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Ecuador: Live Like Royalty on Your Social Security
A Report from International Living on Retiring in Ecuador
Dear Reader,
Ecuador is gentle…safe…healthy…private…civil.
Ecuador has been one of our favorite locations for overseas investment and retirement for many years. In fact, we ranked Ecuador as the world's best retirement destination in 1999, due to the amazing values. And 15 years later, we still rank Ecuador among our top three retirement havens…and with good reason.
As one friend of ours put it: "It's like we are living in the U.S. in the 1950s." You're guaranteed a quality of life that just plain doesn't exist anymore in the States. Up north, violence, materialism, and increasingly intrusive government policies have whittled away the last vestiges of the American Dream. Yet here you're guaranteed a truly extraordinary lifestyle. And that makes Ecuador the perfect place to retire…or reinvent yourself. You'll find like-minded company when you do.
Ecuador also offers a high quality of life. This is no isolated backwater. It's a land of opportunity. In the major cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, you can enjoy all of the Western conveniences you are accustomed to. New cars abound, including several brands made in Ecuadorian factories. Everyone has cell phones, and Internet connections are just as common. World-class restaurants serve excellent meals, yet you'll be hard pressed to pay more than $50 for a dinner for two, drinks included. It's not difficult to live in Ecuador on less than $17,000 per year, and you don't have to live an unattractive lifestyle in order to do so.
If you're aged 65 and older and are looking for an incentive to retire to Ecuador, you've come to the right country. Ecuador's constitution guarantees foreign residents the same rights as citizens, so even though there is no official government program for expats, you can enjoy the same benefits as the locals.
From snow-capped volcanoes to dense Amazon jungle to sun-drenched Pacific beaches to the famous Galápagos Islands, Ecuador offers something for everyone. Whether you want to live, invest, vacation, retire, or simply relax in Ecuador, you'll find the perfect combination of climate, culture, and affordability to help make your dreams come true here.
We have compiled this special report to give you a taster of what Ecuador is all about. Read on…and maybe you'll fall in love with this amazing country, just like we have.
Best Regards,
Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living
Ecuador Fast Facts
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty—New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito—gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator."
Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected Presidents.
In September 2008, voters approved a new constitution; Ecuador's twentieth since gaining independence. General elections, under the new constitutional framework, were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael Correa.
Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.
109,483 square miles (283,561 square kilometers)
15,439,429 (July 2013 est.)
Ecuador is divided into three continental regions—the Costa, Sierra, and Oriente—and one insular region: the Galápagos Islands. The continental regions extend the length of the country from north to south and are separated by the Andes Mountains. The Galápagos Islands, officially called the Archipiélago de Colón, are located 620 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast.
The Costa, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, consists of coastal lowlands, coastal mountains, and rolling hills that separate river valleys. The widest part of the region stretches 93 miles from Cabo San Lorenzo in Manabí Province to the foothills of the Andes Mountains. In the southern part of Guayas Province, east of the Gulf of Guayaquil, the narrow coastal plain is only nine to 12 miles wide. The lowlands of the Costa do not exceed 656 feet in elevation, whereas the coastal mountains extend no higher than 3,280 feet. The coastal mountain chain, known as the Cordillera Costañera, divides the region into the Costa Externa, next to the coast, and the Costa Internal, next to the Andes. The Cordillera Costañera reaches from Esmeraldas in the north to Guayaquil in the south. North of Portoviejo in Manabí Province, the Cordillera Costañera loses its character as a mountain chain and becomes a series of hills and small mountains.
The Sierra consists of two major chains of the Andes mountains, known as the Cordillera Occidental (Western Chain) and Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Chain), and the intermountain basin or plateau between the two chains. Several transversal mountain spurs, known as nudos, cut across the plateau. The Nudo del Azuay, at 14,760 feet the highest of these transversal spurs, divides the Sierra into two sub-regions—the area of modern volcanism to the north and the area of ancient volcanism to the south. The former area consists of newer, higher mountains than those in the ancient volcanism section, which with time have eroded to lower levels.
The Sierra has at least 22 peaks over 13,780 feet in height. Of the two cordilleras, the Cordillera Oriental is wider and generally higher, with peaks averaging over 13,123 feet. The Cordillera Occidental, however, contains the highest point in Ecuador, which is the Mount Chimborazo at 20,560 feet. The Sierra also contains the highest point on the equator, Mount Cayambe at 18,996 feet.
The Sierra has at least 30 peaks of volcanic origin, including six still active. These peaks, which vary in width from 50 to 80 miles, are located in the area of modern volcanism known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The most active volcano is Mount Sangay, 17,159 feet high. Although its last major outpouring of lava occurred in 1946, specialists consider Mount Sangay to be in a constant state of eruption because of fires and bubbling lava at its crater. Mount Cotopaxi, at 19,347 feet the highest active volcano in the world, last erupted in 1877 and is now listed as "steaming". Its crater is 2,624 feet in diameter. In addition to the other damage caused by eruptions, volcanoes in the Sierra have melted snowcaps, which in turn generate massive mudslides and avalanches. Earth-quakes and tremors also are common in the region.
The Oriente to the east of the Cordillera Oriental consists of two subregions: the Andean piedmont and the Eastern lowlands. The piedmont drops from a height of 11,000 feet to the featureless lowlands, which spread out at an altitude of 490 to 985 feet.
The Galápagos Islands consist of a chain of large, medium, and small islands that have a combined area of roughly 3,088 square miles. The largest island is Isabela Island, also known as Albemarle Island, which is 75 miles long with an area of 1,650 square miles. All of the islands are of volcanic origin, and some have active cones. Santo Tomás, located on Isabela Island, is the highest peak of the Galápagos at 4,888 feet. Its crater is 6 miles in diameter.
Ecuador lies directly on the equator, so the entire country enjoys 12 hours of direct equatorial daylight 365 days a year. However, the climate you will experience depends largely on where you are in Ecuador, since there are four distinct geographical areas—the Sierra (mountains), the Oriente (eastern rainforests), the La Costa (Pacific coastal plains), and the Galápagos Islands.
For example, Ecuador's capital, Quito, lies in the Central Valley between the Andean Mountains' eastern and western ridges. The equator is less than 20 miles north of the city, yet at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,900 meters), Quito's climate is spring-like all year around: about 50° F (10° C) at night and as high as 76° F (25° C) during the day. The sun makes the difference. You can comfortably stroll out on a glorious Quito afternoon in shorts and a T-shirt, but you'll need to take your wool sweater in case the clouds roll in. The equatorial sun is intense, but when it's obscured by clouds, you realize how high in the Andes you really are. In fact, cold weather gear is needed for high altitude hiking and mountain climbing.
The beaches and rainforests, on the other hand, enjoy the tropical temperatures that one would expect from equatorial lowlands, with highs ranging between 80° F and 90° F. Between these two extremes, just about any type of weather can be found in Ecuador.
Head of State & Government:
President Rafael Correa Delgado (since 15 January 2007)
Flag description:
Three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag. The flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830. The yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice.
Spanish (official), indigenous (Quechua, Shuar)
Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Time Zone:
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time and NYC or Toronto, ON during Daylight Savings Time)
The majority of outlets in Ecuador are 110/120V AC (60 Hz).
Emergency numbers:
In case of an emergency, call 911 or 101 for the police only.
Telephone system: Generally elementary but being expanded.
International country code: 593
Cell phones users: 16.457 million (2012)
Internet users: 3.352 million (2009)
Internet country code: .ec
The Internet is very popular in all the cities and towns. There are hundreds of "coffee-nets" in the commercial and tourist areas that offer net2phone, e-mail, Internet, and fax services at very reasonable prices. Internet is expanding very fast and is easy to find at least one computer center in any neighborhood of a big city. Service in these places is better in tourist areas, and the rates may depend on the category of the computer center, but rates are cheap most of the time.
The Economy in Ecuador
Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which have accounted for more than half of the country's export earnings and approximately one-third of public sector revenues in recent years. In 1999/2000, Ecuador suffered a severe economic crisis, with GDP contracting by 5.3% and poverty increasing significantly.
In March 2000, the Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided for the adoption of the U.S. dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in the years that followed, helped by high oil prices, remittances, and increased non-traditional exports. From 2002-06 the economy grew an average of 4.3% per year, the highest five-year average in 25 years. After moderate growth in 2007, the economy reached a growth rate of 6.4% in 2008, buoyed by high global petroleum prices and increased public sector investment.
President Rafael Correa, who took office in January 2007, defaulted in December 2008 on Ecuador's sovereign debt, which, with a total face value of approximately US$3.2 billion, represented about 30% of Ecuador's public external debt. In May 2009, Ecuador bought back 91% of its "defaulted" bonds via an international reverse auction. Economic policies under the Correa administration —for example, an announcement in late 2009 of its intention to terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties, including one with the United States—have generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment.
The Ecuadorian economy slowed to 1% growth in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and to the sharp decline in world oil prices and remittance flows. Growth picked up to a 3.3% rate in 2010 and nearly 8% in 2011, before falling to 5% in 2012. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since Quito defaulted in 2008, allowing the government to maintain a high rate of social spending; Ecuador contracted with the Chinese government for more than $9 billion in oil for cash and project loans as of December 2012.
Labor force: 4.854 million (2013 est.)
Labor force by occupation:
Agriculture: 27.8%
Industry: 17.8%
Services: 54.4% (2012 est.)
Exports: $25.48 billion (2013 est.)
Export commodities: Petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp, cacao, coffee, wood, and fish.
Imports: $26.66 billion (2013 est.)
Import commodities: Industrial materials, fuels and lubricants, and nondurable consumer goods.
Where to Buy Real Estate in Ecuador?
Cuenca is Ecuador's third-largest city and the economic center of the southern Sierra. It has an intellectual, artistic, and philosophical tradition that matches its colonial architecture. Because of its history and state of preservation, Cuenca is one of Ecuador's three UNESCO World Heritage Trust sites (the others are Quito and the Galápagos Islands). In 2006, an international association of urban planners voted Cuenca as one of the two "most livable" cities in Latin America, citing its culture, low crime rate, and "middle class" feel.
With the best restored colonial district in Ecuador, Cuenca is the country's cultural capital. The city has produced many of Ecuador's major writers, artists and musicians, and offers a rich program of festivals, concerts, parades and art openings. Although the metropolitan population is 500,000, the central city has a small town feel that has proven popular with tourists and foreign students who attend language schools or one of the city's seven universities
Referred to by one travel guide as "South America's most European city", Cuenca is attracting growing numbers of foreigners, many of whom have purchased modern but inexpensive apartments just outside the colonial district. Others prefer to take advantage of bargain houses and views on the hills that surround the city.
Property samples in Cuenca:
- A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo with amazing views and private garden. It is 936 square feet plus a beautiful wraparound garden of 688 square feet. Only three minutes away from supermarkets, drugstores, and shops, it also comes with a parking space and storage unit. It has under-floor heating and can be sold fully furnished. Price: $79,900.
- A three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo located close to the Tomebamba River and the town's historic district. Located on the sixth floor of a seven-story building, the apartment has nice views to the north and west and features tile and composite wood flooring and granite countertops. The building has two elevators and a small gym and the condo also comes with a parking space and extra storage. Price: $98,000.
Quito has been described as the most beautiful city in South America. Spanish influence here is apparent in its stately colonial architecture. Though the city has about 1.5 million residents, traffic is reasonable, except at rush hour and during major road resurfacing projects. The public transportation system, including taxis, buses, and trams, is excellent. The area is ringed by staggering Andean peaks, providing beautiful views from many properties. The city is in the process of restoring the old colonial center.
Property samples in Quito:
- A three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo measuring 1,000 square feet. There are hardwood floors throughout and covered parking. Price $46,400.
- A spacious 1,300-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom, luxury condo in one of the most exclusive areas of the city. Two terraces offer spectacular views of the valley below and distant mountains. The building has 24-hour security and a swimming pool, and is walking distance to the best restaurants and shopping. Price: $89,000.
Ecuador's North Coast:
Ecuador's north coast is one of the finest stretches of Pacific coast you will find. Steep, bright green jungle-clad hills rise from the flat blue ocean. In places, rocky coves sculpt sandy beaches. The coastline offers miles of rugged cliffs, beautiful sandy beaches, sleepy fishing villages, and thriving resort areas.
The stretch of Ecuador's North Pacific Coast between Canoa and the area just south of Pedernales is her finest. Previously, the drive time from Quito to this beach took more than eight hours. Now, thanks to a new road, a new bridge, and significant improvement of the road along the coast, you can drive from the capital to the coast in three-and-a-half hours.
Here you'll find towns like Bahía de Caráquez, an attractive small city of whitewashed houses with tile roofs on the estuary of the Chone River. This area has it all—nice beaches and waterfront restaurants that you'd like to have at a resort, plus all of the administrative services and cultural venues you'd expect from a city.
There's also Canoa, considered by many to have the best beach in Ecuador. A fishing village just north of Bahía de Caráquez, the town's beach is exceptionally wide—2,500 feet in places—with relatively safe, straight-in surf. If you prefer something more lively,Atacames, known as a party town, has a decidedly Caribbean feel, often swinging to reggae and salsa beats well into the night. The influence of the largely African population of this area is also evident in the spicy cuisine. The area is the preferred destination for visitors from Quito, a four-hour drive away.
Property samples on Ecuador's North Coast:
- In Canoa your dream of owning your own hostal or B&B can come true. Here we located a partially-finished building right in town and a half block from the beach ready for your custom touches. The building is 5,200 square feet with eight guest rooms, a kitchen complete with brick oven, and an open upper level offering magnificent ocean views. Price: $100,000.
- In Bahía de Caráquez you can live like royalty in a five-bedroom, three bathroom estate home overlooking the bay. The 3,500 square feet home sits on a huge 19,000 square feet lot with 72 feet along the Bahía Bay and a private boat launch. Plus there's a separate one-bedroom, one bathroom guest house for rental or guests. Price: $165,000.
Buying Real Estate
Keep in mind that the real estate business in Ecuador bears little resemblance to what you are probably accustomed to in North America or Europe. There is no such thing as a multiple listing service, for example. Agents in Quito will have no idea what's available in Manta or Cuenca—or even what's available from other agents in Quito.
Purchasing procedure:
You'll find that buying a property in Ecuador is more straightforward than you may be accustomed to back home. For example, there are no title or escrow companies, and sellers and buyers are required to pay their own debts outside the sales process, such as insurance, real estate commissions, etc. These issues are not brought to a closing, which is strictly between the buyer, seller, and the notary. Your attorney should be able to guide you through the purchase process, and help you to avoid potential pitfalls.
Remember that in Ecuador, as in most Latin American countries, cash is king. Interest rates are still high here compared to the U.S. so if you can pay with cash you will gain significant bargaining power. We've seen several shoppers submit offers of half the original asking price who ended up paying 60% or 70% of the original price.
