By John Williams Along with much of the rest of the world, recent upticks in crime in parts of Ecuador have caused many residents, including many expats and those considering joining us here in Ecuador as a destination, to ask questions about personal safety. My answers to these questions will reflect on the basic character, integrity and honesty of the general citizenry. My adult daughter and I have been residing in the Santa Marianita beach area near Manta since 2017. Durin

By Lauren Phelps Ever since I can remember, I have had two goals in my life: join the Peace Corps and participate in the reality TV show “Big Brother”. I remember thinking that maybe these goals were too big for me, pipe dreams that would never be attained. I have since let go of my aspirations to become a reality TV star, but I was, however, able to complete my goal of joining the Peace Corps. In June of 2018 I found out that my Peace Corps application was accepted and I wou

By Claudia Acosta If there is one thing that people from Cuenca are proud of, it is our water. The flavor, quality, rivers, and more that make up this generous and vital resource for our city. Yet, few people know about the importance of its history and origin, something that should truly be taught in schools. We need to understand the journey this precious liquid takes to get from rivers to houses, the networks, channels and above all, where the water source originates from.

By HiExpat Team "Ah, to be in Ecuador, now that spring is here!" These words, paraphrased from Robert Browning's famous poem, echo the sentiment of countless North Americans seeking a new chapter in life. Picture yourself, dear adventurer, on the captivating shores of the Ecuadorian coast, where dreams intertwine with the ebb and flow of the sea. Retirement is often seen as a time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. It's an opportunity to embark on a new ch

By Peter Stomberg If you've lived abroad long enough, you know the type. They just can't seem to figure out their new environment. Bless...

By HiExpat Team Ecuador is a country full of culture and art. With a rich history dating back to pre Columbian times, Ecuadorian culture...

By HiExpat Team Taking care of health is of vital importance for everyone, especially for older adults. That's why it's important to discuss recommendations and tips from a doctor for taking care of the health of older adults. In this article, we will focus specifically on what older adults living in the city of Manta can do for their health. First, it is important to mention that engaging in morning exercises is an excellent way to maintain good physical and mental health. T

By HiExpat Writers Team In the current digital era, technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we interact with the world and with each other. Technological innovations have dramatically improved our lives, but what are the risks that may come along with these advancements? From the invention of the personal computer in the 1980s to the popularity of smartphones today, new technologies have significantly enhanced our lives. Nowadays, we can instantly communicate w

By Mark Bradbury Most of you reading this will remember the hot coffee case that changed the way US courts looked at civil cases. Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants, also known as the McDonald's coffee case and the hot coffee lawsuit, was a highly publicized 1994 product liability lawsuit in the United States against the McDonald's restaurant chain. Quick summary: A woman had purchased a cup of coffee at a McDonald’s Drive Through and while attempting to remove the cover she s

By Terri Carroll There was a lot going on in 2020. Amongst the chaos of a global pandemic, civil unrest, and a general feeling of unease in my own personal life, I began researching how to make a permanent move out of the United States. I had planned to retire to a country with a lower cost of living, but retirement at that time was still 10 years away. I felt the need to make an immediate move, and Ecuador came into view.

By Diamond Crystal Webster defines the word ‘reset’ as to set again or anew. That is exactly what I’ve proposed to do in this gift of another year. RESET! What does that mean for me? A very personal examination of where I’ve been and where I want to go in this newly discovered life of ease. Reflection on the triumphs of the past year leave me genuinely pleased with my growth and exercise of my faith muscle. I made my solo sojourn to Manta, Ecuador on January 18, 2022. I could

By Lisa Goldsmith Lisa is an artist who is so passionate about her craft that she attended the Montserrat School of Visual Arts in Massachusetts, where she studied the painting techniques of classic artists. Her professional career in the United States was as an emergency room nurse and she has a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner. One day, she decided to retire on the wonderful shores of the South American Pacific in the central coast of Ecuador. Specifically in

By Gonzalo Pozo Gonzalo Pozo Jimenez (Goyo) was born on March 15, 1976 in the city of Ibarra, Ecuador. Goyo is an artist specializing in plastic arts. From a very early age he began his creative work. At the age of 11, he won his first prize in painting at the provincial level among 300 participating children. He studied art in his highschool years and specialized in painting when he attended higher education. At the age of 17, he held his first individual exhibition with 70

By Julie Harper There is nothing quite like piling into a minibus with a dozen or so buddies and striking out on a seven hour road trip. We had been planning this journey to Mindo, Ecuador for some time but had no idea that the date we chose happened to coincide with the official annual bird count, when all of the birders and professional wildlife photographers converge in this lovely piece of paradise nestled in this spectacular rain cloud jungle. This is the migratory seaso

By Sue Gallagher I grew up in a suburb of Boston in the 1950s. My mom was artistic so I always had a paintbrush or a knitting needle in my hand and a book in front of my nose. And of course with my toes in the Atlantic ocean every summer. My work life was split between Los Angeles and San Diego, always in sight of the ocean. I was a technical writer for almost 40 years, writing mostly about programming languages, managing documentation departments, and presenting sessions and

By Carolina Segarra Ecuador is one of the most diverse countries in Latin America, not only geographically, but also because of its development of diverse art. In our country several musical genres have been born that have grown to obtain international recognition. The musical sounds first originated in Europe and Africa, and then gave way to new musical sounds, which would later evolve with time and with the rhythm of their singer-songwriters.

By Juan Francisco Carrasco For this special sports edition, I am honored to interview a person that I greatly admire, with whom I have trained Karate for almost ten years and with whom I have shared my day-to-day life in the Dojo. On this occasion, I will interview my Sensei, Pablo Reyes. Pablo Reyes is the owner and instructor of the Karate / Krav Maga Club, KAIZEN, located in Quito. He has the rank of 5th DAN Black Belt in Shotokan Style Karate Do and is also a Krav Maga Mo

By Sigrid Tidmore As with the butterfly’s metamorphosis, it is change that has pushed my creativity forward. Throughout my life, much of that change came through travel. Born into a military family, I lived in a dozen countries before I was 20 years old. By then the wanderlust was thoroughly ingrained in me, and global exploration became integral to my existence. In the business world, entrepreneurism is the laboratory of creative expression. I’ve been a professional musician

By Kay Ward Why Ecuador? Like so many of you who also live here in Ecuador, I have been asked this question many times. For the past four years, I have responded by reciting the reasons I have enjoyed living in my new country as proof that I, along with thousands of others, have made the right decision. Here are my experiences. I’ve been surprised by how much more I was getting than just a country on the dollar and inexpensive housing. Having lived in four cities in Ecuador a

By Alessandro Delizza Alessandro DeLizza began producing professional stoneware and porcelain pottery as a young man on a foot-powered wheel from 1970 through 1982 in the USA. In 1976, his porcelain pottery became part of The Joan Mondale, White House, "Crafts at Work Program" and was featured in many government offices in Washington DC. DeLizza also produced the ancient reproduction amphoras for Dr. Barry Fells that were featured in The Harvard University Museum antiquities