Carnaval, Culture, Spirituality, and the Art of Slowing Down in Vilcabamba, Ecuador 2024

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 Event Comparison 🇺🇸➡🇪🇨 00:24 Expats vs. Locals Interaction 🌍 00:36 Accepting Reality 🧘 00:54 Efficiency Challenges ⏳ 01:05 Robin Hood Mentality 🏹 01:31 Podcast Intro 🎙 02:17 Content Creation 🎥 02:50 Community Appreciation 🤝 03:13 Viewer Engagement 💬 03:31 Carnival Experience 🎉 04:02 Brandon's Carnival Adventure 🕺 06:03 Kid-Friendly Carnival 🧒 07:10 Respectful Celebrations 🕊 08:18 Time Perception 🕰 10:26 Self-Regulation & Harmony 🔄 12:18 Cultural Insights & Adaptation 📚 14:11 Language & Integration 🗣 16:11 Local Interaction Depth 🌐 18:03 Heart vs. Mind Culture ❤🧠 20:11 Community & Politeness 🙏 22:58 Cultural Challenges & Efficiency 🚧 24:46 Communication Style 🗨 26:04 Petty Theft Perspective 🕵 28:05 Social Etiquette & Sharing 🍽 30:42 Closing Thoughts & Next Steps 🔚

[@dianamayfield5615]

One of the things I love about the Ecuadorian culture is that these kind, gentle, religious people, LOVE to party!!! & it's all in good fun. What a shock to this gringa...

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

🤣 🎉 ❤️

[@westcoastkitties]

I have to agree l, Carl’s Spanish is PERFECT, and has the accent and mannerism of Lojanos AND amazing singing!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Carlitos’ mastery of the language is quite impressive, indeed! He really understands the nuance in addition to the technical/accent side of the language.

[@TheAarikja]

I just returned from a 2 month visit to the USA. Drove 2K miles and visited several states. What I found was a sense of insecurity, depression even a sense of urgency. Grocery store shelves were empty where I shopped, inflation was abominable. Politically we sense that there may or may not be an election because we're anticipating a black swan event perpetrated by the present regime. I almost kissed the ground after landing safely in EC. Life here is positive, you don't get the sense of urgency, fear of the future and above all else, the citizens of this country have power. It is government by the people and for the people here and I pray that it stays that way regardless of whatever happens in the rest of the world.

[@judithmedeiros9126]

Manderino’s! Lucky powerful men .. also builds the brotherhood right?😂 You are working the bucket hat… especially with the side techy touch! ❤

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

🤣 Thanks for watching!

[@joshuacarpenter4477]

Jesse has such a crazy story. Sold everything and moved sight unseen to Ecuador without knowing Spanish? Sheesh. You need an episode discussing those early days 😄

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Great idea! We’ll get that on the list. 😉

[@user-lc5cg6gd5o]

This video has great information. Though it is great information, a video like this could be very boring, but you guys managed to make it interesting and entertaining.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing! 👊 ❤️ 🙏

[@Hotdog_Water]

Another great conversation! Get well soon Brandon and congrats to ALE for reaching 10k subscribers!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks Ron! 🙏

[@josersm1977]

You guys should do a podcast in Spanish, people from Spain also watch your podcast..

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Hmmmm, thanks for the suggestion! We’ll consider it for the future. Thanks for watching! ❤️ 🙏

[@cynthiaspalding8027]

I lived in Guayaquil when I was growing up. I loved it there.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Cool! Where do you live now Cynthia? How long since you been in Guayaquil?

[@cynthiaspalding8027]

I live in the states now, came Bach here in the late 60s

[@matildesmith-f9v]

Hi guys, it is so true, Quito (where I live) is too big for people to have a sense of community, may be on the small towns they have, on the outskirts of the city you may find the life you are experiencing in Vilcabamba. I would definitely prefer to live in a small town such as Vilcabamba rather than in Quito. Kind regards Sylvie

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing Sylvie… how long have you lived in Quito?