Buying restrictions:
Foreigners and Ecuadorian natives are on equal footing when it comes to real estate. You do not need to be a resident to own property. To the contrary, property ownership can qualify you for residency. There are certain restrictions in the case of "National Security Areas," which may include the country's borders, although these areas are not specifically defined in the law. Your attorney or the notary will inform you if your property requires any type of permission.
Renting in Ecuador
At International Living, we always recommend that you rent before you buy. Before you plunk down money on a house or condo in a new place, stay awhile and see if suits your needs.
You can start your search for a rental on the Internet. You'll find plenty of websites out there; but most promote short-term vacation rentals, and in touristy locations, prices can be high. Sometimes, real estate agents offer rental properties. But not often. Rental management is a time-consuming and low-commission business, and not one a real estate salesperson typically wants to take on.
The classified section of online local newspapers is also a good source (especially to get a feel for prices). But unless you speak the language fluently, we wouldn't recommend a lot of e-mail back and forth until just before your visit. Plus, unless you go through a reputable agency, you should never send money to reserve a rental sight unseen. Too many things can go wrong.
Also keep your eyes peeled for signs advertising places for rent. This is what expat Kent Zimmerman did in Cuenca: "We strolled past a sign taped to a gate a few days after we arrived in Cuenca. A quick trip up the elevator, a little Spanish, a month's rent paid in advance…and we walked out with the keys to our new home."
Ecuador Health Care
One of the great perks for foreign residents living in Ecuador is high-quality, low-cost health care. Here, you will receive personal attention from medical practitioners not seen in the U.S. since the 1960s. You'll have access to excellent medical care. In the bigger cities, you'll find hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment, as well as specialists in all fields and physicians with private clinics.
A visit to a general practitioner costs $25 to $35 while a visit to a specialist runs $30 to $40. A psychiatrist will charge $30 to $50 for a half-hour session. Simple, ambulatory procedures are equally inexpensive. For example, the removal of a small lump (under local anesthesia), and a biopsy, costs about $125. Brand name medicines usually cost less than in the U.S. Generics, which are widely available, are also much cheaper.
And don't be afraid of surgery—many specialists in Ecuador have trained in the U.S. or Europe and have top-notch skills. For example, a shoulder repair for a torn tendon is a two-hour procedure done under general anesthetic. The total bill for the operation, anesthesia, pre- and post-operative care, an overnight stay in the hospital, and all supplies and medications costs just $3,100—about a quarter of what the same procedure costs in the U.S. One of IL's colleagues underwent this particular procedure and told us that the outcome was excellent, and mentioned that follow-up physical therapy from an experienced therapist with a thriving private practice cost just $25 a visit.
Health insurance is a bargain in Ecuador. A review of comparable insurance policies for a 60-year-old man in the U.S. and Ecuador, tell the story. In the U.S., the man would pay a monthly premium of $1,200; in Ecuador he pays $70. A woman, age 50 to 60, would pay $72 for the same policy in Ecuador while coverage for a dependent child, between 2 and 17 years-of-age, costs $15.69 a month.
Visa Requirements
There are a number of ways to become an Ecuadorian resident, and the process is fairly straightforward. Although you submit your immigrant-status visa application at the Ecuadorian consulate nearest to your former residence, it is in fact approved through the Ministry of Foreign Relations, so expect the approval process to take six to eight weeks. Visa applications for your dependents, however, can be processed directly by the Ecuadorian consulate once your application has been approved.
We strongly advise that you hire an Ecuadorian immigration attorney to help you navigate the residency process. In our experience, this will save you considerable time and stress. Here are some of the more popular visas:
Tourist visa: When you enter Ecuador you will receive a passport stamp, commonly called a T-3, allowing you to stay in the country for 90 days within a one-year period from your date of entry. Because of changes in Ecuador's new constitution, residents of all countries, not just those from North America, Europe and other Latin American countries, receive the stamp.
9-I: Pensioner Visa: For retired persons who receive pensions from their native countries (pension from a stable source, of at least $800 per month). This includes Social Security or other government or private retirement sources, an annuity or income from a trust.
9-II: Investor of Real Estate or Securities Visa: This is for real estate and securities investors who are investing at least $25,000.
12-VI: Work Visa: This is for professionals with university degrees recognized by a national university who wish to practice their profession in Ecuador. Should the applicant's profession not exist in Ecuador, the degree must be locally certified. The applicant must also fulfill the Ecuadorian requirements for such practice, such as bar exams, etc.
- U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, Ave. Auigiras E12-170 y Ave. Eloy Alfaro, Quito; tel. +593 (2) 398-5000; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com; website:http://ecuador.usembassy.gov/.
- Ecuadorian Embassy in the U.S., 2535 15th Street, N.W.Washington, DC 20009; tel. (202) 234-7200; fax (202) 333-2893; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com; website:www.Ecuador.org.
- Canadian Embassy in Ecuador, Av. Amazonas 4153 and Unión Nacional de Periodistas, Eurocenter Building, 3rd floor (one block north of the Supreme Court Building, near Amazonas and United Nations), P.O. Box 17-11-6512, Quito; tel. +593 (2) 2455-499; e-mail: email@example.com; website:www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ecuador-equateur/.
- Ecuadorian Embassy in Canada, 99 Bank Street, Suite 230, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6B9; tel. (613) 563-8206; fax (613) 235-5776; website:www.embassyecuador.ca/english/.
Retiree Benefits in Ecuador
If you're 65 or older and looking for an incentive to retire overseas, take a look at what Ecuador can offer you. Unlike Panama's pensionado program, which is aimed at foreign residents, Ecuador's senior citizen discount program is intended to help its own citizens.
However, because the country's constitution guarantees foreign residents the same rights as citizens, you can enjoy the same benefits as locals.
Here are some of the benefits of Ecuador's over-65 discount program:
- 50% off public and private transportation within the country (including the Galápagos).
- 50% off tickets for all cultural and sporting events, including movies.
- 50% off electric and water bills (below certain usage levels).
- Free domestic landline phone service (does not include long distance and other services).
- Reductions in a variety of taxes, including income and sales taxes (these vary according to income and goods or services purchased).
The cherry on top of retiring to Ecuador is that citizens and residents over 65 never have to stand in line. If you're a senior citizen, when you make a bank deposit or pay your utility bill, it's the law that you go directly to the front of the line…so you'll have more time to relax and enjoy your retirement in Ecuador.
Cost of Living in Ecuador
In Ecuador, not only can you retire on little money, you can also live very well. It's easy to retire on less than $18,500 per year, and this figure is based on a very comfortable lifestyle. Many foreign residents have their main home in the city, and also have a country home, a beach property, or even property in another country…a feat that would be impossible on a comparable budget in the U.S.
Additionally, this low cost of living allows retirees to increase their travel, take up new hobbies, and generally enjoy a better quality of life. Ecuador offers something for everyone, and at prices unheard of in North America and Europe.
Here is a sample budget for a couple living very well in Cuenca. The expenses are, of course, approximate. We've erred on the side of extra spending to come up with a budget that allows for a pretty luxurious lifestyle…for less than $20,000 a year for two people.
Sample monthly budget for a couple in Cuenca:
|Housing (rental of a luxury three-bedroom, unfurnished apartment)
|Utilities (including phone, water/electricity, Internet, and DirecTV)
|Maid (once a week)
|Groceries (not including alcohol)
|Maintenance and fuel for one car
|Misc. (personal items, etc.)
|Entertainment (two people dining out six times a month with drinks, dessert, and tips)
|Health care (four $30 visits to a doctor per year for twopeople, divided by 12 months)
That's a total of $1,555 per month, or $18,660 per year.
But you don't have to spend that much. The truth is, you could rent a modest apartment for as little as $300 monthly, spend $50 on utilities, eat out for $10 or $15, and drive a fuel efficient car.
Taxes in Ecuador
Unless you are running a business in Ecuador, your tax liability as a foreign resident is very low. If you live in Ecuador but obtain your income from overseas sources, there is no reporting requirement. The practice of monitoring and taxing banking transactions in Ecuador has been abolished.
Income tax:
Foreign residents of Ecuador are taxed on their Ecuadorian-sourced income but not on income earned outside of the country. Income taxes are charged at progressive rates, ranging from 5% to 35%. The first $8,570 of an individual's income is not taxed.
Sales tax:
Most of Ecuador's tax revenue is generated by the IVA, which translates in English as value added tax (VAT). The rate for this tax is currently 12%, and it is added to most purchases.
Property tax:
Residential property taxes are based on a percentage of the municipal value of the property, and city and rural properties are taxed at different rates. Even on large properties it is unusual to pay more than $200 a year in property tax. Homeowners over the age of 65 pay half of these rates.
Capital gains tax:
This tax is based on the change in the municipal value of the property between the time you bought and sold it. Technically, the percentage is 0.5% of the difference between the purchase and sale price. There may be discounts on this fee based on the amount of time between the purchase and sale of the property. A short time span between the purchase and sale will mean a higher capital gains tax.
Financial Matters
Currency and exchange: The U.S. dollar is legal tender
Opening a bank account: Opening a bank account is relatively simple if you are an Ecuadorian resident. Since the country is typically not a source of (or a destination for) laundered funds, the banking controls are not as strict as in other Latin American countries. On the other hand, Ecuador is not an international banking center and all banks are Ecuadorian owned and operated. Most banks require that you have a resident's visa to open a checking account but most will open a savings account for non-residents.
In addition to providing proof of residency, you'll need a copy of a utility bill and a photo ID to open a checking account. Depending on the bank, you may also be asked to provide references. The process usually takes less than two hours. An attorney, local resident, or real estate agent can assist you in opening an account, and make sure you understand the rules and requirements.
ATMs: ATMs are ubiquitous in Ecuador. You'll even find them in remote areas such as the Galápagos. Some of the major banks include Banco de Guayaquil and Banco del Pacífico.
Tip: If you're unable to use ATMs for any reason, you can get a cash advance from inside the bank. To do this, you must provide the bank with a photocopy of your passport
Moving to Ecuador
Moving your household goods: Once you have received your residence visa, you will discover that bringing your household goods to Ecuador represents one of the biggest advantages for choosing the country. Within 90 days of your visa being approved, household goods are allowed into the country duty free. There are rules that must be followed and we advise you to consult an Ecuadorian attorney for details before beginning the shipping process.
Moving your children to Ecuador: If you're bringing your children, you'll be happy to know there are many English-language and bi-lingual secondary schools in Ecuador, including American and British international schools in Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil. Keep in mind that using a language preference to pick a school severely limits your choices, which may not be worth it given the short time it takes young children to learn Spanish. In general, you will find the best private schools in Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil. There are several excellent universities in Quito and Cuenca.
Moving with your pets: Dogs and cats traveling to Ecuador need a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA. Dogs need certification of vaccination for rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus and corona virus. Cats need vaccination for calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis, rabies, and feline panleukopenia.
Firearms: Although gun ownership is legal in Ecuador, the government has tightened its requirements since 2009 in an effort to deter crime. Carrying a concealed weapon requires registration and a short psychological test, given at a local police station. Permits are available to foreign residents as well as to citizens. Gun clubs and shooting ranges are common in larger cities.
Expat Contacts
When you move, or if you're just thinking of moving, somewhere new, it's a good idea to talk to people who have already done what you're about to. Get in touch with expats in Ecuador, they'll be able to help you with any questions or concerns you might have and you'll be able to compare notes on moving here.
Here are some resources you might find helpful:
- International Living Facebook page:www.facebook.com/internationallivingecuador. This is a great place to meet other like-minded, Ecuador-bound expats and get advice.
- www.ecuador.org. Hosted by the Ecuador Embassy in the United States. It has visa information, but it's not always up to date. Great site otherwise.
- www.exploringecuador.com. Many links to Ecuador websites.
- www.internationalliving.com/countries/ecuador. International Living information on Ecuador.
Travel Info: How to get to Ecuador
It's easy to get to Ecuador. From the U.S., you can fly non-stop on American, Delta, Lan, and AeroGal. Flights depart daily from New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston in the U.S., as well as from many European and Latin American cities. If you don't mind a stop-over in Mexico, Colombia, Panama, or Costa Rica, you will have other airline options, such as Avianca, Taca and Copa.
If you are looking for the best airfares, consider breaking your trip into parts: one from home to Miami, and the other from Miami to Ecuador, for example. This can be considerably cheaper at times. Tickets will cost you more around Christmas and from June through August, which is the Northern Hemisphere summer vacation period.
You can fly into either of Ecuador's international airports, in Quito or Guayaquil, with Quito being the choice if you're heading to the north of the country, and Guayaquil being the best option if you're going to Cuenca or the south. If you're touring the country from top to bottom, we recommend you start in Quito. You will find regional international services from the airport in Cuenca—to Peru—and in Esmeraldas—to Colombia.
Making Money in Ecuador
Getting a work visa:
There is a work visa (Category 12-VI) available for Ecuador. It applies to professionals of high technical levels, professionals of specialized fields, and immediate family members accompanying the professional.
Just some of the documents needed for this visa include an authorization to work, issued by the human resources office from the Ministry of Labor—duly legalized, a copy of the working contract duly protocolized by the Ministry of Labor, a certificate of fulfillment of requirements established by the Superintendent of Companies, and an affidavit from the hiring company or person, assuming the responsibility for expenses incurred by the foreigner as a result of abandoning the country or deportation, accompanied by the appointment, duly registered, of the legal representative—all documents duly legalized.
Setting up your own business:
Over the past few years, Ecuador has made a concerted effort to attract foreign investment by liberalizing its investment regulations. Equal treatment is given to local and foreign investors, so you'll receive the same rights of entry into any market as Ecuadorian citizens will. Practically all sectors are open to investors. There is a good labor pool, with minimum compensation levels set by Congress (as specified in the country's new constitution).
If you are considering starting an enterprise in Ecuador, we suggest you look at the following areas:
- Tourism
- Agribusiness and forestry
- Fishing and aquaculture
The Ecuadorian government has singled out these areas for attention, and provides incentives for those entering them.
Making money overseas
If you're interested in finding a way to fund your life overseas, there are a whole host of "jobs" that you can do from anywhere in the world. These are jobs that you can do from the front porch of your beach house…jobs that allow you to work in the morning, leaving the afternoon free for relaxing, reading, snorkeling, sailing…
These days, the world is more interconnected than ever and the possibilities for a portable paycheck are almost never-ending. You don't need an MBA or thousands upon thousands of start-up cash to create a business for yourself that can easily fund your life overseas.
Retire in Paradise on $55 a Day
For 30 years International Living has been the number one resource to help people live better, for less around the world.
More comprehensive, and regularly updated, information is available in the pages of International Living's Magazine and through the members-only section of our website.
Check it out for yourself and see how membership with International Living can help you live the life you've always wanted. Visit International Living here to learn more about the industry's most respected magazine on living and investing abroad…International Living Magazine.


