RELOCATING TO CUENCA ~ Why WOULDN'T You?

Without a doubt, Cuenca is a burgeoning destination for retirees, especially for North Americans. I’ve often mentioned its most attractive features and benefits. But what are the “down” sides that would make someone turn right back around and leave? 

Yes, it happens. People take the big leap to make a new home here, only to decide that Cuenca simply isn't "a match" for them. But why? Here's my take on a few considerations.

THE WEATHER

One of the running jokes you’ll hear about Cuenca is that you get to experience spring, summer, and fall all in one day ~ every day.  One minute you’ll be walking down the street enjoying (or sweating through) the intense heat of the sun, only to feel an immediate switch to cool under a fast moving wave of wind and clouds. You put on that sweater. Minutes later you're whipping out the umbrella to deal with a flash onslaught of rain. Then you smile. In the distance you spot bright blue sky and sunshine to step back into. Geesh! 

June through September the temperatures drop significantly at night. We typically like to hang out on the terrace as if it were summer, but these months bring such clear, dry air that it forces us to hunker down and break out the propane space heater to be comfortable. At least the sunsets and starry night sky are beautiful.

By making a habit of carrying a light sweater/jacket and umbrella, you're guaranteed to be fine. But most of all, prepare yourself with a good attitude. The weather rarely stops us in our tracks, but it does get pretty gray for longer periods of time than we’d like sometimes. I like to think it only makes us appreciate the sunshine all the more.

LANGUAGE

Yes, Spanish is the native tongue. For some ridiculous reason that fact seems to come as a surprise to a few who land here, and occasionally I hear of some rude expat having demanded that locals speak English. Thankfully it's rare, but boy, I find myself wanting to tell them where to go...oops... where else to go (!) Most people we know have come with the best intentions to make every effort to learn. Not only is that wise, but naturally, it's also respectful of one’s new country and its people.

Jeff and I are fortunate in that I learned Spanish somewhat by fluke by
getting my first teaching job in Guatemala. There I was on the streets, desperately needing to express my extrovert self. I tried formal courses, but was overwhelmed amidst trying to establish myself professionally at the same time. Hence, I learned by immersion - with a really cute non-English speaking boyfriend and his family, no less. Ahhh, Manuel, such fond memories... Anyway, later I moved on to a job in Barcelona and improved my grammar somewhat. I still don’t speak perfectly, especially with those tricky grammatical twists that don't exist in English. Still, I can “defend myself” fairly well, as the saying goes in spanish.

I won’t lie. It’s no picnic - especially when you first arrive. Negotiating your way around to set up services like banking, internet, telephone, and TV can be totally frustrating. Yet still, all of our friends have gotten it done. But how?

Spanish for Gringos. I love this introductory book by William C. Harvey, M.S.
Simple, fun, and easy to understand.

• One thing I’ve noticed is that often at least one partner in every couple either has a basic foundation in Spanish, is highly motivated to learn, and/or both. When both are learning, many couples break off into different classes in order to learn at their own paces and to avoid competing with each other.

• Many Cuencanos are bilingual. Some have been exchange students or have worked in North America, while others learned in school here. A growing number offer their services as translators and will help you to acquire whatever is needed, from finding an apartment to getting your internet set up. They may charge $15 or so per hour, and can be worth every penny. Also, more and more businesses are expressly hiring bilingual employees to accommodate the huge influx of English-speaking foreigners. What a help that can be!

So, is it possible to get by without attempting to learn Spanish? Yes, but not preferable. You can easily settle into your network of expats friends and not interact much with your Ecuadorian hosts at all. But why would you want to? You’d simply miss out on knowing some of the warmest and wonderful people ever.  

I’ll be covering a few more reasons in the next blog as to why some expats may decide that Cuenca isn’t the place for them. We’re all searching for our personal paradise, and every place has its ups and downs; pluses and minuses. It’s a matter of knowing who you are and what you need, and what you can and cannot tolerate when making any place your home. Join me in what’s up next. If you’re considering a move to Cuenca, maybe it’ll enlighten you. And if not, hopefully it'll just give you a clearer vision of what it’s all about.