Questions and assumptions about living in rural Ecuador - an honest conversation

[@garcianet1]

I'm as us citizen as anyone probably a little more cause I'm native american. I when to ecuador with peace corps in 1978.. Stay there for 4 years marry a Otavalo native.. That was home and I have lived in 26 countries traveled the world I still consider Ecuador as home. Home is where you decided to hang your hat. I always stood away from expats, lived in so many places traveled to more that 90, I consider and respect the local because I'm at there country and I would never compare or talk bad of local communities, customs, language, politics, or situation. I think the USA is worse in corruption, politics, criminal activities, that all those 90 countries I visited. So my respect for this couple that had the respect to call that lovely country home. My maximum respect.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Thank you for your kind words, we appreciate your respect and support.

[@2freakout]

Great memories! @garcianet1 I was in Otavalo in 1976 for about 2-3 months. I went there after meeting an English guy on the street in Quito. After a brief chat, he recommended Otavalo to me. He was living in Otavalo and is married to an Ecuadorian girl. During the last part of my stay there, he opened a vegetarian restaurant. His wife was pregnant at the time. I often think about them and wonder how they are doing. Unfortunately, I don't have his address or any other information on them. My stay there was very basic, living on 1-2 US dollars daily. I didn't have much money to live a luxurious life. Question for you, if you don't mind? You were there in 1978; did you happen to go to that vegetarian restaurant and meet them? Are you still living there?

[@divinaflamingarrow9556]

I want to do something very small and similar to what you folks are doing with a few select others to share in it. As you share your experience, I am even more ready to be in Southern Ecuador/Loja area❤.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

If you ever have specific questions, let us know!

[@robertjean37]

This was so wonderful. Thank you so much for the video. What a beautiful place.

[@RabbleRousin]

Another great video! Thank you for investing your time to help others. I am fascinated by your experience and find myself drawn to consider what life would be like in Ecuador. The way you have described the country and the culture there seems so much more peaceful, humanistic and family oriented than life in Canada and the US. Sharing your approach and mindset is like a breath of fresh air that i can identify with. Kudos and best wishes on continued prosperity for your family!

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

We sure love it here!

[@philipcharnock3567]

We have bought land near Cumbaratza, Zamora-Chinchipe. Are you in the Oriente, too? Very good advice, thanks. We too, did not want to be in an ex-pat area 😊

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Yes, we are! We actually looked at a few properties near Cumbaratza, but ended up further out. We're near Los Encuentros (past Yantzaza). Love the Oriente! How long have you been in Ecuador?

[@philipcharnock3567]

Hi there! We aren't there yet, just bought the land in November. Being older, we've opted to have a small house built. We have 96 acres on the side of a mountain, some of it pretty steep. We too have a small "structure" on the property, but it is about to tumble down! My husband Phil and I were there in July and we put a deposit on a piece of land but that fell through. I went back in September with my cousin to look at this piece of property. Your story of your road is so familiar. The town put part of the access road in, but their excavator broke down and they abandoned the project! So we have to put the rest in and the roadway to the home site. Quite a steep slope to put it in on. My pictures of the access road look just like yours! We also have a stream to cross. Our road will take lots of rock as well. We will be back in April hopefully. We'd love to visit with you and see what you have accomplished. We are also hoping to have goats (for their clearing abilities), chickens for eggs and a garden. We have electric poles right there so are opting to go with that, and a spring, so we are lucky. We are watching your videos with great interest. Good luck with all your projects. Shari & Phil

[@mchunley]

Plan on visiting this march to climb some of the mountains with some friends. I came across your channel. I am from East TN area-Cumberland gap area. Just moved back from Poughkeepsie NY. It is a culture shock and so peaceful here…. Never been to South America first time out of the country since I was in the army.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Small world, we were in the Tri Cities area! Loved it and always recommend East TN to anyone wanting to stay in the U.S. Aside from Canada, I hadn't been out of the country at all. Chris traveled more, but this was still a hugely different place to live. I hope you enjoy the country!