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New colours: Fred Perry Reissues Made in England Bomber Jacket
Like all brands, Fred Perry tends to shuffle its colours from season to season. Which brings us nicely onto the Reissues Made in England Bomber Jacket.
Two new colours for this one for autumn / winter, a choice of navy and ecru or black and champagne. The jacket itself is unchanged, a slight update to an archive design and made from a Teflon-coated polyester and cotton blend, with a tipped rib on the neck and cuffs finished with a coil front zip and elasticated hem.
Made in England and available online, it retails for £175.
Find out more at the End Clothing website
Update: Just noticed that there is an additional green option at the Fred Perry site.


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At Mike's Paddle we have incredible teachers and we wanted to give you the opportunity to get to know a few through this series. In this segment, we meet Malia Hill one of our beloved SUP Yoga instructors and co-founder of SupAsana East Bay. At Mike's Paddle, Malia Hill offers Boga Yoga Flow and Half-Day Sup Yoga retreats and you can read her full bio here. She also co-leads the SUPASANA SUP YOGA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM which is going to be in June 2018.
1) Why do you love SUP Yoga?
I love SUP Yoga because being in nature reminds me of my true nature and how everything is connected. The ebb and flow that is out there is in me too. Also it brings me into the present moment almost immediately. No problem seems big anymore when you're on the water. It also brings awareness, attention and strength to parts of me that I have forgotten about or ignored both mentally and physically.
2) Paint the picture of one experience on the water that you'll never forget?
I used to teach on a lake. We sometimes held sunrise classes and it was so peaceful. Just us and the birds and the mist on the water. We didn't tether or anchor so we would just drift from one side of the lake to the other while practicing. Watching the sun come up on the horizon while doing sun salutations on the water is difficult to put into words. You can feel that you are a part of something larger than yourself and it's part of you too.
3) What do you want all your friends to know about SUP Yoga?
If your mind is busy, and meditation is difficult, take your practice to the water. Instant presence and awareness is there.
4) When you bring students onto the water, what is your main message to them?
The more you allow yourself to relax, the more fun you will have.
5) What's your favorite element that you connect with in your SUP Yoga practice?
The water. It's fluid, flexible and immensely powerful.
6) What's your SUP Yoga spirit animal/creature and why?
Seals. They are curious and playful.
7) What's your favorite SUP yoga pose?
Rocking in malasana.
8) Where would your dream SUP Vacation be?
The Maldives. Honduras. My old home, Lanikai, Hawaii.
9) Anything else you'd like to share with the Mike's Paddle community?
I'm grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being family.


