Good luck man. Your definitely doing the right thing helping your kids. Me personally i cant wait to get out of the usa. I just booked a 3 month trip to south America and looking so forward to it. Im planning to be living in south America full time by 2026
@@user-rw718 nice. Where are you going? If I were planning a move to South America right now I think I’d be taking a hard look at Paraguay. Being landlocked it’s not really part of the smuggling routes that cause problems for most of Latin America.
Good to hear from you! Nothing is permanent… you can always change your mind. Understand how you made this change to offer your kids the best education/opportunities available. Sending my best wishes with that!
I believe you know what’s best for you and your family. It's clear that there are incredible opportunities out there for them, and I truly hope they can thrive.
@@FallofftheMapI am glad you & your fam are ok. Loved your vids for many years subscribed now though. I am not a commenter but what brought me here…if jobs and money were all men needed to be happy oh boy what a world! I have to say I am very surprised you took the decisions you took. Would be interesting what your thoughts would be in a few years. It is in the pudding..it takes time to understand what people are telling you..
@ I get it, there are definitely things about this decision that are uncomfortable. I wish I had some other way to prepare my kids for the world that is coming, but I really don’t. They aren’t at all interested in farming in Ecuador or learning to be self sufficient and I can’t really force them, only life experience will open their eyes. All I can do is make it possible for them to have those experiences, and to give them the best opportunities to be able to work anywhere in the world rather than being stuck like most people.
I'm happy that you are good and well! I wish you all the best and hope that you will be able to come back to Ecuador soon. As an ecuadorian, I can tell you that your children will have all the doors in the world open if you make them study in the US. Also, they will learn to think, in Ecuador universities are just about learning to blindly apply formulas, because the education standart is lower. Please, keep us informed, it makes us happy to hear from you.
Hey man! Glad to hear the US is going well for you! I think it's important to remember that a lot of your commentors here are other folks interested in your content: this means it's expats, folks who are frustrated with living in the US, looking for a different lifestyle, etc etc etc. As someone who's working at a major US university right now, I can tell you that you are absolutely on the nose about the OPPORTUNITY of having a US degree. Call it nepotism, but the kind of networks that having a university degree can give you, especially at decent ones, is invaluable for a lot of industries. Just one perspective, of course - vastly depends on field. Always love hearing about your life.
It's definitely not nepotism unless all of your connections are from you paying to be in a fraternity/sorority. There is a skill/talent in making connections at a university. I have friends who make a load of connections due to being intelligent as well as sociable, and I have friends who made zero attempts at making connections and, of course, have none.
That's a super solid gig you've got there bro, glad you're happy with it and the company. There's definitely a lot of negatives with the economy and quality of life here right now for sure, hopefully that will improve over time, also the Technical Schools/ Colleges and Trade Schools are great here, that's excellent investment on the education side (Marine Biology is a fascinating field, but not a money maker by any stretch, lots of being stuck in Academia with grant funded programs and such). Cheers!!!
My girls went to high school and college/trade school in America and during that time they got spoiled on shopping at Ross, TJ Max, Marshals and the outlet stores in the Orlando Florida area. They all have good jobs now here in America and they have expressed to us that they don’t want to move back to Ecuador with us if we decide to move back. That is one of the biggest regrets I have now. When we retire we won’t have enough to live here but we could afford Ecuador yet they would be here.
I retired here to Ecuador after long career with at&t. Sometimes young Ecuadorians here ask about working and living in the USA. I Usually tell them that they should consider working in the USA and invest the money they make here in Ecuador. Buy a piece of land, start building a house. After some years they could come back home to Ecuador , and live in their own home paid for in cash.
You're right about education at a US university opening doors, especially when it comes to internships. Your kids will have much higher value internships available to them in the US compared to anywhere else in the world. As I'm sure you know, internship experience is often a huge differentiator when applying for jobs after school, or if they are lucky the internships will turn into full time offers with those companies. Unfortunately the job market is not the best right now in some sectors, but everything is cyclical. Best of luck with everything.
Glad for the update! So far so good. I do see your point. Not sure ifnyounhsve kept up with how bad the drought/electricity/water/wildfire situation is escalating in Ecuador. Would be interested in hearing your take on it and how your family is faring
My family seems to have adapted to the power outages. They rigged up a battery to run the router so they don’t lose internet. It’s only a mild inconvenience. Because of the drought we built a drip irrigation system on my farm in the mountains. Unlike most families in Ecuador we have the resources to adapt to the situation.
Whenever I get to a point in my life where I'm not legally obligated to be somewhere every so often (like military or essential career stuff) I'm going to try my damndest to get a job in Antarctica, and at some point become train crew out west somewhere. Your time in antarctica is really inspiring to me. You've seen and experienced a lot of stuff, and are very unusual for it. I hope to live a life as varied as yours. I'm glad you're so clear-eyed, and are doing what's right for your family ignoring any sunk cost or anything else.
When it comes to universities, given that (I assume) they speak Spanish, they could go to school in Spain for a quarter the cost of an American degree with roughly the same prestige. Another great suggestion is that if you are staying in Washington state there is a program called Running Start, your kids can get 2 full years at a community or technical college for basically free while in high school. I did it myself at TacomaCC and probably saved 30k because of it
It depends on the degree. Some necessitate further education if you want to get a job in a related field, such as psychology or anthropology. You may have the upper hand in an interview if you have prior experience in the workplace, but often experience alone will get you further than most BA's. The same goes for a BS, but to a lesser extent.
