Louis: "I was attracted to Cuenca by nature"

Where are you from Louis, and what are you doing nowadays?

I was born in Connecticut but lived my adult life in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. I have traveled to almost all the States in the USA, except Alaska. Following my training at the US Air Force Academy, the University of Connecticut and the California Institute of Integral Studies, I obtained my Masters degree in Integral Counseling and Psychotherapy. I have made my living as a therapist, a lumberjack, a chef, a wine expert and a landscaper/gardener. I retired last year.
During six years of semi-retirement, I experienced a brand new life in Latin America by living, firstly in Costa Rica for two years, in Colombia for two years, and then in Ecuador and Peru, i finally chose to settle in Cuenca, Ecuador.

How long have you been in the country?

I have been in Ecuador for more than two years now and in Cuenca for 16 months.

Was it difficult to find accommodation there?

I started by renting an apartment. Nowadays, I am renting a house in the county above Cuenca. It wasn't so difficult to find.

What do you like the most about Cuenca?

I love the Rio Tomebamba above all and I try to walk along it everyday. I also appreciate the Cajas National Park. In fact, I live next to the park. Off my deck, I can enjoy the view of the park and surrounding mountains. In fact, I was attracted to Cuenca by nature, especially the rivers and mountains.

What surprised you the most on your arrival?

Unfortunately, the Latin American people do not really care that much about nature. You rarely see them hiking. Moreover, it is quite common to see them dump garbage in the most beautiful places. But the positive aspects of the Latin people far outweigh the negative ones.

How do you find the Ecuadorian lifestyle?

I greatly prefer the Ecuadorian lifestyle to the US one. The local people (my neighbors, as I am the only gringo living in my village) are beautifully warm and hospitable people.

What does your everyday life look like in Cuenca?

I have a B&B and a small farm. So my daily routine is very steady. I wake up at 3.30 am and spend some time on the Internet. I begin my farm chores at 7 am, looking after my animals (cuy, rabbits and ducks). After breakfast, I walk for exercise and do any food shopping at the Feria Libre and Supermaxi. I am used to walk for at least one hour daily for my fitness. In the afternoon, after cutting grass to feed my animals, I enjoy a siesta. Then, I have cocktails at 4 pm and dinner at 5.30 pm. I usually go to bed by 7 or 7.30 pm.

How do you spend your leisure time?

I am actually writing my next book from my own expat experience, as well as documentation from many other "gringos" like me. It is about an aspect of the prophecy about the eagle flying with the condor, that the best of North America and South America will produce our "New earth."
I also have several group meetings at my place': one is a men's group and the other is a spiritual group. I also host a Social Club where "gringos" and local Latinas can meet in an ideal environment. This Cuenca Social Club meets twice each month.

Any particular experience in Ecuador you would like to share with us?

I believe in honoring the place where I live by climbing the country's sacred mountain. As I climbed Chirripo in Costa Rica, I made it a must to climb the Cotopaxi here in Ecuador. With the help of coca, I was able to climb up to 16,000 feet.

What are your favorite local dishes?

The only local dish I really enjoy is cuy, roasted on the grill. I find the local cuisine rather dull.

What is your opinion on the cost of living in Ecuador?

The cost of living, if one is able to live like the locals, is very reasonable. I live in a country house, with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, that I rent for US$170 a month. My utilities, including Internet, run for about US$100 and my food and drink run for about US$150. So I can live comfortably on my social security which is less than US$500 per month after the State of Minnesota deducts some for taxes.

Is it easy for an expatriate to live there?

For me, life here is very different. It is easy to live a simple life as the locals do. Many expats prefer to live as they did in the USA, running from one meeting or activity to another. This stress is particularly why I left the US culture which, in my opinion is very materialistic, busy, and unhealthy.

What do you miss the most about your home country?

I miss very little about the USA, mostly a few good friends, perhaps certain items for cooking. But I have visitors bring these items down for me, and my friends often pay me a visit.

Any advice you would like to give to soon-to-be expatriates?

The best advice I would give an expat, if she or he truly wants to enjoy life here, is to get involved with the local culture and avoid other "gringos" who bring the North American culture here with them.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm planning to have a teaching center here in Cuenca and, later, to design and lead an international community of North Americans in Vilcabamba and Urubamba, Peru. I will also be marrying my girlfriend as we are planning to have a baby.