The Gaithers - their first year in Cuenca!

Simply click on the video below and we'll take you through the highlights of our initial year here in Cuenca, Ecuador.  There are many memories, and also, there's a sense of awe to realize how much has truly been accomplished in this first year.

(Unfortunately, if you view it full screen it will be a little fuzzy though the original is clear)

But...hope you ENJOY!

Relationships

RELATIONSHIPS

Here, as everywhere, relationships are the focal point of life, the source of joy and fulfillment.  They may also be a source of frustration.  So let’s share some principles with an Ecuadorian twist.

Latinos are mostly Catholic, family oriented and warm.  Sunday is definitely family day.  And by family we include parents, children, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandfathers, grandmothers and sometimes, their friends.  The day is usually dedicated to the familial group with lots of food, entertainment and children. 

If you are fortunate to be invited, expect it to be all day or much of it.  You will be an honored guest.  Frequently, this may involve a beautiful trip to the country to the family farm acquired by their abuelos (grandparents!).  Ask questions about the family history, children and activities. Enjoy their home style meals!

Working relationships may be entirely different.  Cuencanos have their own way of doing things and their own way of managing time, tools, and priorities.  Families trump work commitments.   Mother’s Day may involve taking several days off work unannounced.  Work may be done without a great deal of planning.  You know, of course, that everything changes, so flexibility is a way of life.  (Something I must continually learn.)

Remember this motto:  “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken when bent.”

While warm and friendly, Cuencanos dislike being told how to do their particular trade.  Americanos feel we are paying for the work and have the right, even the responsibility, to direct it in a personal way.  Be careful.  Your suggestions may save time, but they want to save face.

Beware also that projects, materials, and timing may be subject to constant renegotiation.  If you get a firm (turn-key) quote, some material costs may be added later. Gently restate your agreement. Get it in writing if significant sums are involved. Workers may arrive without the necessary materials.  They may expect you to go get them or pay them additional monies. My problems in the US with contactors while remodeling a dozen homes were even more numerous, but different.

Always be cautious to avoid negative words and attitudes.  They rarely have a positive result.  And, it seems that everyone in Cuenca is related to everyone else.  Reputations and honor are very important to all parties.

Gringos that come to Ecuador are a bit adventurous, eccentric, and fiercely independent.  Most of us are well-traveled, politically informed, and financially proactive.  Some are financial refugees, politically dissatisfied, or estranged from family. 

Gringos are highly motivated to establish a foreign “family” during their first year in Ecuador.  Newcomers are open, available and friendly, anxious to gather information about their new country and culture.  We love to “pay it forward” helping others as we have been helped in our transition.

Finally, people are mirrors. We will have our attitudes and actions reflected back to us. And we  will reap what we sow. Our transition is a wonderful season to improve our way of life with others and within ourselves!       

Rejoice and enjoy,   Gary

The Color Purple Event - Final Recap

The Color Purple Event - Final Recap

  Right after the Color Purple Event, October 4, 2011, we were scheduled to go back to the USA for one month.  During that time, I had the privilege of seeing my aging 89 year old mother who lives in Alabama and a busy time in North Carolina.  So needless to say, there was no time to update

 a final recap on the the Color Purple Event until now...

Below are pictures from the event that gives an idea of the day.  However, I want to start with a wonderful story with one of the staff members of SOLCA, after we delivered the proceeds to them several days past the event.

An appointment was made for us to see the Director of SOLCA on the Wednesday, following the Color Purple Event.  We enthusiatically carried with us, $1,360.00 as a gift to the pediatric's department of SOLCA for children with cancer.  We received a receipt for the donation.

One hundred twenty five ladies (and a few men) attended the event.  Villa San Carlos, a beautiful event center here in Cuenca, graciously discounted a delicious lunch for us (as shown above).  The lunch included tomato bisque soup, mixed green salad with crumbled cheese and a yummy dressing layered on top of Branden's "famous" bread, cookies, a special ice cream treat, and tea - all for $5.00!