Good for you for doing what you need to do for your family. I'm glad the job is working out for you. You're right--a US college degree will take your kids further.Then they can work anywhere in the world.
Alot of degrees that are comparable to USA are in Europe. My kids are dual cirizens Colombia and Spain makes it easier to fund higher education for University. Cost comparision for USA and Europe Universitys can not compare.
I know an American girl who goes to UNAV in Spain which is supposedly the fancy pants rich kid school and tuition is less than what you’d pay at a community college
Glad things are working out. Don't know if you are establishing residency in a county/state but community/state colleges generally have significantly reduced tuition. Community colleges can be high quality and often feed into the state schools. Quality of education in US? For math/physics/engineering/science, just look at the number of foreigners coming to study at top schools vs. the number in reverse. Definitely agree that a US degree is needed to maximize earning power and opportunity in US - don't think an EC degree will open doors in US unless you are exceptional.
We are also moving back to the USA. So many people think living abroad is great, without ever having tried to be an immigrant (or call it nicer “expat”, still the same). We are worried too about the future of the USA, but it is home for us, while abroad never was home.
@ yes, I understand. We can’t wait to go back to USA in 6 weeks, even though we fear the future! We are in a very blue state, so that will help… many people though are ignorant about what being an immigrant means, and are sold “paradise abroad” dreams… a lot of expats we know returned back to USA over the years. Some are very happy abroad, like you were. It depends on the person I guess. Good luck in your new environment! 🤗
People don't see the whole picture sometimes and you hit the nail on the head. There's a reason why people from 3rd world countries save up hundreds of thousands of dollars to send their kids to western universities. It's absolutely the correct move for someone like you who is in the position to pay for it.
Thanks for the update. Lots of big changes but you got to do whats best for the family. Unless your kids are going to an ivy league school sending them anywhere else is about the same education wise. Plenty of good and bad educators in every university. My partner went to University of Los Andes in Colombia - and from the way she described it sounded 10x harder than anything I experienced even in graduate school in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if universities in developing countries were more demanding on their students. No doubt your kids will find their own paths through university and life. And college is a great experience to develop oneself. I wouldn't worry about the culture war issues brought up by right wing people in regards to universities being bad for kids. It is a business afterall. Professors are more concerend about their own research funding than indoctrinating your kids. I teach part time social science classes and I am always surprised about how diverse the opinions of student's are - even when I teach Marx you will have conservative students agreeing with some things. People are complicated and students are not shy about their opinions.
I know 2 multi-millionaires well, which happened cuz of friendships they made at college, so to me, the connections are the greatest value of a 4-year degree
Does your association with those multi-millionaires help you in any way? I feel like millionaires are the new middle class. I’m more focused on guiding my kids towards pairing a degree with a trades apprenticeship, and with luck a security clearance through military service. Combine those three and even if 90% of the jobs are taken by AI and robots they’ll still be employable.
@FallofftheMap why can't your kids go into the military to serve our country & all the advantages that brings, followed by getting a college degree (paid for by the military for the service) for all the connections, while in the military & during college, they can learn the trade, all that could be accomplished by age 25, That's some amazing experiences under their belt. Life doesn't always have to be one or the other or the other, sometimes it can be all three - together.
@@walkerskii Yeah, that’s kind of exactly what I just said. However, I can’t force them to follow the paths I’ve opened for them. The best I can do is give them opportunities and advice.
It's not earning potential. It's social connections. MANY kids go to university in Ecuador and then get a Master's degree and PhD in the US or Europe. Greetings from Guayaquil.
This is a good video but a little irritating. Every one criticizes the US while taking from the US what is unavailable elsewhere then they leave. Ecuador is in a mess and so is the US but if not for the cost in the US I prefer home.
I can understand why it’s irritating. For most of my life corporations have been profiting off the U.S. markets and economy while shipping their manufacturing and customer service jobs overseas to reduce their expenses. People are quick to criticize this behavior, but in a cutthroat economy they’re doing what they have to do to stay competitive. I tend to view my approach and how I compete in the economy the same way. I do what I can to maximize how much money I keep and externalize and reduce my costs whenever possible. Rather than being irritated by how people respond to economic realities and incentives, perhaps direct your frustration towards the system that created these hard economic realities.
Yes, sending your child to college in the USA can be very expensive, but it sounds like you have a job that pays well enough to afford that. Most of your American viewers (myself included) are not making that much money. I think the smartest thing to do is take as many college credits as possible at a lower cost community college, then transfer those credits to the 4 year college of your choice. The hospitals where I prefer to hire registered nurses from the community college program over the new nurses with bachelor's and master's degrees. Our community college has an excellent training program for nurses. It really depends what your kids want to do. An internship in the Galapagos Islands would look great on a future marine biologist's resume 😊.
@@patriciaflaherty totally agree. I know the path I’d like my kids to take, but ultimately it’s their choice. I’d love it if my kids went into a trade school or apprenticeship, did something like Navy or Air Force reserves part time, and also eventually got a higher education in something that complimented their trade school. For example, if they did an electrical apprenticeship, also worked part time in the naval reserves as electrical or electronics specialists, and then followed that up by studying electrical engineering, they would be well positioned to be successful even in a recession and an economy where most jobs are being replaced by robots and Ai. Unfortunately, they are likely to make a few silly decisions along the way before they start listening to me.
