We’ve spent many years in Latin America, but we still get the question : why Latin America ? Answering that it just happened doesn’t seem to be enough of an explanation, nor is to say it is simply a love story…
So let’s start with the beginning. My husband and I, though being from the same country, met when we were both exchange students abroad. It was some coincidence, and it’s still funny to say we traveled so far to meet a compatriot ! After that, my husband started working for an international firm and was offered a mission in Panama. We discussed it and decided to go for it, we wanted to try a new adventure abroad. We didn’t know much about Panama, except it was famous for its canal… Oh, and yes, that they speak spanish over there. And neither of us spoke spanish back then ! We didn’t let that stop us, packed our suitcases and just left for the unknown… And that’s when we fell in love…
We discovered a joyful and colorful culture, very welcoming people (even local store employees would try and help us when we were just starting to know a few words…). A modern and dynamic city. Delicious food. And in all the country beautiful landscapes. Those were three and something wonderful and unforgettable years.
Then we moved back home. And instantly wanted to go back. It took us several years, our kids were born, before we got the opportunity to go back to Latin America, this time to Brazil. Needless to say there was not much thinking about it, we packed up and left ! Again, it was a new language – portuguese – we didn’t speak a word of. But we were not scared, we learned spanish in no time in Panama and knew the best school was daily life. Moving to another country was a big, brand new experience for the kids, but they weren’t worried, since their parents weren’t either. The eldest one adapted very quickly at school and picked up the language in no time, as well as local culture and local customs. The youngest one wasn’t going to school yet but thanks to his brother and some cartoons he also picked it up quickly, and when he started school he quickly integrated.
Three years later, we packed the suitcases again, and are now in Ecuador. Moving was more difficult for the kids this time, because they loved the brazilian culture and people, the climate, their every day life… But they quickly adapted, spanish was picked up even faster, now the kids correct their parents’ pronunciation ! We enjoy the climate of the mountains, the sun coming to greet us every day, and the very nice and welcoming Ecuadorians !
One thing is for sure, our kids enjoy living in Latin America as much as their parents !