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Immune disorders can be effectively treated and reversed. The explanation of autoimmune disorders and their connection to Adrenal Fatigue is direct and strong. It is not that complicated, yet it is somewhat intricate to explain.
Please, understand that the medications and treatments offered by conventional medicine do not address any of the underlying causes; these conventional treatments are strong immunosuppressants, which cause myriad significant side-effects.
The bottom line is that I have had patients previously diagnosed with autoimmune conditions (for instance, Rheumatoid Arthritis) that can no longer be diagnosed this way because they have followed my protocol.
By managing and healing the Adrenal Dysfunction, any other treatment that you may utilize for your condition will have a stronger effect and be much more beneficial. Remember, though the immune system is compromised, the main underlying cause of this dysfunction is the Adrenal Fatigue. Treat it, and you'll be far more successful in balancing your immune system.
I know you may have heard this before, but it is so crucial to your success that it bears repeating: When the body is too often in a stress response, or "fight or flight," your entire physiology shifts, like the sides of an imbalanced seesaw.
So what is going on here? For those of you interested in the physiological detail about what, exactly, is happening in your body, read on!
First, let's take the idea of how an autoimmune condition of any kind develops: An autoimmune reaction is a creation of antibodies (causing inflammation and irritation) to your tissue. Why does this happen? The answer is that the immune system has made a mistake. In actuality, the immune system makes mistakes all the time (this is where allergies come from, too), but a balanced immune system catches and removes these mistakes before they cause any problems.
If the immune system is imbalanced, as it is in all adrenal patients, these mistakes can go unnoticed and uncontrolled. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, your immune system mistakenly considers your joint tissue to be "foreign" and thus dangerous, and, hence, has begun to create antibodies to it. This leads to inflammation and irritation.
To fix this problem, not only do we have to treat the Adrenal Fatigue diligently, since it's the cause, but we also need to shift the immune system back into balance and control the uncontrolled production of antibodies.
This shift aggressively activates the fight or flight organs (heart, lungs, metabolism), and simultaneously and aggressively shuts down the rest and digest organs (immune, digestion, reproductive, thyroid, etc.). This shift, used acutely, is not a problem, and it returns to balance once the stress is removed. Chronically over-activated because of perpetual "all-cause" stress (physical, mental, emotional, toxic, etc.), and we begin to suffer symptoms of the suppression of those particular organ systems.
The immune system is more "dysregulated" than completely suppressed. Research and clinical experience prove that there is a shift (a Th1 to Th2 shift) in the immune system that causes:
- inhibition or weakness on one side (the side that fights infection)
- Technically called decreased cellular immunity
- an up-regulation or over-activation on another side (the side that creates antibodies and reactions)
- Technically an increased humoral immunity
- a shift toward general cellular inflammation
- Technically Increased pro-inflammatory immune chemicals (cytokines, interleukins, and complement)
This shift creates the majority of the immune symptoms that we see in patients with Adrenal Dysfunction, CFS, FM, Chronic Lyme, etc. We see a susceptibility to germs such as the herpes viruses (EBV, CMV, and HHV6), parvovirus, chlamydia, mycoplasma, Lyme and its co-infections, Candida, chronic staph, and strep infections.
At the same time, we see increased antibody production in the form of allergy, intolerance, and sensitivity to many things: environmental factors, Hayfever, food allergies, asthma, and eczema. The increased antibody is a major underlying cause of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and more.
The chronic inflammation leads to chronic pain conditions; therefore, we see poor wound healing, poor repair from injury, fibromyalgia, arthritis, tendonitis, RSD, and neuritis.
If you are dealing with two or more of these symptoms and conditions, I strongly recommend that you have Adrenal Dysfunction ruled out as an underlying cause, or at least as the major contributing factor to your condition.
By managing and healing the Adrenal Dysfunction, any other treatment that you may utilize for your condition will have a stronger effect and be much more beneficial. Remember, though the immune system is compromised, the main underlying cause of this dysfunction is the Adrenal Dysfunction. Treat it, and you'll be far more successful in balancing your immune system.