@svlonestar7645 it’s also become a popular strategy for undermining confidence in the government. It’s being used by Correa’s allies in Ecuador and by the Russians in Ukraine.
America is still one of the best countries to work in. The hours can be hard, but its still better than many countries. I worked in Hong Kong and Japan which were WAY worse, and for far less pay. For me, its things outside of work that make America not ideal (health insurance, long wait times for medical care, unhealthy food, far distances, annoying clashes of social issues, etc.)
As always, people make the mistake of focusing on how much money they make instead of how much money they keep. For most people in America, yes you can make a lot more money than in other countries but at the end of each month you’re still living paycheck to paycheck. I’m lucky in that my company pays all my living expenses, otherwise I would have turned down this job.
We are traveling to Quito next Saturday 10/24. I was looking at trying to convince my wife to move back. She is worried about making money there though. As someone who’s oldest children grew up in Quito until their teens before moving here I will say that they got to Americanized with the price of clothing and shoes buying name brands at discount shops and now they do not want to move back. They’re girls so boys might not be as much into the fashion world.
Remember you are a human been, you are not a sheep, live your life without convince anyone to be you, but help them if they you!! We came to this world alone and we will leave this world in the way. Thinking about yourself is a good idea.
In the last Great Recession I left the U.S., made a lot of money overseas, and invested in land in Ecuador. I regret that I didn’t pick up several houses in the U.S. when they were cheap. If there is another recession and thousands of foreclosures again I won’t repeat my mistake, I’ll try to buy up at least 3 rental properties in the U.S.
@@FallofftheMap I did. I bought a few. I had a house in Lima and there was a real estate boom there and a depression here. So I sold there and bought a few here. Great investment. Positive passive income for 14 years now.
Apparently you have made contacts and know some way of your way around Equador. In the event of Dangerous Global Events....Such things will be ultra valuable & beyond the cost of any college in the USA . You should be careful not to lose such links in Safe Haven Areas in order to use them for strategic relocation at any time but especially now during these times.
Hey sir I don't see myself going back to USA..... With that being said, thats me. Everyone isn't me. I think USA passport and trade education in usa is great. Also skilled trades can be used everywhere in the world weather you are doing contracting work overseas or working in USA. I think politically on one hand USA is pretty fucked, we do a lot of messed up things to other countries. On the other hand after seeing so much of the world (The worse places I go the better the pay) I think to myself GOD BLESS USA.
On the other hand, looking at my Christmas flights to Quito it’s like $2000 and two days of travel each way. I might end up celebrating Christmas with the family sometime in January.
Put salary aside for a moment. If you want a meaningful job in Marine Biology, you pretty much need ah PhD (from anywhere). So in this case, Ecuador might be best choice for that child. But who the hell knows what they want for a career when they are 18?? Very few, but some do.
Yeah… but that choice, marine biology, stems from fond memories of when we lived at the beach. It doesn’t stem from an interest in science or connection to nature.
@@nighthawkviper6791 are you saying we should stay in Ecuador? The power grid in Ecuador is in far worse shape, but it’s unlikely the country will make the necessary investments. Recently Ecuador announced a huge solar power project and I asked about it within my company to see if we were involved with supplying the inverters, since we have big sites in Colombia and Peru. They had no information about it. It’s very likely that Ecuador announced this project but then didn’t do anything to move the project forward. This sort of thing is why I think it’s best to expose my kids to the world outside of Ecuador to prepare them for life, and then once I retire move back to my farms in Ecuador.
I think you are going to make a lot of money. You are open minded & tech oriented . Do you need a serious sub helper?? We got Trump for 4 years. Let's do it! I speak Spanish & Portuguses
I don’t control the hiring at this company, and because we work with voltages up to 34500 and massive power stored in lithium batteries, this is inherently dangerous work. This company requires you pass an electrical exam before they will hire you and there exam leans pretty heavy on electrical engineering questions.
you contradicted yourself ... 'opportunities it opens up' is based on the past and before AI && mass immigration. If you look at the West the past 12 years and think the future is anything whatsoever like the West the prior 120 years then I dunno what to say ...
I agree that the opportunities and outlook will be worse, but not just in the west, everywhere. I’m just trying to give them all the necessary advantage in a world where the future is going to be much more difficult than we experienced. If they have an education in the U.S., dual citizenship, a home in the U.S., homes and farmland in Ecuador I hope they will be positioned well to do ok in life. I don’t know how to prepare them any better than that.
did you sell your place in Ecuador??? If you plan to 'send your kids to college' Teaching and legal must have a degree if they want any type of job in those fields. But today most college degrees CAN be done online if you are really creative. That would keep your kids out of the ideology BS going on in Universities. At retirement age, I am ready to leave the US. However, if DJT does all the things he's promised, it might not be necessary.. Because for me, at retirement, it's a necessity to leave.
I’m not too worried about ideology BS at universities. They’ve learned to be skeptical because of some of the nationalistic and political teachings in Ecuadorian schools. Yes, they could go to school online and for some fields that may be adequate, but it’s pretty limiting.