The ticket price was $10.  The 125 lunches were paid for that day, and with only a small printing cost for tickets, programs, paper, etc. we were able to give the gift as mentioned above.  We sold close to 200 tickets which again, afforded us the opportunity to have a greater gift to offer SOLCA.  This is also because of the "no shows," and there were some who bought tickets as a donation to SOLCA without attending the event.

Now for the story...

The Director of SOLCA, Dr. Raul Alvarado Corral, second from the left, shared with us that SOLCA depends on gifts and support of people so they can meet many of the needs children with cancer.  The families are not able to pay for the costs of treatment and the child's stay at SOLCA.  Also, some of the parents are not able to stay with the children due to travel costs of those not living here in Cuenca.

The lady on the far left shared with us (after we presented the check to the Director) that just that morning she had gone across the street to the Pharmacy to check on how much they owed on their bill for medicine.  It was about $500.

She said the thought came to her mind she did not know how they were going to pay the bill and she said a prayer.  Then she looked at me and said, "Now we can."  And then, with tearful eyes, she looked up to convey a thank you to the One Who provided.
This was a special moment for us, especially when we were leaving, as we saw her walking across the street with money her hand - to pay the bill!

Everyone who worked with this event donated their time, talents and resources.  We all bought our own tickets as well.  The door prizes were given from the community as well as chocolates, flowers,and a special table arrangement.  Interpreters from Abraham Lincoln School volunteered their time to support anyone who needed translation at their table.

A huge thank you to these and all who attended!

 The Color Purple Event Decor - October 4, 2011

Angie Barnes, (co-chairman) and Sue Gaither

Tania Sarmiento, (left) General Manager Hotel Inca Real, Patricia, and Connie McDonald (center - wife of Bill McDonald - CEO and President Unsion Television) and our lovely Emcee!

Sandra Flores on far right of Villa San Carlos -

On left, Eulaliadole Sinchi - volunteered to greet ladies at the door

Notice the beautiful table arrangement donated for the front table at entrance

Angie, enjoying giving out door prizes

Monica of Artelier, and a snapshot of other ladies with

their purple attire! Most attendees wore purple!

Dayana and Marcela Reyes (sisters) and Ecuadorian Beauties!

Dayana (left) gave her time to interpret for speakers and door prizes!

SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT APPLICATION?

SOCIAL SECURITY Early RETIREMENT APPLICATION?

                Asheville, NC - Oct 2011. Waiting for the doors to open at the S S  office, I surmised that most of the middle aged scraggly looking crowd was seeking very early retirement via a disability claim. With jobs scarce in this government-induced great recession, who can blame them? My 9 am appointment was planned to avoid a long wait during my limited time in the US. It worked! After the multitude took their seats, I was invited to be the first one at the claim window.

My first words set my surprising objective, “my goal is to obtain an original signature on a government form or letter stating that I am eligible for retirement benefits.”  Silly me.  The clerk promptly informed me that no one signs anything. He generously offered to sign a printout (useless for obtaining an Ecuadoran visa). Printouts can come off anyone’s printer. And I needed to obtain a S S card. Mine disappeared 25 years ago. The required form was the one that the reception lady said was not necessary.

OK. Let’s determine the benefit amount first. He was very good at that. Again, I had done my homework: internet research on gov’t sites, blogs, years in financial product marketing. Earned income was going to be my issue. We are allowed about $1300 a month in 2012. Half of earnings over that had to be paid back to SS. My benefits would be recalculated at my “normal retirement” age of 66.   However, only the highest 35 years counted – I am way beyond those years. So any SS money paid back went to gov’t money heaven. No recalculation needed.

Yes, I had done everything legally allowed to reduce my future income stream from many years of long term insurance sales residuals. Silly me, I had yet to learn gov’t  math. Example 1.01 equals 2 when calculating equivalent months of excess earned income. No, Gary, you do not refund half of excess earnings for each month when filing the annual IRS 1040. SS uses the entire annual estimated excess earnings divided by monthly benefit to determine months of excess. So calculation is not refund half of excess for each month, but to determine months of zero retirement checks. Does your head hurt yet?