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[Current as of 2/17/2017 via www.RestoretheTexasCoast.org]
In consultation with the Office of the Governor a draft list of projects has been developed for the next phase of the evaluation to determine RESTORE Bucket 1 grant program recipients.
Please click here to view the draft list, including general information on each project.
The draft list was developed through a competitive process that began with a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA). Over 200 project applications requesting a combined total of $1.1 billion were received and reviewed to develop the draft list.
The next phase of the evaluation process will involve developing the draft Texas Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MIP), which will include the draft project list, as required under the RESTORE Act. The MIP with the draft project list will be posted for public comment in the Texas Register, as well as on the web site, http://www.restorethetexascoast.org/. During the 45-day comment period the public will have an opportunity to provide input and comments on the draft MIP as well as the draft project list. Comments received will be taken into consideration in the development of the final Texas MIP, including a final project list. The final MIP will be submitted to the U.S. Treasury for acceptance.
Approximately $66 million is currently available for Texas Bucket 1 RESTORE grants, which is a reimbursement program. A project's inclusion on either the draft MIP or in the final MIP does not guarantee that it will receive a RESTORE Bucket 1 grant. Upon Treasury's acceptance of the state's MIP, including the project list, Commissioner Baker, in consultation with the Governor, will determine which projects will move forward to the federal grant application phase. Project funding becomes available only after the federal grant applications have been submitted and approved by Treasury. These applications cannot be submitted until after Treasury has accepted the state's MIP.
PROCESS — The review and selection process is competitive and includes elements from other state and federal grant programs. The scoring criteria is based on the Priorities Document and is included in the RFGA. The initial list of selected projects will be posted for a 45-day public comment period and the final list of selected projects will be included in the Multi-year Implementation Plan required by U.S. Treasury to secure grant funds.
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS – Applicants should be acquainted with the federal terms and conditions governing RESTORE Direct Component Grants.
FRAMEWORK — The Framework Document outlining the importance of the Texas coast and Texas' implementation of the RESTORE Act, "CONSERVE, RESTORE, RENEW," has been published.
UPDATE on RESTORE B1 RFGA - Gulf of Mexico Alliance - NOV. 2016
RESTORE Council - In October, the Council concluded a public comment period on their Draft Comprehensive Plan Update. Public meeting summaries are now available. Read RESTORE Council Chair USDA Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack's October 20th blog post on a healthy Gulf. Information on this and other Council activity is on their website RestoreTheGulf.gov.
UPDATE ON STATUS: RESTORE Direct Component (Bucket 1) RFGA
The Bucket 1 Review Team has submitted its evaluations of the more than 200 project applications, totaling approximately $3.4 billion, received in response to the RFGA for the RESTORE Direct Component (Bucket 1) grant funds.
As a reminder, the Bucket 1 Review Team consisted of representatives from several state agencies and the Governor's Office. Commissioner Baker is in the process of reviewing those completed evaluations and the applications to identify potential projects for funding.
Following Baker's review, and in collaboration with the Governor, a draft project list will be selected for inclusion in the State's Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MIP). Under the RESTORE Act this plan is required to secure project funding and will be posted for public comment prior to submission to U.S. Treasury.
Please continue to visit this website for information on when the draft MIP, with the project list, will be posted in both the Texas Register and this website for public comment. Following the 45-day comment period, the finalized MIP will be submitted to the U.S. Treasury for acceptance.
We appreciate the overwhelming interest in the RESTORE Act program and look forward to presenting an MIP to the public that maximizes the benefit of these funds to the environment and economy of the Texas coast.
Texas Trustee Implementation Group Calls for Restoration Project Proposals
The Texas Trustee Implementation Group (Texas TIG) is calling for new or revised restoration proposals by August 31, 2016 in preparation for the next phase of Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) restoration planning.
Restoration funds allocated to the Texas TIG must be used for five specific restoration types. Early Restoration projects are already funding bird and sea turtle restoration types. Therefore, the Texas TIG is prioritizing current restoration planning efforts on restoration types that were not addressed previously:
1) restore and conserve wetland, coastal,and nearshore habitats;
2) restore water quality through nutrient reduction (nonpoint source); and
3) replenish and protect oysters.
The Texas TIG will also consider projects for engineering and design that focus on the three restoration types mentioned above. The focus will be on these restoration categories, however the Texas TIG will continue to consider any important opportunities for additional restoration and protection of avian resources and sea turtles. All projects will be evaluated using the criteria established in the NRDA regulations (15 CFR 990.54).
Approximately $47.6 million is currently available for restoration project funding in Texas this year. In addition, over the next 15 years, the Texas TIG will receive approximately $124.8 million in additional restoration funding. The current restoration planning effort may utilize all or part of these funds. The Texas TIG may propose both discrete restoration projects as well as one or more programmatic restoration efforts. Each of the projects and programmatic efforts may require multiple years to complete and they may be funded in part by restoration funds received in the future.
Please submit your proposal by August 31, 2016 to be considered by the Texas TIG for the draft restoration plan expected to be released in spring 2017. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces Projects
More than $80 Million goes toward a third round of Gulf restoration programs
On Tuesday, November 10th the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the award of more than $80 million from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF). The funding will go toward 22 projects in the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas. This is the third round of grants from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF). Read NFWF's full story.
- Galveston Island State Park Marsh Restoration & Protection - Phase II $3,234,500
- Galveston Bay Sustainable Oyster Reef Restoration $2,500,000
- Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area Shoreline Protection Marsh Restoration $245,000
- Falcon Point Ranch Conservation Easement Acquisition $2,910,900
- Matagorda Bay Rookery Island, Feasibility Study & Alternatives Analysis $250,000
- Bahia Grande Coastal Corridor- Boswell-Jenkins Tract Acquisition $400,000
- Bahia Grande Restoration $400,000
- Cow Trap Lake Bird Nesting Island Improvements $440,000
Each Gulf State works with NFWF to solicit and select projects for funding. Go to NFWF's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund webpage and click on the interactive map for how your state implements this funding opportunity.
Track these and other funded projects with the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker
Announcement of Restore Listening Sessions
Commissioner Toby Baker, Texas designee to the federal RESTORE Council, is hosting four Listening Sessions along the coast in September. The purpose of the Listening Sessions is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the priorities for the Texas coast as we move forward with implementing the federal RESTORE Act and distributing RESTORE funds.
Specifically the public is invited to comment on the Priorities Document, which outlines the criteria for awarding RESTORE funds and is based on elements of grant review processes currently accepted by the Federal government.
A Framework document has been developed to facilitate the discussion of the implementation of the RESTORE Act in Texas. Among other things, the Framework document describes the importance of a healthy coastal community on both the environment and economy of Texas and the United States.
In addition to receiving comments at the Listening Sessions, written comments will be accepted until October 9th at this web site.
The public input will be used to develop scoring criteria for the RESTORE project selection process. That scoring criteria will be posted on the web site when a call for RESTORE-funded projects is announced, as well as included in the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA).
Below are the dates, times and locations of the four Listening Sessions.
Each Listening Session will begin with a brief presentation on the Federal RESTORE Act, including project eligibility and funding.
Monday, September 14th
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
A&M Galveston
Classroom Laboratory Building (CLB)
Building 3007, Room 100 (Auditorium)
200 Seawolf Parkway
Galveston, TX 77553
Tuesday, September 15th
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Lamar University
University Theater Building
Beaumont, TX 77705
Monday, September 28th
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
UT Brownsville
El Gran Salon
One West University Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78520
Tuesday, September 29th
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Corpus Christi
A&M Corpus Christi University Center
Anchor Ballroom A&B
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
RESTORE Council Announces Funded Priorities List
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has released a draft initial Funded Priorities List. TCEQ Commissioner Toby Baker is the Texas appointee to the Council.
This draft FPL, approximately $140 million in restoration activities, includes several projects in Texas. This FPL will be funded from the settlement with Transocean.
The Council will host a series of public meetings across the Gulf Coast to seek comments from the public. The meeting in Texas will be held on Thursday, August 20, in Corpus Christi. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the campus of Texas A&M University/Corpus Christi in the Center's Lonestar Ballroom.
For additional information on the draft FPL, as well as meeting details, visit the Council's website atwww.RestoreTheGulf.gov. Public comments can also be sent to that website address.
Announced on July 2nd, 2015:
Texas Reaches Agreement on Deep Water Horizon Case; Governor Abbott and Gulf Restoration Groups Issue Statements
The agreement between BP and affected states on the Gulf Coast established that BP will pay over $20 billion in damages and penalties, of which Texas will receive more than $750 million. Governor Abbott announced "After five years, I'm proud to announce that Texas, along with the other Gulf States, has reached an agreement in principle with BP to resolve all the states' claims. This settlement will allow Texas to reinvest in the Gulf community and reinvigorate the economic and environmental health of the region."
The Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation issued a statement praising the speed at which state and federal leaders have reached an agreement, announcing "This settlement, which promises to be the largest environmental settlement in American history, is an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate and expand the response to the devastating harm caused by the spill, and to build lasting resilience into the essential ecosystems of the Gulf." The statement can be read in full here.
Details Of The Settlement from the Office of the Governor:
BP will pay a total of $20.2 billion in damages and penalties:
$5.5 billion in Clean Water Act penalties.
This amount will fund projects in the Gulf-Wide RESTORE Act plan.
$8.8 billion in Natural Resource Damages.
This is under the federal Oil Pollution Act.
$4.9 billion in Economic Damages to the Gulf States.
Texas will see a large amount of money that will be part of Texas' Gulf Restoration plan
The Clean Water Act penalties and the Natural Resource Damages penalties will be a 15 year payout plan starting in 2017.
The History on the Three Sources of Funds Related to the BP Oil Spill
A. Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) fund – this funding source was created under the authority of the Oil Pollution Act for early Gulf Coast restoration (see here)
B. National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund – this funding source was created out of the criminal settlements associated with the BP Oil Spill. In addition to consulting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NFWF will consult with the following state agencies in each of the designated states:
· Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
· Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and
· Texas General Land Office
C. RESTORE ACT fund – See here
The money in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will be allocated to the Gulf Coast states and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council in five different "buckets" or "pots," according to the following guidelines:
Bucket 1 - 35 percent divided equally between the five Gulf Coast States to be used for ecosystem restoration, economic development & tourism promotion (Direct Component);
Bucket 2 - 30 percent for ecosystem restoration under the Comprehensive Plan developed and approved by the Council (Comprehensive Plan Component);
Bucket 3 - 30 percent divided among the five Gulf Coast States according to a formula to implement State Expenditure Plans, which require Council approval–each Gulf state is guaranteed a minimum of 5% of the 30% allocation (Spill Impact Component);
2.5 percent dedicated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring & Technology Program; and
2.5 percent allocated to the Gulf Coast States to award grants to establish Centers of Excellence.
II. Submitting specific Gulf Restoration projects in your area
A. Submit Projects Ideas
To submit projects under the new Texas Specific Website for all three funding sources - See http://www.restorethetexascoast.org/ and http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration/give-us-your-ideas.
B. View Submitted Projects


