Tamera's Take is about being here.
Are you ready? I am.
It has been
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| Airport in Guayaquil Ecuador |
She posted it for a specific reason having nothing to do with us, but it seemed appropriate for this segment of Tamera's Take. And the feeling is...same as it ever was...same as it ever was.
And you may find yourself
Living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself
In another part of the world
And you my find yourself
Behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house
With a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, well
How did I get here?
(Once In a Lifetime - Talking Heads)
As I began writing this a few months ago, a Butterball turkey was thawing in my mom's refrigerator. Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray were on TV screeching to a studio audience about yams, cranberries and giblet gravy.
We are not in Ecuador.
Still not in Ecuador.
We are not in Kansas either.
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| Saying "chao" to our friend David last September |
Still not in Ecuador.
We are not in Kansas either.
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| Waiting for our flight from Guayaquil to Miami |
My husband and I were about 48 hours away from the traditional holiday, known in the United States as Thanksgiving. I had been to the grocery store three times in a few days to purchase food items for the feast. Trip number four was upcoming.
It may sound like I am complaining, but I am not. I am actually very happy to be with my family during this holiday season (and beyond). That is what we say now, "The Holiday Season". That time frame beginning around October 31st and ending January 2nd. A blur of individual holidays that now resemble a box of melted crayons. A big box of Crayolas. All 64 of them. No wait. All 120 of them. Maybe it is 200 now. They keep adding colors. Anyway they are all melted.
You may be asking yourself, well how did they get here?
Tornado? No. Hurricane? No. Earthquake? Plausible, but no.
Very simply, Paperwork, and then more Paperwork. The one paperwork item we got wrong prior to arriving in Ecuador.
Based on what we researched, FBI Background Checks did not, and could not, be apostilled. That may have been the case a year ago. But government documents, processes and requirements change all the time, all over the world.
If you are trying to obtain a Resident Visa, your FBI Background Checks must be apostilled. Let me repeat. FBI Background Checks must be apostilled.
It takes approximately four months to receive FBI background checks, then add another month for the apostille process.
Tourist Visas expire, temporary resident visas are just that - temporary. So here we are back in Estados Unidos to get new FBI background checks. Before you ask, No, you cannot use the old one. They are only valid for 90 days if you want them to be apostilled. In addition, you must request an AUTHENTICATED FBI background check, in order for the U.S. Department of State to apostille it.
We move forward.
It was time to go to Super Target for (hopefully) my last shopping excursion prior to Thanksgiving.
And you may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself
Where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself
Am I right?...Am I wrong?
And you may tell yourself
MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE?
Since we left Ecuador, the months have gone by fast. We have been very busy, but I have to admit, I miss Ecuador. I am reminded of it every day the instant my laptop screensaver starts up. Thousands of photos we took during in our time in South America flow through the slideshow. We have done our best to stay in touch with our Gringo Friends in Crucita as well as our Ecuadorian Friends - through WhatsApp or Facebook. But it is not the same as being there. We practice speaking Spanish to each other and occasionally with other people when the opportunity arises.
To be honest, I was not sure what my feelings would be about our plan to return to Crucita in 2017. I was afraid I would get sucked back into the things that make the United States so appealing to so many people - whether you are a citizen, a resident or a visitor.
I will admit that back in September, within one hour of leaving the Miami International Airport in our National Rental Car (on our way to Jacksonville Florida), we stopped at a Starbucks, Burger King and Kangaroo Convenience Store. I even wore a Burger King crown. It was better than going to Disney World. But that elated feeling wore off the first time we went to the grocery store. One orange. One dollar. What?? Back to the land of overpriced GMO produce and even higher priced "organic" produce.
We had to acclimate to our surroundings (again).
Everything is a trade-off. Public transportation was inexpensive and available everywhere in Ecuador. Unless you live in a major U.S. city, public transportation is expensive, complicated and inadequate. However, cars are easier to buy in the U.S. But the price of gas, insurance and repairs can make owning a car impossible for many people. Without going through a laundry list, suffice it to say there are pros and cons in both countries. It all depends on what you want. What makes you happy. What is important to your life and lifestyle.
Very simply, Paperwork, and then more Paperwork. The one paperwork item we got wrong prior to arriving in Ecuador.
Based on what we researched, FBI Background Checks did not, and could not, be apostilled. That may have been the case a year ago. But government documents, processes and requirements change all the time, all over the world.
If you are trying to obtain a Resident Visa, your FBI Background Checks must be apostilled. Let me repeat. FBI Background Checks must be apostilled.
It takes approximately four months to receive FBI background checks, then add another month for the apostille process.
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| Chao Amiga! |
We move forward.
It was time to go to Super Target for (hopefully) my last shopping excursion prior to Thanksgiving.
And you may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself
Where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself
Am I right?...Am I wrong?
And you may tell yourself
MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE?
Back again. Fast forward.
The Presidential Election in the United States is over - finally. The inauguration occurred on January 20th. I do not get into political discussions, so I will say no more on the topic.
Christmas - Navidad - Noël - Weihnachten - Božić - Jul - Jól - Boże Narodzenie - Natal - рождество - Nollag is now a month behind us.
The Presidential Election in the United States is over - finally. The inauguration occurred on January 20th. I do not get into political discussions, so I will say no more on the topic.
Christmas - Navidad - Noël - Weihnachten - Božić - Jul - Jól - Boże Narodzenie - Natal - рождество - Nollag is now a month behind us.
Since we left Ecuador, the months have gone by fast. We have been very busy, but I have to admit, I miss Ecuador. I am reminded of it every day the instant my laptop screensaver starts up. Thousands of photos we took during in our time in South America flow through the slideshow. We have done our best to stay in touch with our Gringo Friends in Crucita as well as our Ecuadorian Friends - through WhatsApp or Facebook. But it is not the same as being there. We practice speaking Spanish to each other and occasionally with other people when the opportunity arises.
To be honest, I was not sure what my feelings would be about our plan to return to Crucita in 2017. I was afraid I would get sucked back into the things that make the United States so appealing to so many people - whether you are a citizen, a resident or a visitor.
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| Blondie - very happy to be out of the pet carrier |
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| First cup of Starbucks! |
Everything is a trade-off. Public transportation was inexpensive and available everywhere in Ecuador. Unless you live in a major U.S. city, public transportation is expensive, complicated and inadequate. However, cars are easier to buy in the U.S. But the price of gas, insurance and repairs can make owning a car impossible for many people. Without going through a laundry list, suffice it to say there are pros and cons in both countries. It all depends on what you want. What makes you happy. What is important to your life and lifestyle.
Every day I seemed to struggle with a strange balance of emotions. In my thoughts are the people, places and things I love about the United States; and the people, places and things I love about Ecuador.
I missed my family and friends while in Ecuador. Now I miss the happiness and peace I found in Ecuador. I try to imagine how I can find that peace here in the United States so that I can be close to my family. I try to imagine how I can find a way to be close to my family while being in Ecuador. I want my cake and eat it too. I know that what I want is not possible. Choices have to be made.
Something to keep in mind if you are considering moving to Ecuador. For those of you who have the financial resources to live in another country and travel as often as you want, these choices are probably not an issue. I am not one of those people. We will have to make choices.
Fast forward.
It is April 2017. We chose our choices. For very happy reasons, we will be staying in the United States for a while.
The hiatus from blog writing is over. Just because we are not currently in Ecuador does not mean we will not continue to blog about Ecuador.
It is sort of like starting an adventure (again).
Chao!