"I’ve always been passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and for many, that dream is starting a new life in another country. Moving abroad is more than just packing bags; it’s about stepping into the unknown, embracing challenges, and finding a new home away from home. I love being a part of that journey. Whether it’s navigating the complex paperwork, finding the right resources, or simply offering reassurance during moments of doubt, I thrive on making the transition as smooth as possible. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone settle into a place where they can truly thrive, knowing I played a part in that transformation. For me, it’s not just about logistics; it’s about building connections, fostering hope, and helping people turn their dreams of a new life into reality." I would like to help you with your goals, let me know whatever you think. Regards
I'm planning to early retire in three years from now as I have been doing a lot of researching in southeast Asia and south america I found southeast Asia is mostly has a visa issue you have to renew it all the time with no privilege of permanently residence on the other hand south America is so easy to became permanent resident and buying property as well, two years ago I went to Paraguay and applied for residency while I dont have to live there as long as I visite the country once a year for at least one day a year with 0% taxes if you make any money comes from abroad. I did like peru and brazil also
@@ABDELHADINDIF I would recommend you Ecuador no because I am Equatorian but because if you buy a piece of land or a house you do not have to pay Property taxes, you only pay a small fee to the Municipio every year depending where you life central city is always more expensive but outside the city it is more affordable, and that property will be yours forever not like in the USA...
Honestly Trump will make America a greater place and your family will benefit, even if you don't consider his politics at all, and if it went the other way we'd be seeing more wars and managed decline instead. You made a wise choice in moving back. And please keep your kids out of university if you love them, or at least dont let them live on campus and be very involved for exactly the culture war reasons you alluded to. That's a sincere and honest warning coming from love, so please hear it.
You are a shining example of someone who has taken every talking point pushed by the far right wing and swallowed it whole. While you’re fixated on so called culture wars, you’ll miss the colossal financial grift this next administration is about to undertake.
@@acmhfmggru Here's just one tiny slice for your consideration. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, personally pumped $140Million into Trump's re-election. Now why do you think he did that, and is so obviously embedded in Trump's appointment decisions -- all of them? Musk's business depends on government contracts, all of which he will now be awarded. He is also promised a job in the new administration. When he takes this job, they'll make a big deal out of how he'll do this job without taking a salary. What they'll fail to tell you is that by taking this government job, he will pay zero capital gains tax on his massive wealth. For Musk this amounts to tens of billions of dollars worth of tax savings. Get it yet? The entire show in front of you is a grift. Believing billionaires are getting into public service to protect the middle and lower middle class is beyond nuts. Also, the same token job has been awarded Vivek Ramaswamy, another billionaire who will also receive massive cap gains tax savings in the same way.
Good cop bad cop mentality. How do you think even the most elect are fooled? Satan gives some people the obvious evil so that they will choose the false good
I don’t think he’s going to live up to your expectations. Throughout Trump’s career he’s been all talk while leaving a trail of bankruptcies and destruction behind. As all too often happens this last election was a choice between bad and worse, and we chose worse.
Good luck man. Your definitely doing the right thing helping your kids. Me personally i cant wait to get out of the usa. I just booked a 3 month trip to south America and looking so forward to it. Im planning to be living in south America full time by 2026
@@user-rw718 nice. Where are you going? If I were planning a move to South America right now I think I’d be taking a hard look at Paraguay. Being landlocked it’s not really part of the smuggling routes that cause problems for most of Latin America.
You came back at a very interesting time, wish you the best.
Trump baby
@@jetsetradio7715 True, I though the last 20 years it’s felt like it’s constantly been “interesting times” for one reason or another.
@@clemfandango3925 Crypto Baby ….
Props to ya for doing what's best for your family.
Thanks.
Good to hear from you! Nothing is permanent… you can always change your mind. Understand how you made this change to offer your kids the best education/opportunities available. Sending my best wishes with that!
Thanks.
Thank you all for being a wonderful family!
We're always impressed with your reasoning! Thanks for the insights.
@@tomweiss7093 what a nice compliment. Thank you. I do try to think through my plans carefully and take a long term view.
I believe you know what’s best for you and your family. It's clear that there are incredible opportunities out there for them, and I truly hope they can thrive.
Dude, we’re glad that you and your family are safe.
Me too
@@FallofftheMapI am glad you & your fam are ok. Loved your vids for many years subscribed now though. I am not a commenter but what brought me here…if jobs and money were all men needed to be happy oh boy what a world! I have to say I am very surprised you took the decisions you took. Would be interesting what your thoughts would be in a few years. It is in the pudding..it takes time to understand what people are telling you..
@ I get it, there are definitely things about this decision that are uncomfortable. I wish I had some other way to prepare my kids for the world that is coming, but I really don’t. They aren’t at all interested in farming in Ecuador or learning to be self sufficient and I can’t really force them, only life experience will open their eyes. All I can do is make it possible for them to have those experiences, and to give them the best opportunities to be able to work anywhere in the world rather than being stuck like most people.
It appears that you are giving your kids the best of both worlds. Good Dad. I miss your take on things happening in Ecuador, but happy for you...
I miss talking about Ecuador. I should be back for the Christmas holidays to visit family and check on my farms.