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Resolved, That all persons having unliquidated Claims against the United States pertaining to the late Commis'ry, Quarter Masters, Clothing or Marine department, shall exhibit particular abstracts of such Claims to the proper Commissioner appointed to settle the accounts of those departments within eight months from date thereof; and all persons having other unliquidated Claims against the United States shall exhibit a particular abstract thereof to the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States within one year from the date hereof; and all Accounts not exhibited as aforesaid shall be precluded from settlement or allowance.
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency herewith enclosed an Act passed the 23rd by the United States in Congress Assembled, limiting the time for all persons having unliquidated Claims against the Confederacy to exhibit such claims for adjustment; as all accounts not Exhibited within the limited time will be precluded from settlement. I have the honor to request the favour


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Applied Linguistics and Primary School Teaching
- Editors:
- Sue Ellis, University of Strathclyde
- Elspeth McCartney, University of Strathclyde
- Date Published: May 2011
- availability: Available
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521193542
Other available formats:
Paperback, eBook
Looking for an examination copy?
If you are interested in the title for your course we can consider offering an examination copy. To register your interest please contact email@example.com providing details of the course you are teaching.
Modern primary teachers must adapt literacy programmes and ensure efficient learning for all. They must also support children with language and literacy difficulties, children learning English as an additional language and possibly teach a modern foreign language. To do this effectively, they need to understand the applied linguistics research that underpins so many different areas of the language and literacy curriculum. This book illustrates the impact of applied linguistics on curriculum frameworks and pedagogy. It captures the range of applied linguistics knowledge that teachers need, and illustrates how this is framed and is used by policy makers, researchers, teacher educators and the other professions who work with teachers in schools. It considers how to effect professional development that works. It is essential reading for primary teachers but also for speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, learning support teachers and all those doing language or literacy research in the primary classroom.Read more
- A range of classroom situations, mainly in the UK but also in the USA and Australia, are given as case studies
- Outlines the range of ways that applied linguistics knowledge impacts on the primary curriculum and pedagogy, and on language and literacy research
- Highlights the changing demographics of primary schools and how they impact on the linguistics knowledge teachers need
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Product details
- Date Published: May 2011
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521193542
- length: 356 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 155 x 23 mm
- weight: 0.68kg
- contains: 25 b/w illus. 15 tables
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Introduction Sue Ellis and Elspeth McCartney
Part I. Policy and Diversity in the Twenty-First Century Primary School: Introduction to Part I Sue Ellis and Elspeth McCartney
1. Who decides what primary teachers need to understand? Dominic Wyse
2. Working with English as a second language students: an Australian perspective on what primary teachers need to know Jennifer Hammond
3. Preparing for diversity: the alternatives to 'linguistic coursework' for student teachers in the USA Deborah Horan and Afra Ahmed Hersi
4. Supporting children with speech, language and communication needs Maggie Vance
5. Foreign language teaching in the primary school: meeting the demands Dan Tierney
Part II. The Range and Focus of Linguistics Research Perspectives: Introduction to Part II Sue Ellis and Elspeth McCartney
6. Grammar for designers: how grammar supports the development of writing Debra Myhill
7. The use of corpus-based approaches in building children's knowledge about language Alison Sealey
8. Words and pictures: towards a linguistic understanding of picture books and reading pedagogy Vivienne Smith
9. From storytellers to narrators: how can the history of reading help with understanding reading comprehension? Elspeth Jajdelska
10. Talk about text: the discursive construction of what it means to be a reader Gemma Moss
11. Why we need to know about more than phonics to teach English literacy Terezinha Nunes and Peter Bryant
12. Understanding children's reading comprehension difficulties Jessie Ricketts, Joanne Cocksey and Kate Nation
13. Classroom discourse: the promise and complexity of dialogic practice Adam Lefstein and Julia Snell
14. Pedagogy and bilingual pupils in primary schools: certainties from applied linguistics Angela Creese
Part III. Empowering Teachers and Teachers' Use of Knowledge: Introduction to Part III Sue Ellis and Elspeth McCartney
15. Building knowledge about language into a primary teacher education course Henrietta Dombey and Jane Briggs
16. Using the IPA to support accurate phonics teaching Greg Brooks
17. Decoding, word recognition and spelling: typically developing children and children with language-learning difficulties Kenn Apel, Elizabeth B. Wilson-Fowler and Julie J. Masterson
18. The development of the Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF) Mary Hartshorne
19. Applied linguistics: why a 'just in time' model might work for children with language impairments and empower teachers Sue Ellis and Elspeth McCartney
20. Communication impairment in a multilingual context Carolyn Letts
21. Teacher education: what applied linguistics needs to understand about what, how and where beginning teachers learn Viv Ellis and Jane Briggs.
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This is the third in a series of newsletters that explore the following four lines:
Sufficiency leads to integrity.
Integrity leads to responsibility.
Responsibility leads to right relationship.
Right relationship leads to sufficiency.
(Click here for Part One: Sufficiency)
(Click here for Part Two: Integrity)
"Did You Bring The Ship Into Port?"
"Vada a bordo, cazzo!" has been translated several ways in 2012, some of which are too spicy for this newsletter. However you translate it, the Italian Coast Guard's order to Captain Francesco Schettino to get back on board the cruise ship Costa Concordia after it's collision with the island of Giglio, was a low point in recent maritime history.
Schettino was charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, abandoning his passengers, and failure to report the actual scope of the disaster to authorities. "Captain Coward," the name given him by the press, is apparently writing a book to clear up the "indecent falsehoods" surround the disaster that killed 32 people. Call me Karnak, but I'll bet the book's premise is that the disaster was not his fault.
The Captain's response brings to mind the words of Elbert Hubbard, most famous for his iconic book on personal responsibility A Message To Garcia, (ironically, Hubbard lost his own life when a German U-boat sank the Lusitania in 1915):
"When the Captain of a ship has put out from Singapore bound for Boston, we have only one question to ask. And this question does not refer to typhoons, hurricanes, pirates, shoals, shallows or icebergs. The one question we ask is, 'Did you bring the ship into port?"
Chesley "Sully" Sullenburger, the captain of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 that made an emergency landing on New York's Hudson River, brought his ship into port. He did it the hard way. When a flock of birds disabled both engines on Airbus A320, Sullenberger safely landed the airplane on the river and remained on board until every passenger had exited. No lifeboats for him. "I had business to attend to," he was quoted as saying. "I had a job to do."
Mama mia!
Sullenberger never considered himself a hero for pulling off a "Miracle on the Hudson." It was simply his responsibility. Like Captain Schettino, Sully has a book. It's entitled: "Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters." You probably won't find it on the same bookstore shelf as "Why Are People Making Indecent Falsehoods?" or whatever Captain Schettino settles on as his alibi.
Integrity Funds Responsibility
However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act upon them?
— The Dhammapada
This edition of the newsletter explores the linkage between integrity and personal responsibility. I contend that personal responsibility springs from, and is directed by, integrity. When we are clear and committed to morals, values and principles, our responsibilities come into high relief. Being clear about where you stand is the terrain of true leadership.
There are a lot of Captain Sullenbergers out there, doing their job from a sense of purpose and a commitment to doing the right thing regardless of who notices. Unfortunately, there are also an alarming number of Shettinos, leaders who put their own interests ahead of their responsibilities.
In the year-end article A Guide To Better Behavior in 2013, New York Time business columnist, Gretchen Morgenson, laments the lack of responsibility by some business leaders. Citing the case of Countrywide Financial's Angelo R. Mozilo, who blamed the collapse of his company and industry on circumstances, she wrote:
"Finally, wouldn't it be nice if executives acted like leaders and accepted responsibility for the actions of their companies and their employees...Mr. Mozillo's state of denial is pretty breathtaking. He did a fine job. That's his story, and he's sticking to it. Shareholders of Bank of America, who have shouldered billions of liabilities in its acquisition of Countrywide, might feel a bit differently."
We expect better from our leaders. We expect that they will be courageous in the face of difficulty, character-driven when facing temptation, and accountable when things go wrong.
Responsibility and Right Relationship
Here is some material that helps clarify the behaviors associated with personal responsibility. It's vital to know when we are being responsible — or at cause in our own lives — and when we have drifted into irresponsibility.
Only when we are able to take personal responsibility for actions and their impact can we come into right relationship with other people.
I am not sure of the source of the following material. It's attributed to several sources. No matter what its source, I have found it immensely helpful. Hope it helps you be a better Captain:
"What is accepting personal responsibility? Accepting personal responsibility includes:
- Acknowledging that you are solely responsible for the choices in your life.
- Accepting that you are responsible for what you choose to feel or think.
- Accepting that you choose the direction for your life.
- Accepting that you cannot blame others for the choices you have made.
- Tearing down the mask of defense or rationale for why others are responsible for who you are, what has happened to you and what you are bound to become.
- The rational belief that you are responsible for determining who your are, and how your choices affect your life.
- Pointing the finger of responsibility back to yourself and away from others when you are discussing the consequences of your actions.
- Realizing that you determine your feelings about any events or actions addressed to you, no matter how negative they seem.
- Recognizing that you are your best cheerleader; it is not reasonable or healthy for you to depend on others to make you feel good about yourself.
- Recognizing that as you enter adulthood and maturity, you determine how your self-esteem will develop.
- Not feeling sorry for the "bum deal" you have been handed but taking hold of your life and giving it direction and reason.
- Letting go of your sense of over responsibility for others.
- Protecting and nurturing your health and emotional well being.
- Taking preventive health oriented steps of structuring your life with time management, stress management, confronting fears and burnout prevention.
- Taking an honest inventory of your strengths, abilities, talents, virtues and positive points.
- Developing positive, self-affirming, self-talk scripts to enhance your personal development and growth.
- Letting go of blame and anger toward those in your past who did the best they could, given the limitations of their knowledge, background and awareness.
- Working out anger, hostility, pessimism and depression over past hurts, pains, abuse, mistreatment and misdirection."


