So we arrived in Cuenca on April 26, 2012. Our two teenage boys were livid. Look at those miserable faces...this was torture for them! My husband and I had talked about it for nearly 2 years and now it finally has happened! Pobre sitos!! (poor things). Well, everyone isn't going to be happy, plus they are teenagers...teenagers are never happy! hehehe
On the other hand, our little Princessa Aria was very happy! She thought of it as an adventure!
So we are here and we started out in a beautiful apartment but found out that although it was $550 per month, we were paying too much! Well, after 2 months of living here, we found a cute neighborhood and a house for a lot less!
Here are some photos of our neighborhood
View from my bedroom
This view is right outside our front window
This is our cute house on the corner, it's a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath
So let me give you the break down and the monthly cost of living for a family of five:
Rent - $270
Security Guard - $30
Electric - $30
Gas - $7.50
Internet - $22
Drinking Water - $15
Food - $800
*food is expensive along with electronics and appliances so if you are moving here from the States, bring your laptops, ipads, even a t.v., because you will be paying at least twice or three times as much for them here.
Taxi - $50 (optional)
Bus - $..25 per ride
Total cost of living approximately $1,200 per month.
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It's not easy moving a family of five, especially with two teenagers! A lot of our friends thought we were crazy for leaving a "comfortable life" in the U.S. But we have learned to re-define the word comfortable. We decided to move to our children away from the type of comfort based on U.S. standards because all it was doing was creating spoiled unappreciative brats. Well, it is very true that they could become spoiled here as well, because technology does exist here in Ecuador. However, the lessons our children are learning are priceless. They are learning to be empathetic, courteous, kind, giving, caring individuals because of our life-style change. Granted, they could have learned these lessons in the States, but the environment they were in at school and around the neighborhood was toxic. It was a battle everyday to guide our children in the right direction morally and spiritually. We had to do something drastic while we still had time to do it... and a year and a half into it, we know it was the best thing we ever did for them. Yes, we have had our ups and downs here and no matter where you go in this world, it will be a battle, but the influences here are not like in the States (at least for our children). The benefits: We all are together, doing things as a family. We even eat dinner together at least 5 days a week! That never happened back home!
I also have had my episodes of dealing with home-sickness, not for the States, but for my family and friends; but I take it day by day and look at our children and realize this has been the best decision my husband and I have ever made. There is a saying in español: vale la pena (it's worth the pain) that I say to myself when it gets a little rough and unbearable for me. I look at how independent our children are becoming and how they have learned not to depend on mom and dad for every little thing. They appreciate us as parents and realize that we did this for them; and they have expressed how grateful they are for this opportunity. As Jehovah's Witnesses, we all are volunteers in a Worldwide Preaching Work here in Cuenca, English Congregation. We enjoy our ministry. We all go out at least 3 days a week as a family. My husband and I have even joined the ranks of being full-time ministers (volunteering over 70 hours a month each in the ministry) and this activity has bonded us closer as a family!
Before I posted photos of the kids when we first arrived in Cuenca. Here are photos of them now:
Alex Ashton
Hanging with Friends from Germany and Australia
Enjoying an Assembly Day
Alex, Aria, Me and Ashton
Well, to sum it up....I think they like it here:-)
Ciao until next time.......
Contact info: conciserrano@gmail.com