@@FallofftheMap Ye :)
I'm happy that you are good and well! I wish you all the best and hope that you will be able to come back to Ecuador soon.
As an ecuadorian, I can tell you that your children will have all the doors in the world open if you make them study in the US.
Also, they will learn to think, in Ecuador universities are just about learning to blindly apply formulas, because the education standart is lower.
Please, keep us informed, it makes us happy to hear from you.
Well done, pops. Change is always difficult, but the kids will get to make their own choices soon enough. o/
Thanks. I just want to give them the advantages I wish I had
Hey man! Glad to hear the US is going well for you! I think it's important to remember that a lot of your commentors here are other folks interested in your content: this means it's expats, folks who are frustrated with living in the US, looking for a different lifestyle, etc etc etc. As someone who's working at a major US university right now, I can tell you that you are absolutely on the nose about the OPPORTUNITY of having a US degree. Call it nepotism, but the kind of networks that having a university degree can give you, especially at decent ones, is invaluable for a lot of industries. Just one perspective, of course - vastly depends on field. Always love hearing about your life.
It's definitely not nepotism unless all of your connections are from you paying to be in a fraternity/sorority. There is a skill/talent in making connections at a university. I have friends who make a load of connections due to being intelligent as well as sociable, and I have friends who made zero attempts at making connections and, of course, have none.
@es0teric76 totally agree!
That's a super solid gig you've got there bro, glad you're happy with it and the company. There's definitely a lot of negatives with the economy and quality of life here right now for sure, hopefully that will improve over time, also the Technical Schools/ Colleges and Trade Schools are great here, that's excellent investment on the education side (Marine Biology is a fascinating field, but not a money maker by any stretch, lots of being stuck in Academia with grant funded programs and such). Cheers!!!
Yeah, I’m pretty happy with the job. Hopefully the boom keeps rolling.
@@FallofftheMap Stoked for ya bro! Outstanding.
My girls went to high school and college/trade school in America and during that time they got spoiled on shopping at Ross, TJ Max, Marshals and the outlet stores in the Orlando Florida area. They all have good jobs now here in America and they have expressed to us that they don’t want to move back to Ecuador with us if we decide to move back. That is one of the biggest regrets I have now. When we retire we won’t have enough to live here but we could afford Ecuador yet they would be here.
It’s not an expensive flight if they’re in Florida. Cheaper to fly up once a month than to retire in the U.S.
I retired here to Ecuador after long career with at&t. Sometimes young Ecuadorians here ask about working and living in the USA. I Usually tell them that they should consider working in the USA and invest the money they make here in Ecuador. Buy a piece of land, start building a house. After some years they could come back home to Ecuador , and live in their own home paid for in cash.
Good advice
You're right about education at a US university opening doors, especially when it comes to internships. Your kids will have much higher value internships available to them in the US compared to anywhere else in the world. As I'm sure you know, internship experience is often a huge differentiator when applying for jobs after school, or if they are lucky the internships will turn into full time offers with those companies. Unfortunately the job market is not the best right now in some sectors, but everything is cyclical. Best of luck with everything.
Yeah but then they will have been indoctrinated. Lol
Glad for the update! So far so good. I do see your point. Not sure ifnyounhsve kept up with how bad the drought/electricity/water/wildfire situation is escalating in Ecuador. Would be interested in hearing your take on it and how your family is faring
My family seems to have adapted to the power outages. They rigged up a battery to run the router so they don’t lose internet. It’s only a mild inconvenience. Because of the drought we built a drip irrigation system on my farm in the mountains. Unlike most families in Ecuador we have the resources to adapt to the situation.
Whenever I get to a point in my life where I'm not legally obligated to be somewhere every so often (like military or essential career stuff) I'm going to try my damndest to get a job in Antarctica, and at some point become train crew out west somewhere.
Your time in antarctica is really inspiring to me. You've seen and experienced a lot of stuff, and are very unusual for it. I hope to live a life as varied as yours.
I'm glad you're so clear-eyed, and are doing what's right for your family ignoring any sunk cost or anything else.
When it comes to universities, given that (I assume) they speak Spanish, they could go to school in Spain for a quarter the cost of an American degree with roughly the same prestige.
Another great suggestion is that if you are staying in Washington state there is a program called Running Start, your kids can get 2 full years at a community or technical college for basically free while in high school. I did it myself at TacomaCC and probably saved 30k because of it
Good to see running start is still around. Many of my friends went that route.
great to see you!!!!
Thank you dude. Some of us having very similar thoughts and really pay attention to your postings.....
People do what is best for themselves, weither it means to leave the U.S. or stay
A diploma in a US University will open them much more doors in their working life, that's a big gift you give them.
It depends on the degree. Some necessitate further education if you want to get a job in a related field, such as psychology or anthropology. You may have the upper hand in an interview if you have prior experience in the workplace, but often experience alone will get you further than most BA's. The same goes for a BS, but to a lesser extent.
Good for you for doing what you need to do for your family. I'm glad the job is working out for you. You're right--a US college degree will take your kids further.Then they can work anywhere in the world.
Alot of degrees that are comparable to USA are in Europe.
My kids are dual cirizens Colombia and Spain makes it easier to fund higher education for University. Cost comparision for USA and Europe Universitys can not compare.