Result: Rounding alone cost me a month’s benefit next year. And since I had over two months equivalent excess, I may lose all of three months 2011 benefit. Yes, I can file for benefits starting October 26, but the checks will be for zero and a LIFETIME 22% reduction. Ok, I will wait until my 63 birthday on January 26 to claim benefits. We requested a letter from the District Director in St Louis. I may get it in two weeks. I knew SS pays in arrears, but they also take another month to process the check. So I will get 80% (early retirement at 63) of normal retirement starting in January. My first check may be in late April. I must refund in advance for a year’s excess earnings. Rounding and timing!

The SS letter: Prompt, confusing, self-contradictory, robo-signed form letter on letterhead. Cost for four Fed Ex mailings, Raleigh, NC Apostille stamp, and Washington DC Ecuador consulate was nearly $200. The first two paragraphs:

“We have approved your application for retirement benefits. Your entitlement date is January 2012.”

“We cannot pay you because or your work.”

The next paragraph stated my future monthly benefit rate, etc. Now how is a native Spanish speaker in Quito going to interpret all that?

I signed directly below the Dist Director, had my original signature notarized and sent Fed Ex to NC Secretary of State. Whew, they apostillized it!

Now many of you are asking “WHY?” would I apply early, losing 20% of my benefits. Yes, I know the math says if I live over early 80’s my lifetime benefits are greater if I apply at 66. The obvious  Answer: Two governments and inflation. The resident visa requirements in beautiful Ecuador are constantly changing, and the US is becoming unpredictable as it moves to socialism. Oh, and what do you think a dollar is going to be worth in 10, 20 years?

Lessons:   1.apply 120 days in advance  2.Beware of rounding and timing  3. Do not earn much money in early retirement  4. beware the government.

                                Learning by doing,

                                                                Gary

The Color Purple Event Update

The Color Purple Event Update

We are so grateful for the wonderful response we have had to the Color Purple Event. 

Thanks to our sponsors who graciously purchased whole tables. 

Thanks to those businesses who donated the door prizes. 

So many have generously given their time, talents,
and resources to make this event possible.

Many hours have been given by volunteers who have helped

to organize and with ticket sales.

Everyone has donated their time.  With the exception of the discounted cost of the lunch and printing costs, SOLCA will be presented with the proceeds of $1200 to help these children with cancer.  We hope to have the presentation televised after the event.

125 ladies (and a few men) attended the event on Saturday, October 1.

Pictures will be posted soon.

We are grateful.  Thank you.

The Color Purple Event

Evento El Color Purpura

The Color Purple Event

We never imagined that within 9 months of living in Cuenca, an event would come together what we have called “The Color Purple Event.”  Yes, complete with television interviews, newspaper coverage and many sponsors!

How did this happen?

Our transition began last November.  Imagine selling your home, wrestling everything into storage, Gary having surgery. Then gathering international papers for “Stover,” our mascota , to become “Ecuadog.”  And “900” seemingly other items.  By the time we arrived, it took a month just to catch our breath. 

Then holidays  – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  While Ecuador does not celebrate our Thanksgiving, we certainly had a celebration.  By January, we had established friendships. Our relationship with Unsion Television resulted in a room at the station to conduct our first weekly Bible Study.

In March of this year, we finally obtained our Cedula. 

We had already planned a trip home to the USA to pack a container.  We decided  we were called to make Cuenca our home.

Since January, I’ve been purchasing bread each week at the charming Villa San Carlos located on Remigio Tamariz.  Why there?  The chef and owner (along with his wife, Sandra) bakes what he calls “almost” sourdough bread each week.  We found out about the bread through our friends, Jim & Angie Barnes.

As the weeks turned into months of going to get bread each week, I found myself growing with an idea inside my heart about a ladies luncheon to be held at this beautiful Villa San Carlos.  In the States, I had often been part or even coordinated ladies events and retreats, so this was not a “foreign” idea.

