It's Time for Another Leap of Faith for the Bowen Family of 8

Our lives have been in upheaval for a few months now.  The decision to move back to the United States was a difficult decision but it had to be done.

After Amanda came down to visit us for a week we have finally gotten life settled into a bit more of a routine.  We have already begun to sell and even pack some.  Previously, moving down here to Ecuador from the United States has really helped us to better prepare for another overseas relocation. Some things will be the same. But we are aware that many others will be very different.  Such as returning to the United States with 5 FurBabies.

To add in the mix, we are trying to buy a home in the United States while still down here in Ecuador. ALL of our family will be making the move. And that means 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 mother-in-law, 1 wife, and myself.  We know there is a very small chance we could ever rent a home with a zoo like this. Like many things, its going to be a while before we can write about all the challenges we have and will face trying to make what seemed like a simple process of buying a home.  Rest assured that when we think it's okay to tell the story we will.  And I promise it will be worth reading!

Back to Ecuador for now.  We sold our 7-piece formal living room set.  We did have some "small fuzzy issues" but in the end the deal worked out.  Wow, what an issue...as the sofa was being carried out to the truck to go to it's new home, a tiger stripped little devil dropped from the sofa bottom and ran for her life!  Luna had decided she wanted to hide due to strangers and now she was outside for the first time ever.  I yelled at the girls to come get her as I am very allergic to cats and Luna might claw me to death.  Mama and Heather along with half of the neighborhood managed to corral her and get her back safely inside the house.

Luna

Molly Moo Moo

That got me to thinking.  These things hang like glue. I bet there is another cat in that sofa.  The sofa was loaded.  The small pickup had an over stuffed sofa, loveseat and chair stacked up.  I banged all over the furniture to make sure there was no cat inside.  I was convinced there was no cat inside.  She would have run out from me disturbing her right?… Mama came out and asked to have the furniture unloaded to check for the cat. The buyer and driver were Ecuadorian men and the attitude towards pets is very different here.  The stuff did not get unloaded and off they drove with Mama and Heather screaming and crying.

The ladies were convinced the cat was in the sofa, that she would jump out, and she would get killed or not be saved and that we had lost her forever. I still thought the cat was in the house. We have had her disappear before and then we find her on the roof and/or attic.  It's just what Molly Moo Moo does.

I checked the whole house several times.  I even walked the outside of our the wall around the house and all the grounds.  Heather took off walking toward Cuenca in fear that she might be dying on the road.  No cat!  Finally, I called the driver.  I begged him to pull over and look for the cat. He told me he would look. A half hour went by with no return call so I called back.  Molly Moo Moo was with him and he would be bringing her back!  I went from evil villain that got rid of a cat to maybe not as bad of a guy but still on their poo list.

About 30 more minutes we had her home scared, dirty, and grateful to see the family.  Bella Boo tackled her and started to chew on her as she does. I think it was her way of saying “Hey! Don't EVER do that again!”

We continue to sell things.  One trip to Cuenca netted us no buyers.  5 different people failed to show. Another did but only to give us $5.00 they owed us and to announce they decided they didn't want what they had previously said they would buy.  Heather had a meltdown on the drive home.  She wanted to make a pile of what we have, burn it and fly home the next day.  It took a while for her to calm down but wow…. I can't blame her at all.

We have run into a weird phenomenon while selling our stuff.  Where people in the past recognized that any item from the USA is a premium thing to own here due to import taxes and difficulty to obtain things. Not anymore. Now we hear over and over that the item is cheaper on Ebay or Amazon. HUH?!!! If you could reliably get a package here without some of the contents disappearing, you still have to pay taxes and import fees.  When we hear that its a bit disturbing and annoying. We paid to get it here so it's a more sought after item and it's priced accordingly.  Heather had a simple solution. Ignore, block and unfriend those who do it.  It's a simple solution that works for her.

I don't want to bash people that live here but it does seem like the quality/caliber of some of the expats has changed dramatically in the past year. Being removed from the expat scene and living in a more remote area was our decision but the changes are a bit alarming.  People seem to forget they are not in their home country.  If you don't speak Spanish, you need to recognize your the offending party.  If you don't make an effort it is NOT an Ecuadorians fault.  And if your not being understood, why would you think yelling louder the same stuff would make it more clear?  Honestly, we are guests here. We need to be gracious and respectful.  Try to remember if your in a foreign country, your being observed and your example is seen as what all people from your country are like.

That said, I do wish some of the cultural ways here would catch up to the rest of the world. Noise from loud music, fireworks, and dogs barking 24/7 is a challenge to anyone.  Earplugs can not be worn 24/7 for weeks on end.  I hope Ecuador can recognize there are better ways to treat kids, women and even animals in the future, as well.

This is a very beautiful country.  Worth living in.  But just as anywhere, it does have it's pro's and con's.

We have met some wonderful people here.  Some we feel are like family to us. Most are Ecuadorian. I wish I could be a bigger fan of the expat scene here but it's lacking a lot in my opinion.  Like everything it will evolve and I hope it will improve.

Oh one other thing I almost forgot to mention.  We were visiting our friend Soledad at her store/ restaurant a week ago and on an impulse, I asked if I could cook a fast dish for her to consider putting on the menu. She allowed me and off I went. About 5 minutes later I had made a great dish of Shrimp Scampi.  Everyone got to taste it and loved it.  And given how inexpensive shrimp is here, I bet the dish takes off like a rocket. 

The Shrimp Scampi Dan Cooked at La Yunta

I can get (gringo priced) 4 kilo's (about 8.8lbs) of medium shrimp here for $20.00!  Now let me stop those expats who know they can get an even better price, congrats, your a better shopper than me. Please don't feel the need to tell me ok?  That's 180 shrimp roughly.  I will miss the deal that is for us! If you are in the area, try La Yunta's Shrimp Scampi, reply with a review of it, and don't forget to ask Sole about her newest dessert that she is offering.  Cream, bananas, caramel, chocolate, and a yummy cookie crust.  It's new, and DIVINE!

That's all for now.  We will keep the blog going during this process and even after we return to the United States. The subject matter might change a bit but the honest reviews and the stories about our life and travels will continue. And I know we will have a lot more to talk about! Stay tuned!