I know an American girl who goes to UNAV in Spain which is supposedly the fancy pants rich kid school and tuition is less than what you’d pay at a community college
Spot on about college. Networking is key, and the degree is a formality.
Glad things are working out.
Don't know if you are establishing residency in a county/state but community/state colleges generally have significantly reduced tuition. Community colleges can be high quality and often feed into the state schools.
Quality of education in US? For math/physics/engineering/science, just look at the number of foreigners coming to study at top schools vs. the number in reverse.
Definitely agree that a US degree is needed to maximize earning power and opportunity in US - don't think an EC degree will open doors in US unless you are exceptional.
A janitor custodian who works 30 years for the school district or for the county or federal... will retire with a pension of over $5,000 per month
Exactly. While the average salary for a doctor in Ecuador is $1750 per month, and for a lawyer it’s more like $1200.
We are also moving back to the USA. So many people think living abroad is great, without ever having tried to be an immigrant (or call it nicer “expat”, still the same). We are worried too about the future of the USA, but it is home for us, while abroad never was home.
To me, Ecuador definitely felt like home. Moving back to the U.S. is more about taking advantage of specific opportunities for my family.
@ yes, I understand. We can’t wait to go back to USA in 6 weeks, even though we fear the future! We are in a very blue state, so that will help… many people though are ignorant about what being an immigrant means, and are sold “paradise abroad” dreams… a lot of expats we know returned back to USA over the years. Some are very happy abroad, like you were. It depends on the person I guess. Good luck in your new environment! 🤗
You are a good father.
Thanks
People don't see the whole picture sometimes and you hit the nail on the head.
There's a reason why people from 3rd world countries save up hundreds of thousands of dollars to send their kids to western universities.
It's absolutely the correct move for someone like you who is in the position to pay for it.
on point.
i’m trying to get my kids thru high school and into college first.
then i’ll be a digital nomad.
Good luck. It’s definitely a challenging time to be trying to prepare your kids for life
Thanks for the update. Lots of big changes but you got to do whats best for the family. Unless your kids are going to an ivy league school sending them anywhere else is about the same education wise. Plenty of good and bad educators in every university. My partner went to University of Los Andes in Colombia - and from the way she described it sounded 10x harder than anything I experienced even in graduate school in the US. I wouldn't be surprised if universities in developing countries were more demanding on their students.
No doubt your kids will find their own paths through university and life. And college is a great experience to develop oneself. I wouldn't worry about the culture war issues brought up by right wing people in regards to universities being bad for kids. It is a business afterall. Professors are more concerend about their own research funding than indoctrinating your kids. I teach part time social science classes and I am always surprised about how diverse the opinions of student's are - even when I teach Marx you will have conservative students agreeing with some things. People are complicated and students are not shy about their opinions.
I know 2 multi-millionaires well, which happened cuz of friendships they made at college, so to me, the connections are the greatest value of a 4-year degree
Does your association with those multi-millionaires help you in any way? I feel like millionaires are the new middle class. I’m more focused on guiding my kids towards pairing a degree with a trades apprenticeship, and with luck a security clearance through military service. Combine those three and even if 90% of the jobs are taken by AI and robots they’ll still be employable.
@FallofftheMap why can't your kids go into the military to serve our country & all the advantages that brings, followed by getting a college degree (paid for by the military for the service) for all the connections, while in the military & during college, they can learn the trade, all that could be accomplished by age 25, That's some amazing experiences under their belt. Life doesn't always have to be one or the other or the other, sometimes it can be all three - together.
@@walkerskii Yeah, that’s kind of exactly what I just said. However, I can’t force them to follow the paths I’ve opened for them. The best I can do is give them opportunities and advice.
It's not earning potential. It's social connections. MANY kids go to university in Ecuador and then get a Master's degree and PhD in the US or Europe. Greetings from Guayaquil.
This is a good video but a little irritating. Every one criticizes the US while taking from the US what is unavailable elsewhere then they leave. Ecuador is in a mess and so is the US but if not for the cost in the US I prefer home.
I can understand why it’s irritating. For most of my life corporations have been profiting off the U.S. markets and economy while shipping their manufacturing and customer service jobs overseas to reduce their expenses. People are quick to criticize this behavior, but in a cutthroat economy they’re doing what they have to do to stay competitive. I tend to view my approach and how I compete in the economy the same way. I do what I can to maximize how much money I keep and externalize and reduce my costs whenever possible. Rather than being irritated by how people respond to economic realities and incentives, perhaps direct your frustration towards the system that created these hard economic realities.
All the best!!!
Yes, sending your child to college in the USA can be very expensive, but it sounds like you have a job that pays well enough to afford that. Most of your American viewers (myself included) are not making that much money. I think the smartest thing to do is take as many college credits as possible at a lower cost community college, then transfer those credits to the 4 year college of your choice. The hospitals where I prefer to hire registered nurses from the community college program over the new nurses with bachelor's and master's degrees. Our community college has an excellent training program for nurses. It really depends what your kids want to do. An internship in the Galapagos Islands would look great on a future marine biologist's resume 😊.
