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American Enclaves in Ecuador?

by Bob Stone
(San Ramon de Alajuela, Costa Rica)

In the several years we have lived in Costa Rica and watched newcomers turn a lot of Costa Rica into their hometown, I would be disappointed to see Ecuador become the same. Of the 4 million plus population of Costa Rica, over 80,000 are expats, many with their own razor wire covered walls, and their organizations just like "back home."

American developers with their greed factor have usurped much of the land with their "gated developments" and American ways. I recently found an Ecuadorian website, www.cuencaforexpats.com, which encourages you to join the "Chamber of Commerce" in Ecuador, so it appears that this is now occurring in Ecuador.

Is there no place that Americans go where they cannot just be a part of the landscape without their incessant need to change things to represent where they came from? Offering information to newcomers in foreign countries is great and to be encouraged, but developing American organizations in foreign countries where other Americans flock to them just to be with their kind is the wrong thing to do, and will eventually harm relations.

I would hope that Captivating Cuenca editors would encourage Americans coming to live in Ecuador to blend with their communities and become part of them, attempting to learn the language and customs, and assisting and participating in community activities instead of American organization activities.

*****

Bob, thanks for your comments.

We do indeed try to educate people about becoming part of the community here in Cuenca.

Not only is it easier to live here if you know the language, you develop friendships and save money when you can communicate with Ecuadorians in Spanish (I was going to write "in their own language," but it's not likely that many of us will ever be able to speak Quichua, the language of the indigenous peoples here).

Just so you know, cuencaforexpats.com is not an American site. It was developed by the Cuenca Chamber of Commerce to capitalize on the influx of expats. They charge $150 for access to the same type of information that CaptivatingCuenca.com, cuenca-info.com and other sites provide for free.

Here in Ecuador, every home is either walled in individually, or walled as part of a gated community. That happened long before expats started pouring into the country.

We're already seeing changed attitudes here in Cuenca, and in Cotacachi, where we lived before moving here. The indigenous resent us for driving up land prices because we walk in and pay any ridiculous price that's charged for land or a house. Business owners and condo owners love us because they know they can make a lot of money as long as gringos are around.

And the average citizen just puts up with us, until we directly affect his/her livelihood or discretionary income.

It's entirely possible that expats (and here I include Canadians and those from other countries) will permanently change Ecuador, and not for the better. One of our goals with the site is to prevent that, or, at the least, reduce the impact.

We consider this country, the way it is now, to be our home. If it turns out to be another Costa Rica, we'll be very disappointed. And we won't have done what we set out to do with CaptivatingCuenca.com.

Jeff

Comments for
American Enclaves in Ecuador?

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A Somewhat Different View
by: Anonymous

Jeff,

I am a U.S. citizen living in the San Francisco Bay area of California. As I see it, I don't have a problem with "Birds of a feather flocking together."

I see that a lot here in the three major cities. In Oakland, you have Chinatown. In San Jose, you have Little Saigon. In San Francisco, you have a China and a Japan town. The Mission District in San Francisco is mostly Hispanic.

If you walk around these enclaves, most of them will have something that reminds them of their ancestral home. No matter if it is food, dress or architecture, they have not and don't fully assimilate into the host country's culture. I even see Chinese and Japanese schools for the kids. I have also seen Muslim schools for the Arabs too.

What I am trying to say is that it is okay to want to hang around with someone that has likes similar to yours. I do have a problem with uninformed gringos coming to Ecuador and paying high prices for homes just because they have the money or are ignorant of the well known Gringo Tax on everything.

I am so happy to read blogs like this and be a member of Yahoo's Ecuador groups. A lot of expats have never heard of these groups. "In a country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!"
American Enclaves
by: tim

I have to agree with the writer's comments regarding ethnic neighborhoods in American cities. I grew up in a small town in upstate New York, and there was a section of town where all the Italians lived. Chicago has its ethnic neighborhoods and here in Milwaukee we have our ethnic neighborhoods. just adds to the diversity.

