The “How To” Plan - Before We Go...

I wish I could tell you that I have it all figured out and that our relocate plan is 100% foolproof, but let’s be honest…I don’t really have it all sorted out just yet.  
Here are some highlights to date:
 
1.       Become Debt Free.  Our main plan of action is still to pay off the mortgage, credit line and any other debts we might have within the next 3-5 years.  When the time comes to sell here, the equity we have in our current house will easily pay for our house or condo in Ecuador.  Believe me, we don’t have an extravagant house now, but housing costs in Ecuador are substantially less than houses in North America, which will give us a nice nest egg left over.
 
2.       Downsizing.  Slowly we will begin to purge everything non-essential from our lives.  Apart from our laptops and iPods and some personal meaningful items, we don’t plan on taking much with us, but the thought of narrowing it down to only a few boxes is overwhelming me already.   I’m not attached to a lot of things, but the thought of the work involved in getting rid of it all is freaking me out.   The discussion has already begun as to what can go now and what needs to stay until the end.  I can also tell you that the “eBay and yard sale” piles have also formed.  If you’re looking for something in particular, let me know – I probably have it.
 
3.       Save, Save and Save Some More.  This one is obvious, but we will be watching our money more closely than usual and choosing our expenditures even more wisely.   The plan is to save the money we make from selling off our household items in a separate account and slowly convert the money from Canadian to USD, as USD is the currency of Ecuador.  This money will then cover our set-up costs in Ecuador or as I like to call it - the “buy new stuff in Ecuador” fund.
 
4.        Learn to Speak Spanish.  This is probably the biggest obstacle we will need to overcome.  I can speak a little Spanish, but unless I only need to ask for directions to the bathroom or order a beverage and cheeseburger, I’m pretty much screwed.  I’m looking into the Rosetta Stone program and would appreciate any insight or personal recommendations you guys might have on this one.  (Krystn don’t make any plans for 2017, since I might need to take you up on your offer to become my personal translator and relocate to Ecuador with me.) 
 
The details are particularly fuzzy on what we plan on doing once we get there, so I’ll leave that for another day.
 

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hee!! I will keep 2017 open....Ethan can do a "student exchange" program that year..Haha!!

By the way, Rosetta Stone IS a really good for language learning...I've heard lots of good things about it.

I would also recommend, if it's possible, to take a trip either to Ecuador or other Spanish speaking country and do an immersion school program...or just enroll in one right when you relo. I did that when I headed to Mexico for a year...it was a great help!!
January 12, 2012 at 7:59 AM
raydenzel1 said…
Very basic stuff. I would pretend that you are moving next year and speed up the house cleansing. Other then that, it looks good.
January 12, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Brian Miller said…
it does not need to be more complex than it is...and if you keep these in front of you you will get there..
January 12, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Beatriz said…
I'll be muscle if you need me to be. I've been told I have one of those faces that say, "Bring it." And I can also speak Spanish :)
January 12, 2012 at 11:33 AM
CrazyCris said…
If Krystin can't make it, can I join you as your translator? PLus I believe my parents have some contacts in Ecuador... ;o)

And I second what Krystin said, you need a bit of language immersion, not just textbook lessons... although once you've gotten some Spanish under your belt something that might help is trying to get hold of Spanish films or TV and watch it in the original language with subtitles (first in English then switch to Spanish subtitles so your brain isn't mixing languages). This works wonderfully with my ENglish students here in Spain, no reason why it shouldn't work as well in the opposite linguistic direction! ;o)

And I thought Ecuador had their own currency! NOT USD!... weird
January 14, 2012 at 7:36 AM
Brindy said…
I had weekly lessons from 2 ladies, one english and one spanish, I found the combination plus and hour a day study from me worked. I alos found a spanish lady wanting to improve her english on the web and we became 'online penpals'. She would write in English and I would correct her and I would write in Spanish and she would do the same for me. We had a lot of laughs as well, getting words mized up can make for some interesting culture gaffs.
January 15, 2012 at 12:39 PM
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