[RUSSELL REINA]

Gracias, Mark!

Please PM me the info. Right now, I’m leaning toward finding a host family hooked up with an Immersion Program where, for a month, I live with thefamily and learn, room and board included, any suggestions?

[RUSSELL REINA]

Mark, are you aware of any Spanish Immersion programs in Loja?

[RUSSELL REINA]

I’m disappointed, Suzan, it only took you 3 minutes to respond 😉

 

Thanks!

[RUSSELL REINA]

Aloha, er…Hola!

Good guess; I’m leaving Paradise to seek Paradiso. Since it’s all in me, anyway, I realize I still have some work ahead to make it stick, and my research for new tools has led me right here. A quick tour of Wheres; born NY, then Florida, then California, then Oregon, then Hawaii (Maui for 10 years). I rode motorcycles all over the U.S. for 30 years and didn’t develop a yearning for international travel until now and it’s all about my readiness to challenge my cultural sensibilities and immerse myself in another way of being.

I’ve never been a tourist, in fact, I’m a Tour Guide here on Maui — driving on up and around Haleakala, the House of the Sun, a currently inactive volcano which includes the notorious road to Hana. A typical day means driving and engaging 8 guests through 180 miles, 1,234 curves and 108 one-lane bridges! My primary focus in life has been evenly split between the Healing and Performing Arts. I was one of the first Paramedics in the U.S. and have built a body of work around my explorations into what it means to be a healer, including two books. My overall body of work can be found at http://www.firetender.org which includes writing (feature movie credit), acting, music (original), stand-up comedy, workshops and photography.

Bottom line, the decision has been made (by Whom, I’m not quite sure!), and tickets bought. Moving from HI to FL end of March and on to Ecuador in May. SS retirement comes in June some time. Yes, as a Failsafe I’ve got a ticket back to FL in June, but I’m planning to have assembled everything I need to attain residency before I get to Ecuador with the intention of staying on permanently. In this moment, I’m leaning toward settling in the Loja province, but I’m sharp enough to know, once I get off the plane, all bets are off!

I can read more Spanish than I can speak, and I can speak more Spanish than I can understand. I am highly culturally sensitive, having lived and worked with a Lakota Medicine family on Pine Ridge (SD) and here in Hawaii with Kanaka Maoli (original people). I have a Spanish surname and to be honest, I suppose the biggest draw for me is to live somewhere I’d be considered tall — I’m 5’6″!!

My intention here is to make new connections so when my boots do hit the ground, I have some role models to either emulate or avoid. I’m thankful for this site and look forward to contributing.

[RUSSELL REINA]

ONE: Can’t figure out how to Start a New Topic.

TWO: Seeing as you’re going through a new cycle (of recruits) I’m wondering if we couldn’t have a section for Newbies to Introduce themselves.

THREE: I, too, am thinking in terms of Loja and would like to see why, of all the locations in EC, it’s pretty much off the radar for expats.

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