If we move to Cuenca, as we hope to do, we'll want to live and soak up as much of the local culture as we can. We won't forget that we are Americans, but we certainly don't want to live in an all expat enclave. We want to get away from Americans, which is why we want to move to Ecuador (and Cuenca in particular).
A Third View
by: Ray

There is a distinct difference between immigrant enclaves in the U.S. and American enclaves in Latin America. Trying to compare the two is folly.

Whether it be Chinatown in San Francisco, Little Saigon in Houston, or Somali enclaves in Minneapolis, the immigrants to those areas are usually economic, political, or persecuted refugees from their homelands who are trying to find a place, and survival, in America. They are no different than the Irish refugees who fled the potato famine, Jews who sought refuge from the Holocaust, or Armenians who fled the Turkish genocide. They stayed among themselves for economic, spiritual, and familial support until they were able to assimilate. That usually occurred in the next generation.

North Americans and Western Europeans who emigrate to Latin American do so for other reasons, of which there are many. But REFUGE is not among them. (Of course, there are always a few running from the law.) While a support network may be of some importance, it hardly qualifies as such that enclaves, gated communities, and isolation from the local population are necessary for safety reasons, cultural preservation, and general well-being.

I plan to relocate to Ecuador this summer, but NOT to Cotacachi, where I hear that some fool has a petition going to make English the "official" language of the town!
Ray - don't believe everything that you hear
by: Jack

My wife and I have lived in Cotacachi for over 2 years ... and we know the town, both locals and expats very well.

There is absolutely no truth to the statement that the expats want to make English the official language. In fact, most of the expats here seem to learn enough Spanish to get what they need.
A LOT of Americans are moving to ECUADOR for economic reasons
by: Anonymous

I believe in live and let live; if Americans or other gringos wish to live in a gated community, so what? Allow people to live where and how they wish. Diversity is great.

Furthermore, take into consideration what the U.S. Embassy website states, and they don't declare this lightly, that Ecuador is becoming very dangerous due to increased crime and gringos are being especially targeted. Hence, if some older or single individuals feel safe in a gated community why criticize them?

I have seen some terrific gated gringo communities that I wish that I could afford to live in. I speak Spanish, only know Ecuadorians, I understand Latin Culture only too well, but I don't believe I am any better than ghetto-community gringos. In fact, I miss having gringo interaction once in awhile.

Moreover, retired gringos bring income to every community where they settle. We all know that sometimes it is difficult for them to learn a new language at an older age and ditto new cultural customs. I think they live in these communities to help each other out and so they don't feel isolated in a foreign land.

However, it is unfortunate when foreigners cause an increase in local real estate prices.
American Expats Wherever They Go
by: Anonymous

I am an American woman who has lived all over the world. Now, I have been considering moving to Ecuador but am deathly afraid of encountering a bunch of naive and untraveled Americans who are afraid to blend into and respect the natives of the country of their choice.

I think it is quite disgraceful to move to a foreign country and then try to reshape it into a little private American state.

You would think that the whole idea of moving to a foreign country is to get away from the American culture and blend into the culture of your chosen new home.

I don't understand why Americans wish to find what they think are better places to live, and then, because they can't leave their American way of life behind, try to change every country and their people. Are they that insecure?

Americans think they are so much smarter than everybody else. They think that their way is the best way so why don't they just stay in the States and leave the rest of us to live the Ecuadorian way; a simple and sweet way of life.

They just are not 'travellers'. That is the problem. They are not experienced and don't know how to behave in foreign countries because they don't know many, other than the one cheap country they choose to retire in...and to change it to make them feel more at home.

In short; Most American expats are ignorant, spoiled babies. Why don't they just sit back and breathe in and adapt to the customs of the new place they chose to live in? I must say........THEY ARE A FRIGHTENING LOT TO ANY EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLER because they wish to settle in a foreign country and turn it into a cheaper United States.