[@mchunley]

@@tinyhandsbigdreams thanks so much.

[@HeatherODonnell-l3o]

You two are so real. Thank you. I’ll be coming from Canada not sure if I’ll be in the position to buy but I definitely want to live rural. I will not be able to do the level of work that you folks are doing because I’m older but I definitely want to live role as I do nowand enjoy life and be a part of the community. Thank you.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Goodness, thank you! We try to keep it all very real here - not enough of that on the internet! Rural life here is pretty beautiful when you find the right community! Feel free to ask us any questions (here or email), we're an open book on our experiences!

[@Kelly-ln9mp]

I think your found a place that is not as judgemental as Eastern TN. The best of luck to both of you.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Thanks. We actually loved Eastern TN very much - we always recommended it to anyone wanting to stay in the U.S.

[@RobertKalebra]

Tennessee? Try the whole USA.

[@RobertKalebra]

Tennessee? Try the whole USA.

[@aaronml8298]

Great channel! Thanks for all the info. Subscribed....will be following.

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

Do you know in that region live the SHUARS indians, well they are no indians because they are not from India. thats an ethnic group from Ecuador. We have different ethnic groups in Ecuador from the sierra ( Andes, cold part) and the oriente ( warm part near Amazon rain forest) they were " uncivilized" they called by the Spaniards and warriors. They lived in the jungle. No more. They still have their own culture but mixed with " white ' culture. They have their own language beside Spanish and dances and music. They have shananes etc. Very interesting and proud people! Some shuar girls are beautiful. I hope you learn more about my little country. Glad you enjoy living there.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Fascinating! I did not know. I would love to learn more about the history of Ecuador and especially our area. Maybe an idea for another video!

[@Ulbre]

I will NEVER live in Ecuador......but that's because my life is locked in elsewhere. G'day, I love this video because I see so much of my own journey replicated here. I'm an Aussie living in Thailand, I have lived here since 2006 and first visited in 1984. I married a Thai lady in 2002 and we have two daughters. Many of the things you talk about resonate so true with my experience. Okay, not the same because you are a foreign couple and I am wedded to a national......but what you say still rings true even for me on the other side of the world!!!! Cheers and all the best :)

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Your story sounds awesome - I think there is so much good that can come from calling a different country home!

[@mistymounthomestead8594]

Thanks for sharing 😎

[@tomsaxton970]

I've lived in Ecuador almost 5 years now. I retired and moved here. My wife is ecuadorian. We live near Riobamba. We bought 1 acre and built in front of Chimborazo at 10,500ft. I love the climate here. I couldn't live in the oriente; too hot and humid for me. I volunteer with the youth orchestra in Riobamba (30 min away) and teach cello. Like you, I wasn't looking to live in a gringo nest. Very few gringos in the Riobamba area. I love it here. I don't consider myself an immigrant or an expat really. I never think about it. I just live here. All but 2 of our friends are locals. I am probably the happiest I've ever been. I didn't leave the US, but came for something that was here (my wife). So I wasn't running away, but running to.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

It is definitely important to be running TO and not FROM! Lots of people didn't understand that when we moved here, but I think they just didn't see what we see about the country. We didn't plan on the Oriente, either - but as hot as it can be, we've learned to love it...great for growing food. "I just live here" is probably the best explanation for how we feel about ourselves, as well! Thanks!

[@AYSKOFI]

I see you guys constantly swatting away the bugs. How bad is the bug problem?

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

We were talking about this today and realized it's not much different than summer in, say, Tennessee. We're just outside, sitting/standing still in videos - so it's the worst time with the bugs! Mostly not too bad at all.

[@RobertKalebra]

Man you guys are remote. How did you ever get all your stuff there? Shipping container?

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Yup! Packed our life in a shipping container and moved it down here.

[@wegder]

It seems incomprehensible that an area with such a wonderful climate would be so sparsely populated?