@@patriciaflaherty totally agree. I know the path I’d like my kids to take, but ultimately it’s their choice. I’d love it if my kids went into a trade school or apprenticeship, did something like Navy or Air Force reserves part time, and also eventually got a higher education in something that complimented their trade school. For example, if they did an electrical apprenticeship, also worked part time in the naval reserves as electrical or electronics specialists, and then followed that up by studying electrical engineering, they would be well positioned to be successful even in a recession and an economy where most jobs are being replaced by robots and Ai. Unfortunately, they are likely to make a few silly decisions along the way before they start listening to me.
@FallofftheMap well, you do have the option to refuse to pay for an English, history, or psychology degree at a party school 😁.
I did sub stations for Bonneville until Home land security took over the Dept of interior.. you can figure the rest.
Yeah, there’s a lot of security going into protecting the power grid. Clearly there is an expectation that there will be attacks.
@FallofftheMap if trump pardons the oath keeper and proud boys , it could get personal..
@svlonestar7645 it’s also become a popular strategy for undermining confidence in the government. It’s being used by Correa’s allies in Ecuador and by the Russians in Ukraine.
America is still one of the best countries to work in. The hours can be hard, but its still better than many countries. I worked in Hong Kong and Japan which were WAY worse, and for far less pay. For me, its things outside of work that make America not ideal (health insurance, long wait times for medical care, unhealthy food, far distances, annoying clashes of social issues, etc.)
As always, people make the mistake of focusing on how much money they make instead of how much money they keep. For most people in America, yes you can make a lot more money than in other countries but at the end of each month you’re still living paycheck to paycheck. I’m lucky in that my company pays all my living expenses, otherwise I would have turned down this job.
an exceptional father
… 🫶…
Good luck. I'm happy for you.
We are traveling to Quito next Saturday 10/24. I was looking at trying to convince my wife to move back. She is worried about making money there though. As someone who’s oldest children grew up in Quito until their teens before moving here I will say that they got to Americanized with the price of clothing and shoes buying name brands at discount shops and now they do not want to move back. They’re girls so boys might not be as much into the fashion world.
Remember you are a human been, you are not a sheep, live your life without convince anyone to be you, but help them if they you!! We came to this world alone and we will leave this world in the way. Thinking about yourself is a good idea.
If the US has a 2008 or worse - what will living in Ecuador be like? Thanks!
Is coming. The backwards 2020 guy is heading to 2008.
In the last Great Recession I left the U.S., made a lot of money overseas, and invested in land in Ecuador. I regret that I didn’t pick up several houses in the U.S. when they were cheap. If there is another recession and thousands of foreclosures again I won’t repeat my mistake, I’ll try to buy up at least 3 rental properties in the U.S.
@@FallofftheMap I did. I bought a few. I had a house in Lima and there was a real estate boom there and a depression here. So I sold there and bought a few here. Great investment. Positive passive income for 14 years now.
Hey bud I'm also traveling hope to see you out there
Where are you headed?
Hi - I haven't listened to whole video, but will u stay in USA ? a lot of work went into the farm, house, etc - best wishes
@@Amanda_downunder my plan is to return to Ecuador once the kids are through college, though I tend to keep my plans pretty flexible.
@@FallofftheMap - ok, fair enough. I understand.
Apparently you have made contacts and know some way of your way around Equador. In the event of Dangerous Global Events....Such things will be ultra valuable & beyond the cost of any college in the USA . You should be careful not to lose such links in Safe Haven Areas in order to use them for strategic relocation at any time but especially now during these times.
Totally agree. I’ll definitely be straddling both worlds for the foreseeable future.
Building more batt storage units
Just wrapping up a site now that adds up to 200megawatts to the grid while discharging.
Of course, it was a good move; if I was making 200k, I would feel the same. Rock on!!
Hey sir I don't see myself going back to USA..... With that being said, thats me. Everyone isn't me. I think USA passport and trade education in usa is great. Also skilled trades can be used everywhere in the world weather you are doing contracting work overseas or working in USA. I think politically on one hand USA is pretty fucked, we do a lot of messed up things to other countries. On the other hand after seeing so much of the world (The worse places I go the better the pay) I think to myself GOD BLESS USA.
NO REGRETS !!! Airlines fly to Ecuador everyday. USA is USA.
On the other hand, looking at my Christmas flights to Quito it’s like $2000 and two days of travel each way. I might end up celebrating Christmas with the family sometime in January.
Put salary aside for a moment. If you want a meaningful job in Marine Biology, you pretty much need ah PhD (from anywhere). So in this case, Ecuador might be best choice for that child. But who the hell knows what they want for a career when they are 18?? Very few, but some do.
Yeah… but that choice, marine biology, stems from fond memories of when we lived at the beach. It doesn’t stem from an interest in science or connection to nature.
The reason you're building resiliency into the grid is the same reason you and your family should stay.
@@nighthawkviper6791 are you saying we should stay in Ecuador? The power grid in Ecuador is in far worse shape, but it’s unlikely the country will make the necessary investments. Recently Ecuador announced a huge solar power project and I asked about it within my company to see if we were involved with supplying the inverters, since we have big sites in Colombia and Peru. They had no information about it. It’s very likely that Ecuador announced this project but then didn’t do anything to move the project forward. This sort of thing is why I think it’s best to expose my kids to the world outside of Ecuador to prepare them for life, and then once I retire move back to my farms in Ecuador.
