecuadorian people are the heart and soul of this amazing country, then I believe its immigrants are the spice, the seasoning that contribute to making Ecuador the wonderful place that it is. I will forever be grateful to the Ecuadorians who have accepted and welcomed me and my fellow immigrants into their country and made me feel a part of their community.

The Sorianos, Amazing Friends From Peru

Over the next few months I will be writing about some of the immigrants in my community that have made my life better and this city, this country, a richer and more satisfying place to live. Additionally, I am beginning a new photo project in collaboration with a local art venue in which I will attempt to document the beauty and diversity of our immigrant community. More on that later.

 I will always love the United States and forever be grateful for all of the opportunity and privilege that being born there has provided me, but for now, Ecuador is my home. Thanks to all of you that have followed me on this great adventure. My guest room is always open.

I have a big favor to ask! If you leave a comment below, please include your name so that I know you stopped by. Gracias!

~Hasta la proxima!

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