Video by Amelia And JP Abroad
Why Expats Leave Cuenca, Ecuador: A Couple's View
Amelia And JP Abroad say expats leave Cuenca over culture shock, language, boredom, homesickness, lost conveniences, health, visas, altitude and weather. They lived some of it: two to three visits to set up utilities or internet, weak Spanish at first, no car, and a cloudy season of four months that they are tired of.
What it cost them
As stated in the video, August 2019. Prices change; these are theirs.
| Investor visa (switching from a work or volunteer visa)their rough figure ("like forty thousand dollars"), not something they paid | about $40,000 | ▶ 10:17 |
|---|
Their situation
Questions this video answers
Why do expats leave Cuenca, Ecuador?
Amelia And JP Abroad list culture shock, the language barrier, boredom, missing a job or purpose, homesickness, lost conveniences, family or health issues, visa problems, altitude sickness, the weather, and wanting to see other places. ▶ 0:00
How hard is it to set up utilities in Cuenca without help?
They set up utilities and internet on their own, without a facilitator, and found each took two to three visits or interactions. Looking back, they think a helper service may have been easier, but it taught them to slow down. ▶ 1:01
Is English widely spoken outside Cuenca?
They say many people in Cuenca speak English, but outside it English is not very common, so they have had to use their Spanish. Dialects also differ between Cuenca, the coast, Guayaquil and Quito. ▶ 2:32
What happens if the business sponsoring a work visa in Ecuador closes?
A friend of theirs had her work visa sponsored by the business she worked for. When it went out of business, she did not get another visa and had to leave. ▶ 9:16
What does switching to an investor visa in Ecuador cost?
They think it needs "like forty thousand dollars," a big increase if a volunteer or work visa falls through. They also say those visas are all two-year temporary visas that can never become permanent. ▶ 10:17
The moments, in order
Press ▶ to play the video from that second.
- ▶ 1:01
They set up utilities and internet without a facilitator. Each task took two to three visits or contacts. Looking back, they think using a helper service might have been easier, but they say it taught them to slow down.
- ▶ 2:01
Their Spanish was weak when they arrived, which they found tough and a little scary. They have improved a lot since, but the better they get, the more they see there is to learn.
- ▶ 2:32
In Cuenca many people speak English, but outside it they found English uncommon, so they have to use their Spanish. Dialects also change from region to region.
- ▶ 5:41
They say they have not felt homesick, though they miss family. They think staying active and building a like-minded social circle helps others through homesickness.
- ▶ 6:42
One of them found it hard to give up Amazon. Deliveries can take weeks or months, and they can't just pop out for specific allergy medicines or specialty vegan foods (though they say some vegan cheese has started to appear).
- ▶ 7:44
They have no car and shop at several different places instead of one big store. They enjoy getting to know the vendors that way, but they miss smooth sidewalks and call the local ones "a bit treacherous".
- ▶ 9:16
A friend of theirs had a work visa sponsored by the business she worked for. When the business closed, she did not get another visa and had to leave.
as stated, August 2019
- ▶ 10:17
If a volunteer or work visa falls through, switching to an investor visa needs what they think is about forty thousand dollars. They also say those visas are all two-year temporary visas that can never become permanent.
as stated, August 2019
- ▶ 11:19
One of them says that whenever they feel light-headed from the altitude, a cup of coca tea (mate de coca) works well for them.
- ▶ 11:51
They say Cuenca is cloudy four months a year, and they are tired of it. They say they are thinking of taking off next July.
Worth knowing before you go
- ▶ 1:01
They set up utilities and internet without a facilitator. Each task took two to three visits or contacts. Looking back, they think using a helper service might have been easier, but they say it taught them to slow down.
- ▶ 2:32
In Cuenca many people speak English, but outside it they found English uncommon, so they have to use their Spanish. Dialects also change from region to region.
- ▶ 9:16
A friend of theirs had a work visa sponsored by the business she worked for. When the business closed, she did not get another visa and had to leave.
as stated, August 2019
- ▶ 10:17
If a volunteer or work visa falls through, switching to an investor visa needs what they think is about forty thousand dollars. They also say those visas are all two-year temporary visas that can never become permanent.
as stated, August 2019
This is their experience, retold in our words, and not medical, insurance or financial advice.