I think you are going to make a lot of money. You are open minded & tech oriented . Do you need a serious sub helper?? We got Trump for 4 years. Let's do it!
I speak Spanish & Portuguses
I don’t control the hiring at this company, and because we work with voltages up to 34500 and massive power stored in lithium batteries, this is inherently dangerous work. This company requires you pass an electrical exam before they will hire you and there exam leans pretty heavy on electrical engineering questions.
Yeah right. You're an electrical engineer. NOT.
At no point did I say I was an electrical engineer.
So they're never going to make their money out due to the expensive batteries going bad. Hardly resilient.
Fortunately for everyone in the industry, your assumption is wrong.
America
taxes you worldwide on income. If scrub the part about evading taxes.
US taxes you while overseas but provides an overseas earned income exemption. It was $120,000 exempt from federal taxes for last year.
you contradicted yourself ... 'opportunities it opens up' is based on the past and before AI && mass immigration. If you look at the West the past 12 years and think the future is anything whatsoever like the West the prior 120 years then I dunno what to say ...
I agree that the opportunities and outlook will be worse, but not just in the west, everywhere. I’m just trying to give them all the necessary advantage in a world where the future is going to be much more difficult than we experienced. If they have an education in the U.S., dual citizenship, a home in the U.S., homes and farmland in Ecuador I hope they will be positioned well to do ok in life. I don’t know how to prepare them any better than that.
did you sell your place in Ecuador??? If you plan to 'send your kids to college' Teaching and legal must have a degree if they want any type of job in those fields. But today most college degrees CAN be done online if you are really creative. That would keep your kids out of the ideology BS going on in Universities. At retirement age, I am ready to leave the US. However, if DJT does all the things he's promised, it might not be necessary.. Because for me, at retirement, it's a necessity to leave.
I’m not too worried about ideology BS at universities. They’ve learned to be skeptical because of some of the nationalistic and political teachings in Ecuadorian schools. Yes, they could go to school online and for some fields that may be adequate, but it’s pretty limiting.
"I’ve always been passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and for many, that dream is starting a new life in another country. Moving abroad is more than just packing bags; it’s about stepping into the unknown, embracing challenges, and finding a new home away from home.
I love being a part of that journey. Whether it’s navigating the complex paperwork, finding the right resources, or simply offering reassurance during moments of doubt, I thrive on making the transition as smooth as possible. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone settle into a place where they can truly thrive, knowing I played a part in that transformation.
For me, it’s not just about logistics; it’s about building connections, fostering hope, and helping people turn their dreams of a new life into reality." I would like to help you with your goals, let me know whatever you think.
Regards
I'm planning to early retire in three years from now as I have been doing a lot of researching in southeast Asia and south america I found southeast Asia is mostly has a visa issue you have to renew it all the time with no privilege of permanently residence on the other hand south America is so easy to became permanent resident and buying property as well, two years ago I went to Paraguay and applied for residency while I dont have to live there as long as I visite the country once a year for at least one day a year with 0% taxes if you make any money comes from abroad. I did like peru and brazil also
@ABDELHADINDIF yeah, if I were to move to South America today Paraguay is the country I’d probably choose.
@@ABDELHADINDIF I would recommend you Ecuador no because I am Equatorian but because if you buy a piece of land or a house you do not have to pay Property taxes, you only pay a small fee to the Municipio every year depending where you life central city is always more expensive but outside the city it is more affordable, and that property will be yours forever not like in the USA...
Honestly Trump will make America a greater place and your family will benefit, even if you don't consider his politics at all, and if it went the other way we'd be seeing more wars and managed decline instead. You made a wise choice in moving back. And please keep your kids out of university if you love them, or at least dont let them live on campus and be very involved for exactly the culture war reasons you alluded to. That's a sincere and honest warning coming from love, so please hear it.
You are a shining example of someone who has taken every talking point pushed by the far right wing and swallowed it whole. While you’re fixated on so called culture wars, you’ll miss the colossal financial grift this next administration is about to undertake.
@Mary-tj5qx please go on, if you will. I think (and hope!) you'll be proven wrong by time, but time will tell.
@@acmhfmggru Here's just one tiny slice for your consideration. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, personally pumped $140Million into Trump's re-election. Now why do you think he did that, and is so obviously embedded in Trump's appointment decisions -- all of them? Musk's business depends on government contracts, all of which he will now be awarded. He is also promised a job in the new administration. When he takes this job, they'll make a big deal out of how he'll do this job without taking a salary. What they'll fail to tell you is that by taking this government job, he will pay zero capital gains tax on his massive wealth. For Musk this amounts to tens of billions of dollars worth of tax savings. Get it yet? The entire show in front of you is a grift. Believing billionaires are getting into public service to protect the middle and lower middle class is beyond nuts. Also, the same token job has been awarded Vivek Ramaswamy, another billionaire who will also receive massive cap gains tax savings in the same way.
Good cop bad cop mentality. How do you think even the most elect are fooled? Satan gives some people the obvious evil so that they will choose the false good
For the very first time with Trump we can actually really fix and rebuild America. You should be very excited about politics for the very first time.
I don’t think he’s going to live up to your expectations. Throughout Trump’s career he’s been all talk while leaving a trail of bankruptcies and destruction behind. As all too often happens this last election was a choice between bad and worse, and we chose worse.