[@matildesmith-f9v]

I was born in Quito but lived in the UK for 20 years. Got back home 10 years ago

[@judithmedeiros9126]

I feel like I could thrive in this heart based culture. I totally respect the lack of reverence for the illusion of time! I may have to ask this another time, as you may have response back up. I am a feline enthusiast…. does anyone work with cat rescue or cat population in Vilcabamba?

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Hi Judith… having a great heartset will go along way here! There are many animal lovers here and several organizations that offer charity spay and neutering, although I’m not sure if there are any cat specific rescue groups in Vilca. Thanks for watching! ❤️ 🙏

[@marcinasia1731]

wow here in thailand we have songkran in april and same deal.. lots of water shooting ,drinking ,ect. for days!! marc

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Interesting- thanks for sharing Marc! Do you get involved in the festivities or stay clear? 😂

[@marcinasia1731]

i stay clear.. no fun getting hit with water on a motorbike lol@@AbundantLivingEcuador

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

🤣

[@rosezaz6607]

Enjoyed this and looking forward to the next installment Mahalo

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for your consistent support Rose! ❤️ 🌹 🙏

[@carlosordonez347]

Carnival, latin derived word from "carnem lavare" to wash the flesh before lent, a period of abstinence and fasting in which eating meat is not allowed.

[@LyannLaRochelle]

Cool, I didn't know that, thanks for sharing

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing this context Carlos! 🙏

[@wonderselina9497]

I want to come and live there

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Where do you live now?

[@fredwyese]

One thing that I have noticed and was surprised at is the hundreds of dogs you will see walking around but you see incredibly few that have been hit. Street smart dogs and people seem to avoid them.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

There is a different view on dogs here, compared to the west. Some of the “street dogs” you see actually have owners. It’s like a real life Latin version of Lady & the Tramp! The dogs hang out around town during the day and then go home to their owners at night! There are certainly plenty of strays though. And you’re right, not only do you rarely see a dog hit by a vehicle, you rarely see a human aggressive street dog in our area. Thanks for sharing Fred!

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

I'm from Ecuador but I live in the USA for soo many years! 😢still miss my country. I'm stuck here because l have my 3 children here ( one is Iraq veteran😢) anyway I cannot go back. I'm surprised you are enjoying Carnaval? I ALWAYS HATE IT! They used to wet you the whole month. Those balloons hurt. A friend of mine died trying to throw water from her roof? She was like 13? It was wild! Never liked carnival! Just be careful with your kids just as I have to be very careful with my grandkids here in USA! A lot of crazy people here! I was 19 when I married an Austrian and ended up in USA! TAKE CARE. NO MORE BALOONS they end up in fish and bird stomachs! PLEASE!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing your perspective Rosa. Please thank your son for her service from us! Where in Ecuador are you from?

[@ladiascc1934]

When I lived in Ecuador and was a child, I enjoyed Carnaval, but when I was a teenager I hated it, I used to go to school wet most of the time 😢 I ended up hating it. But people have lots of fun anyway.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Right on… it’s a mixed bag for many people! When are you coming back to visit?

[@LyannLaRochelle]

Carl's French so it's actually easier for him to learn another Latin language specially Spanish is actually simplified Latin

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

👍🏻

[@marcomontesdeoca7232]

So you are so comfortable with toluve in

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Yes, we feel comfortable to live here. 🙏

[@michellemariposa7253]

Carnival is kind of traumatic for me😅 I could never get used to having water balloons thrown at people! I would definitely NOT be in town for that event! I will be in a cabin in nature , stocked up with food or have food delivered!

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

😂 There are many in the area that do you just as you described!

[@westcoastkitties]

I have to disagree, Carl, people who like to steal they steal not because they think others have more, they steal because they have bad habits regardless.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! There are definitely different motivations for different people and ways of looking at it. 🙏

[@glenbirbeck4098]

youtube ate my comment and spit it out.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

😳

[@TheAarikja]

What happened to my comment?? It disappeared.

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Hmmm not sure. KZbin does weird things sometimes. Post it again

[@britishcomedybroncorothschild]

i subbed, thumbs up, michael knudsen

[@AbundantLivingEcuador]

Thanks for the support! ❤️ 🙏