After purchasing an apartment in May, I still held onto the possibility of doing something – but for a number of weeks we were held “hostage” to remodeling our apartment to live in and receiving our cargo.  Next, the unpacking and all that “jazz.”  Then, a young Gringa house guest from the USA for two months this summer.

So how, with all that going on, did an event finally come together?  Don’t know except it just seemed right – and with a lot of prayer and finally sharing it with Angie Barnes, I took the “plunge” and committed to doing it.

Where is it now?  It is happening next Saturday, October 1, 2011.  To date 120 tickets have been sold.  Generous donors have supplied a dozen door prizes – and the event has received two newspaper stories and a television interview.    The profits of the ticket sales will be going to SOLCA – the pediatrics department for children with cancer.

SOLCA will be presented with the proceeds gift.  They will be giving more information about SOLCA and the ongoing needs.

Also, we will have door prizes, a time for the ladies (both Ecuadorians and Americans) to get to know each other during lunch, recognition of sponsors and businesses.  We will enjoy Ecuadorian music and a scrumpuous lunch.  Sue will bring a short message on Esperanza/HOPE, closing with a beautiful, powerful song, "Will You Marry Me?"

This could not have come about without a “lotta” help from friends:  Angie Barnes, Sandra Flores (a sweet Ecuadorian  partner!), Jane Golden and Claudia Johansen.  Wow!  And then we’ve had table sponsors (10 people):  Joanna Cox, Charles & Kathleen Barrett, Jane Golden, and others.  How awesome!

Below is a flyer that was posted in businesses and elsewhere in Cuenca.  There are many stories of how it all “fell into place.”  Yes, it’s the first “The Color Purple Event” to be held in Cuenca, Ecuador. 

Second “Evento El Color Purpura” in 2012?

Homeowners Insurance - Ecuador

                   
       Property, Casualty & Liability Insurance 

Now, let’s consider the largely ignored insurance coverage in Ecuador – homeowners and liability. Yes, our apartment has brick walls and concrete walls and floors. Try hanging a picture on these walls! Most of us have little fear of fire and pay cash for our homes. Mortgages are expensive (10-15%) and rarely cover over half the value of homes. So insurance is rarely required. Most homeowners “go naked.” Apartment associations usually have coverage for the building (elevators, structure, common areas) amounting to less than half the property value.

? However, who can sleep at night if our uninsured home is empty when we visit the states?

 Some of us have noticed the tremendous increase in “earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars”, to use a Biblical phrase. And we live near the “ring of fire” volcano and earthquake zone of the Andes. Yesterday our hometown of Asheville NC experienced a tremor!

Now the usual problems arise. Who can you trust, especially when you do not speak the language or understand the subtleties of the culture? Will the insurance carrier pay the claim? How do we obtain coverage at reasonable cost?

You know I would not be writing this wonderful, informative article if I lacked an excellent answer (drum roll^^^).

Presenting… the group with the highest rating in Ecuador, conducting worldwide business in 53 countries.  The “ACE group” is AAA by Ecuador’s Bank Watch Rating and AA- by S & P (same as the good old USA, but that’s a long foolish political story). My agents are Daniel Gonzales who speaks excellent English and Pedro Valdivieso. Pedro’s assistant speaks English and his wife speaks German and French. And his brother is a plastic surgeon – need and little tuck or enhancement?

Quickly now, what coverage did we obtain?    OK… read fast:

Earthquake, volcanic eruption…fire,  lightning, smoke damage…windstorm, hail, rain, flooding…burglary, robbery…explosion…vandalism and malicious mischief…riot, etc.

Optional coverages:  Liability (our pipes rupture, damaging neighbor’s walls) , contents,etc…glass breakage..water damage.

Deductibles vary with the type of loss here, rather than one comprehensive deductible. You know, the greater of x% or y$ per incident. You understand by now that I am frugal. Our  $100,000 coverage has a premium = $ 39 per month.
Coming soon, another exciting topic - automobile coverage.  Hang on,      Gary