I would love to know where in Ecuador I can avoid Americans and mingle with the natives and European expats.

*****

By far the majority of expats here are American. There are some Canadians (me included) and even fewer European expats.

I don't think the American expat situation is quite as bad as you think it might be, which is a good thing. Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of the magazines and services that promote Ecuador as a cheap place to retire to.

When the focus is on quality of life for a cheap price, the type of people they encourage are those looking for a cheap version of the US.

The Ecuador Expats group on Facebook and sites like ours are helping to educate people about what life is like here, and to come down to see if you'll be a good fit for what's here.

That said, you can live just about anywhere and have little interaction with expats. We're only a small minority in the large cities, although more noticeable in Cotacachi and Vilcabamba, and Salinas, due to the size of those places.

Jeff
How Can I Avoid the American Enclaves in Ecuador?
by: ANNE

Please tell me where I can go in Ecuador to find the majority of European and artists' enclaves.

Thanks.

Anne

*****

Hi Anne.

There are no European enclaves, since Europeans are a mixed bag and don't usually "hang out" in groups. Plus, there aren't that many Europeans living here.

I suggest that you join the Ecuador Expats group and ask about artist groups here in the country.

Jeff
"Unless you have walked in their shoes"
by: Anonymous

I see many "knowledgeable" comments here from folks who do not now live in latin or South America.

Until you have lived there at least 2 years, you are just repeating what someone has told you about it, or an article that you read. Many times these are just an "opinion" by someone reading "International Living" or other such articles from the "U.S. Embassy website."

Before you give advice on foreign living you must have "walked in their shoes."
Info First, Then Immersion
by: TCondon

I lived overseas growing up. I witnessed American (Anglo, including Brits) enclaves living in walled duplex or triplex homes, playing together and doing very little to get to know the local population.

I would like to meet other expats in Ecuador; ask lots of questions and establish a support mechanism and THEN explore the local mores, language and customs by immersing myself in the neighborhood.

I believe both styles have their benefits. There is a need for a transitional series of relationships with people like yourself. There is also a HUGE need to mix with the local culture, and I cannot stress this enough: LEARN...the....language!!
50/50 on Your Opinion
by: Anonymous

I do understand what you're saying and what you're describing as Americans not blending, bringing their own ways rather than to adapt to the country's tradition, however whats going on there is exactly what all countries come and do in America.

I think you need to look at it from both sides. I don't agree with people not even trying to engage in a country's culture. I do find it quite disrespectful and sad, but this world is made up a different generations of people.

You're lucky if you really find anyone who wants to bring more to any country. Nowadays, it's more about what they can take from a country....
You Missed the Bloody Point
by: Thomas Condon

To those who responded about the "American Enclaves in Ecuador":

If you're actually SEARCHING for the enclaves I was referring to, then GO FOR IT! Who cares? You'll end up being like so many Anglophiles who think third world countries should be molded into the shape of Little Americas and that the locals should speak English, rather than they themselves LEARNING the local language. That is SO narcissistic and xenophobic. I have had it to "here" with that sort of thinking.

Why is it SO attractive to you to go into another country and search out others with whom to congregate where you'll be comfortable, rather than to immerse yourself in the local culture and LEARN??!!

All due respect: it ain't your country. It's THEIRS. There is a comfort zone that you're desperately holding onto that is presumptuous at best.

If Ecuador is full of Americans who are wanting to associate with only other Americans, then I will travel ELSEWHERE. Make no mistake: I want information when I arrive...not a brotherhood of American expats! From what I've heard, Ecuador is probably getting sick and tired of American citizens wanting to bring the U.S. to their country rather than merely to fit in.

And what a dreary, dreadful country it would be if the local culture deferred its own culture to that of the immigrants and brought in MORE McDonalds and Pizza Huts...which seem to be EVERYWHERE in the world these days.

I'm rethinking the entire situation, which I'm sure is thrilling to those seeking to move their own customs to a foreign land.

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