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Lenten seminars for all
WelCom March 2018:
During Lent Fr Marcus Francis, Parish Priest of The Catholic Parish of Whanganui – Te Parihi Katorika Ki Whanganui, is offering a series of Wednesday-evening lectures about the Catholic faith. Held at Te Rau Oriwa Marae in St Mary's Church complex, Guyton St, the lectures are open to Catholics in the parish community as well as the to the wider community.
The series has been promoted widely in the parish newsletter, school-to-home newsletters and in secular newspapers.
'These sessions are a sincere gesture to invite anyone along to deepen their understanding of what the Catholic Church is about and to engage in dialogue in a spirit of goodwill,' Fr Marcus says.
The first lecture on 21 February, entitled The Catholic Church & Sex?, was followed on 28 February by: Pope Francis – what is he doing?.
The remaining lectures through March are:
7 March: Latin Mass – Vatican II – what is the difference?
14 March: Ordination of women?
21 March: Salvation for the non-baptised?
28 March: The Easter Mystery.
Each lecture starts at 7pm, with Fr Marcus giving his presentation followed by questions and answers. Entry is by gold coin donation.
Sue Seconi


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Hi readers….Happy happy Tamil New Year to all….After a very looooooooong time writing a post due to personal work. On the top of that my kid is not letting me to work on laptop or mobile phone for more than 5 minutes :p Somehow managing and writing this post for past 2 days 😉
We have recently shifted to Dublin. Got only few kitchen items with me and it will take more time for other items to reach us. With the available items I have tried apple milk halwa which tasted super awesome. The recipe of the apple milk halwa is as follows.
Check other sweet recipes….mysore pak, paal halwa, maida burfi, carrot halwa.
Check other apple recipes, apple dates milk shake and mixed fruit custard .
- Apple(medium) – 2
- Milk – 500 ml
- Sugar – 1/4 cup
- In a pan or heavy bottomed vessel or non-stick vessel, add milk. Do not add water to it.
- Allow it to boil.
- Wash and cut the apples into small pieces.
- Add the chopped apple to the milk.
- Keep stirring and allow the apple to get cooked.
- The milk will curdle now.
- Add sugar to it.
- Continue cooking the mixture in high-medium flame. Keep stirring to avoid burning.
- Allow the water to get evaporated. Keep stirring.
- Turn off the flame once the mixture becomes dry.
- Serve the apple halwa hot or warm.
- Apple milk halwa is very simple to prepare. Here is the basic version of apple milk halwa. You can enhance the halwa with ghee, cardamom powder and cashew nuts.
- The shelf life of this halwa is very less. If stored in refrigerator it will stay good for 24 hours.
- This halwa tasted good without adding ghee also.
- If you want the apple halwa to taste different, you can added vanilla essence instead of cardamom powder. Kids will like it.


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When institutions fail : legitimacy, (de)legitimation, and the failure of private governance systems
Title: When institutions fail : legitimacy, (de)legitimation, and the failure of private governance systems
Author: SCHLEIFER, Philip; BLOOMFIELD, Michael
Date: 2015
Series/Number: EUI RSCAS; 2015/36; Global Governance Programme-171; Global Economics
Why do institutions fail? With a focus on non-state market-driven governance, this paper explores the failures of the Flower Label Program and the Marine Aquarium Council. To date, research on private governance has tended to focus on the most robust and 'successful' cases of non-state institution-building. While it makes sense to study the most developed systems, we posit that much can be learned by examining failed institutions and an analysis of these 'non-cases' is long overdue. In developing our argument about institutional failure, we draw on previous efforts examining the legitimation dynamics surrounding private forestry governance. The central argument of our framework is that processes of delegitimation can lead to institutional failure if they deprive private governance systems of key resources and competencies that they require to attain their stated goals. We show that poorly executed legitimation strategies in combination with inhospitable institutional environments are important factors causing delegitimation and ultimately institutional failure.
Subject: Private governance; Transnational regulation; Legitimacy; Legitimation; Institutional failure
Type of Access: openAccess
Files in this item
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- RSCAS_2015_36.pdf
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- 295.8Kb
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- Full-text in Open Access


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Lately I've been getting a lot of requests to connect online. I have been noticing this particularly on LinkedIn, but it's been happening on all of the networks, and I love it. In the cases where I need to approve whether or not the person starts having access to my information, I always go and have a quick look to try to figure out who they are and what they do and whether or not it makes sense for us to be connected. In the ones where I don't, I'll often go and have a look to see if I should follow back.
As I've been doing that I've noticed a few things that always make me think someone probably isn't worth connecting with. There are a few things I notice generally make me hesitate or decide not to connect.
1) Who are you?
When I connect with someone I want to see who they are. If they have a photo that isn't of themselves or a blurry (I don't like to connect with flowers or clouds) or really candid shot as their avatar (this is particularly true on a professional network like LinkedIn) I hesitate.
For example, which says "professional I'd like to hire" more to you?
I've used the first one as my Facebook profile photo and I still would now, I might use it on Twitter too. But I would always use something more professional on LinkedIn or anywhere I am primarily trying to connect for business purposes.
I generally do connect with people who have casual photos unless there are other reasons not to connect as well, but I almost never bother with a generic image and never with someone who didn't upload a photo at all.
2) Where are you from?
I think that people have a tendency to believe that they don't want to pin themselves down to a geographical location (this is especially true if you're hoping to sell online) so they don't put a location in their profiles or they say "everywhere" or "the whole world."
When I read that I feel like the chances you're a spammy person are much higher. I want to know where you're from. That helps me make a decisions on whether or not to connect with you. In fact, there are a few cities where I will almost always connect with you based on just that!
When you're precise about who you are, you come off as more trustworthy and authentic.
3) What have you got to say?
If you aren't saying anything at all, I don't really have a reason to follow you. Take a few minutes, at least once in awhile, to share some updates on your channels, to have conversations with others and to say hi to the people you're trying to connect with. It makes you seem more human and gives people a reason to want to get to know you more.


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Sheila and Ricardo's wedding was a full day of celebration! There were so many images I loved that I had to share a double feature! Be sure to check out Part I of their wedding day for the first part of their special day.
The reception was held adjacent to the picture perfect ceremony site, at Villa Montana's oceanside restaurant Eclipse. I was completely in love with the design of this simple open air structure and it's West Elm inspired decor.
Click here to see the film created from the day by the ultra talented Michael Sanabria. Absolutely beautiful imagery.
As the sun set over the shore, we took a little walk to get some more portraits and I am so glad we did. These are some of my favorite shots ever.
Once the sun set, it was time to celebrate with the tunes the groom and his music-enthusiast friends hand picked for the night.