[@Elishamparker]

Is there a place to get into contact with you guys? My family is looking to move to Ecuador within the next year and have been trying to find people from our region of the world that live near Zumba or Oña! We live in Kentucky now, speak a good bit of Spanish, currently farm and have three small children.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Yes! Shoot us an email at [e-mail] (if we don't reply right away, let me know...sometimes new emails get stuck in spam or something). AWESOME! We will help however we can.

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

Thanks for your video about Ecusdor. Indeed you are not expats. You are a young couple. Many went to Ecuador in the 80-80 they were not expats but they were hippies, blought properties, lived there but smoked mariguana and used drugs. In Ecuador at that time only criminals used drugs. I dont know what happened to that big group of hippies from that time. Im going to see if there are still videos from that time. Now there are expats, older oeople running from the cold long winters in this part of USA. Im from Ecuador. Came here at 18 to college in NY. Went back home the man i met here went there we married and end up coming back here. My children are from NY. My grabdchildren from Iowa. Im stuck here becsuse of my kids but i always missed my country beaches, people etc. Now USA is getting more and more dangerous its scary. Fentanyl, drugs, guns homeles. Etc etc. I worry about my grandkid now. I hope you learn Spanish, its easier than English.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Thank you, we agree with the dangers in the U.S., and feel so safe where we are here. Definitely working to learn Spanish - it does make far more sense than English but it's still a challenge!

[@themothers]

Ive traveled around the world, and I agree, United States was the most dangerous place I’ve ever been compared to anywhere else, well, it wasn’t so safe in Bolivia in the capital, but otherwise United States was really… scary in comparison haha. When I tell that to Americans I don’t think they understand what I’m saying. I’m from Norway but lived many different places. Still, have to be careful, and I always warn people about the traffic in south and Central America because it’s really dangerous….

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

There are likely unsafe areas of every region or country - bad people exist worldwide. But boy do we feel good about our choices moving here! Do you mean vehicle traffic or...?

[@jameskelly9243]

Do you own or rent? What bisa are you on Thank just kust found your channel. Looking good

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

We rented for a year until we found our property. Now we own 30 acres. We were on an investment (using property) until we got our permanent visas. Pretty easy process, really.

[@themothers]

I wanna know your dentist 😅😅😊

[@jameskelly9243]

So instead of saying Back Home maybe we should say Old Country loke our ancestors did when coming to the USA

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

I like that idea!

[@larrypicard8802]

"Back home" is just. a turn of phrase. I usually use "back in the states." I mean after a person has lived in a certain country for over 60 years I can forgive someone referring to it as home.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Yes, it is a phrase, one of many used by people every day - all of which can have different meanings and connotations. We simply share how we see things.

[@605pilot]

You’re getting too wrapped up with semantics with the term back home. Back home could be the feeling of birth place and upbringing.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

That may well be true for some, we're just speaking from our experiences and what we've seen - our interpretations.

[@605pilot]

You’re correct about everyone’s experience and interpretations. You have to validate everyone’s feelings. Their feelings will probably change with time. I was born in Cuba and my feelings of home changed with time and now I consider myself as an American.

[@SusanStautzenbach-bg1oh]

Guess you don't want any expats we as humans stop it😮

[@paulz6491]

I wish she would stop interrupting…..

[@mikebaldock2706]

Trust me, you haven’t assimilated. You’re not home.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

I wonder how you define assimilation, because we are very much a part of the community here. We will never BE Ecuadorian, nor should we pretend to be. We are American living in Ecuador, but this is very much our home. I'm not sure where else could possibly be 'home' to us but the land we own, the country we live in, and the house we build with our hands.

[@charhall7702]

So true. If you go to live in a different country it is important to try to assimilate to the people living there. I hope to be able to embrace the locals and not just hide behind a wall in fear of what is going on outside of those walls.

[@tinyhandsbigdreams]

Absolutely, while also holding onto the reality that you will always been a 'foreigner' and respecting that difference! At least, that's how we approach things and it has worked so well for us.