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- Updated:
- July 19, 2017
- Published:
- March 25, 2014
E-commerce sites often have inherent qualities like duplicate content, deep product catalogs, and shallow copy that can make it difficult to gain traction on Google, Bing, and other search engines. However, many brands are proving that this whole e-commerce thing can be done right including Bonobos – the largest apparel brand ever built on the web in the U.S.
This rapidly growing and rabidly followed online men's fashion retailer, known for well-tailored preppy clothes with an edge, differentiates itself from other online retailers and apparel companies by boasting a better fit and a better shopping experience. Since Bonobos launched in 2007, the company has focused on perfecting two incredibly important areas that heavily impact e-commerce and SEO alike: user experience and content creation.
User Experience
Bonobos prides itself on providing outstanding customer service to improve overall shopping experience. But the online retailer also uses some SEO best practices to improve the user experience for both customers and search engines on their website including:
- Unique product descriptions – Without product text, it is almost impossible to rank and drive organic search traffic to e-commerce product pages. Bonobos has crafted unique product descriptions personalized to solve the specific problems of their customers.
- Dealing with product variants – Some products are almost identically but exist in different colors and patterns. If not handled correctly, these product listings can be seen as duplicate content and may lead to cannibalization between product variants. Bonobos takes care of this issue by ensuring each product variant correlates with a unique URL and product description.
Same shirt, different color.
- User-friendly URLs – URLs should help customers and search engines to figure out where they are and what they're looking at. They should include real words (like your keywords) rather than a string of numbers and gibberish. Bonobos uses a URL structure that combines just enough detail and keywords to provide strong signals to both customers and search engines.
- Optimize for mobile – By now, you know that mobile devices comprise a significant portion of traffic to most websites, especially e-commerce sites. ShopVisible recently released a report examining the state of e-commerce in 2013. According to the report, 30% of total e-commerce site traffic came from mobile – either a smartphone for tablet device. As this percentage continues to grow, the need for responsive mobile designs will become increasingly dire. After initially experimenting with a mobile site design in 2011, Bonobos found that the average order on their responsive site was more than 40% higher than the desktop site.
- Leverage social media – As the digital shopping experience continues to change and more consumers look to friends and peers for advice on what to buy and where to buy it, the power of social media cannot be denied. Bonobos not only makes it easy for their customers to share their favorite styles on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ but they also use Instragram to their full advantage. With 150 million monthly active Instagram users, this image-heavy social network was made for online fashion retailers. Bonobos knows their audience and they strategically Instagram photos that will resonate with that audience.
Content Creation
There's certainly no lack of blog posts on the web focused on the importance of content. However, many e-commerce sites have a difficult time creating meaningful content for their target audience. Bonobos, on the other hand, has created some pretty genius content on their blog and YouTube channel to become both an online retail destination and information source.
- Optimized YouTube videos – Bonobos has created (and optimized) videos that speak directly to their audience. Take the video, "A History of Pants – Bonobos Trousers Evolution Remix" for example.
- User generated content – Allow your customers to easily review products on your site. Reviews and endorsements from happy customers will not only enhance product pages by adding unique content and keywords but also have potential to boost sales conversions.
- Useful guides – The Bonobos blog does much more than simply create meaningless content to get lost in the white noise of retailer websites. It offers information to help their audience achieve a desired look – like the Quick Guide to Necktie Pairing and the Wash and Learn Guide to Denim for an American.
Bonobos may have deeper pockets than some, but the basic principles used by this online retailer should be used by e-commerce sites big and small. Know of a smaller online retailer doing e-commerce right? Let us know, we want to see!


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|March 2011
This report highlights how, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, key structural characteristics of Latin American and Caribbean countries are defining two quite different regional clusters in terms of opportunities and challenges ahead. It shows that substantial changes are already taking place and will impact the regional clusters in different ways. Economic policy design in each country will have to accommodate these differences in order to ensure widespread and stable growth.
In the Press:
Latin America economy: New North-South divide
by ViewsWire
April 5, 2011
In the aftermath of the direst global crisis in recent times, Latin America and the Caribbean has shown remarkable resilience. The aim of this report is threefold: first, to understand the sources of this resilience, identifying the role played by unprecedented international financial support on the one hand, and the strength of domestic macroeconomic fundamentals on the other; second, to highligh ... (View publication)
Latin America is growing fast and fundamentals look healthier. Are these achievements here to stay? Strong commodity prices may not last forever and a US recession could have major repercussions in the region. Should countries prepare now for tomorrow's crisis? What is the top-ten list on the policy agenda? (View publication)
This report details the divergent paths that the world economy may take and their potential effects on Latin America and the Caribbean. Scenarios are constructed employing a modeling exercise that captures the trade, financial and other linkages between the region and the rest of the world. While vulnerabilities remain and external shocks have been and remain critical, the region enjoys many stren ... (View publication)
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Paul Ryder's hypnotic grooves abetted by his rounded tone and on-top-of-the beat disposition fueled the Madchester explosion in the late 1980s.
Fusing Northern soul, dub, psychedelia, house, and funk - Ryder and his mates essentially created a new genre which had tremendous crossover appeal.
Following the Mondays, with whom he occasionally reunites, Paul has worked as a DJ and an actor, and anchored ensembles including Big Arm.


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We have already published their work for AOL a few months ago.
All their work is truly generative with really engaging outcomes. Among their updates since last time we visit their website, Dokfest Lounge project catch my attention especially. Check their website.
They are giving a talk in London at the Glug BBQ at Cargo next Thursday, 22 May. Line up also includes Moving Brands, Mickey Stretton and Maverick Media. More info and tickets here.
AOL animations
Part of the already commented AOL rebrand. This videos from Field are truly generative, adding even more complexity to the identity.
Apart from that, there is an impressive body of generative work worth looking at at their own website.
Thanks to Generator.x


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In November 2012 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched a new global health report that could be the blueprint for an AIDS-Free Generation. The report is based on research done in four distinctly different epidemics in Africa. The results show that the sooner AIDS treatment reaches infected people as part of a combination of proven interventions, the faster the numbers of new infections will decline. Of course these results are transferable to the US and the rest of the world as well, which could make this a solution to ending the global AIDS epidemic. Let's keep on hoping for an AIDS-Free Generation :-)
View Results
List of polls


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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Back to School Dinner with the Young Women
At church, I am lucky enough to hold the job of Young Women Secretary. Which means that I get to work with the 12-18 year old girls. We have activities once a week. A lot of times the girls plan the activities & we all work together to see them through. This gives them opportunities to learn new skills & such. Well, this last week the leaders decided that we would take on the whole activity & we held a Back to School Dinner for the girls.
I took on much of the decorating. My sister-in-law, Lilia, gave me the great idea to tear pages from an old dictionary & sew them together to make these overhead garlands.
I made some hanging flowers out of brown paper lunch bags using this Martha Stewart tutorial.
We ran paper streamers down the middle of the tables & then topped with this & that for decoration. My contributions are the little chalkboards & the stacks of books.
We served them chicken salad sandwiches in lunch sacks with chocolate milk in little cartons. For dessert we had apples dipped in caramel sauce. I talked to them about ways to have a great school year...being a good friend to everyone, dressing modestly, praying often, standing up for what they believe & choosing to be happy each day. They wrote down some goals for themselves & we gave them each a little note with their mothers hope for them this school year.
It was really fun. I don't think these girls even understand how much I adore them. I love that this church service opportunity has given me the chance to get to know them so well.
5 comments:
- chanel said...
wowzers! your YW are soooooooo lucky to have YOU!
that is awesome.
- {lizzythebotanist} said...
super cute idea. well done. i'm filing this just in case i ever get to serve in YW.
- Michelle said...
Very cute!
And p.s. good luck with Babeh! hope he comes soon for you all :)
- Stacia said...
I love the decor. I would of loved to attend something like when I was that age. Hope your feeling well and getting to relax before baby comes!
- Michelle said...
This is sooo cute. You make me want to be a better YW leader! I'm an advisor for the laurels and I am learning to love my calling.
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With a track record including The Orphanage and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Guillermo del Toro's best medium is the horror film. Mama is his most recent work, and it does him justice.
If you're familiar with del Toro's horror work, you will know that a particular focus of his is children, particularly abandoned or lost children. This film is no exception, and is perhaps one of the more obvious examples of a child's worst fear: losing your parents.
The film follows Lucas (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, otherwise known as Jaime Lannister) and his girlfriend Annabel (Jessica Chastain) as they take care of Lucas' orphaned nieces, Lilly and Victoria. The little girls were found five years after going missing, and have turned completely feral. This is a bigger problem with the younger sister Lilly, who at first eats moths, walks on all fours, and refuses to sleep in a bed. This becomes an important character point by the end of the film.
It is mentioned early on in the film that its a miracle that the girls survived so long, but by this point the audience already knows that they were not alone. Because of this, a lot of the film is a very effective waiting game - when will Lucas and Annabel find out what and who really took care of the children? And what are the consequences of the children being removed from their remote cabin and unlikely guardian?
The suspense is remarkably done, to the extent that at times I had to cover my face, and I am a horror movie veteran. However, I am a fan of never showing the supernatural force, and towards the end we see so much of it that the horror drains away somewhat. Thankfully, it's replaced by a different kind of fear, as well as a conclusion that you just don't expect from a film like this. Then again, del Toro does enjoy unconventional endings.
One thing that must be mentioned is the exemplary acting of these two children, Megan Charpentier playing older sister Victoria and Isabelle Nélisse as Lilly. You expect brilliance from Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Jessica Chastain, and you get it (especially since Coster-Waldau plays twin brothers who are very different characters), but so much of the plot and screen time focuses on the two girls that their acting becomes the lynchpin of the whole film.
The film was inspired by this short, and it's creator Andrés Muschietti was involved in writing and producing the full-length version -- a very good decision.
Mama competes with Sinister for the best horror film I've seen in recent times: impeccable acting, unbearable tension, decent scares and a heart-wrenching twist at the end.
Watch the trailer yourself here: