A few months ago my husband and I made the choice to move from the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States of America, to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.
My husband and I owned a retail and wholesale coffee roasting company for more than seven years. We are both passionate about coffee. We love the business. We love the people in it. We also love coffee farms, and coffee countries, especially El Salvador. Neither of us could tell you why. El Salvador is small, and not particularly flashy, but it’s got a certain something we love. It could have been the El Salvador geography, or the weather in El Salvador or simply the amazingly friendly people of El Salvador. But somehow we fell in love with this country and decided to make the leap to being expats and live in El Salvador.
I was a peace officer for the past twelve years. Don’t get me wrong, its a blast to investigate crimes and I love a good challenge, but coming from my background as a ballet dancer, with the added mindset of a business person and traveler, I had trouble thinking and acting within the box, and trouble keeping my opinions to myself, and trouble with my back.
Our Coffee Roasting business was receiving great reviews, growing, and had the staff many people can only dream of. It was also burdened by old debts, and artificially inflated interest rates, and we could not grow it effectively. When a person came with an offer (we were not for sale) we went with it. My husband had been developing some ideas with Salvadoran friends, and figured maybe it was time to go? Maybe the Roastery would be better off with a good business person than a coffee fanatic? I can only hope. To be honest, I’m too scared to look!
With everything set for change already, our two sons, ages 20 and 21 were ready to head off on their own to school. I hope. LORD I HOPE! I’ve only been away from them for four days and miss them SO MUCH! On top of that, our 5 year old daughter has the heart of a lion and the eyes to match…completely up for the challenge.
Bottom line we sold everything, to move to El Salvador. We are starting a new life in El Salvador. We hope to develop a business idea with friends, and partners. We hope to learn Spanish and a whole new culture. We hope our daughter develops as a citizen of the world, and we hope to do well by ourselves and the people around us. More on that as the journey continues. Read the articles and posts to experience first hand what daily life in El Salvador is like. Learn about the culture of El Salvador, the amazing people and the joys and struggles of a family of crazy American expats as we learn to live in our new home country of El Salvador.
We will be exploring all aspects of our new home country. From reviewing local businesses, cafes, restaurants, coffee bars, super markets, mercados and more to highlighting the unique and wonderful things that make living and visiting El Salvador attractive. Keep reading and share this site with your friends.
http://www.whatsupelsalvador.com/
May 16, 2011 at 12:55 am
This lets me have more insight as to why my baby sister and her family chose to move to El Salvador. I am proud that she has the courage of her convictions, and follows her dreams.
March 18, 2013 at 4:11 am
My name is Franco, I been wanted to move to El Salvador to start a business. The problem is i don't know what is a good business idea or who has an idea and need a partner . I'm 24 years old and speak fluent English and Epanish and i'm a US Army veteran.
May 27, 2011 at 7:08 am
hola! hi sister!
May 28, 2011 at 10:30 am
I agree 100%
May 30, 2011 at 4:04 am
Awesome! apparently we win! thanks Toasty!
June 2, 2011 at 1:04 am
I just found your blog and I'm loving it! Thank you for putting yourselves online! We are born and bred Canadians from Southwestern Ontario trading in our old lives here for exciting new lives in El Salvador. Thank heavens for my laptop that sits nicely on the boxes and chaos that surrounds me!
We are in the process of selling everything and can't wait for our expat tale to begin the end of July. My eyes will be focused on your every word as each piece of furniture and other familiar things go out the door here. Out with the old and in with the new!
We will be living beachfront where simplicity, beauty and friends await. We fell in love with this incredible country on our first visit in 2005 and have been back many times before making our life-changing decision to grow new roots. We took our first giant step on April 1, 2011 when we signed the papers for our new home in El Salvador! No April Fool's joke, that's for sure! We admire and respect others who follow their dreams and desires when they realize they're not where they should be or want to be in life and take those slightly scary first steps to change and embrace a whole new way of living! Life is what you make of it and time spent wishing rather than doing is time lost forever! I will be a dedicated follower of your blog and wish you good luck and blessings from 2 crazy Canadian soon-to-be expats! Let the adventures begin!!
June 2, 2011 at 2:49 am
Cathy: awesome! we can not wait to hear about your journey more! it is really awesome to sell everything and take off for a new life! Keep reading here and we hope we can shed some light on life here in El Salvador for expats. It is a wonderful country indeed.
June 2, 2011 at 3:01 am
Interesting blog – I look forward to reading of your transitions. I am a Canadian married to a Salvadoran citizen – we have two kids and we have all spent a great deal of time in El Salvador (rather forced by Canadian Immigration hee hee).
June 2, 2011 at 3:36 am
Thanks Jane! I read through your blog last week. What a story. Glad you guys made it back home and wish you awesome success! thanks for commenting! tell your friends about us. We are having a blast
June 15, 2011 at 4:24 am
Hi, I was born in El Salvador. I migrated to the USA. 35 years ago, I'm married to an US citizen my kids are growned up. I would love to do what you guys are doing, but I still have a mortgage to pay. I haven't been to El Salvador in a long time. but we are planning a trip in the near future. Good luck on your new journey
June 15, 2011 at 11:33 am
Rudy, I know how you feel! We had a mortgage too….we were upside down on the house actually! Just had to get outa there, and it was a good choice. I hope to hear about you guys making the jump too!
June 24, 2011 at 3:07 pm
To be effin' honest I think its a little… how to say it… it's a little unfair for you to come and live among us. Feels like you want to have an adventure when we really fight to strive in this 3rd world jungle. An honest advice: don't be fooled, you will NEVER have the full salvadoran lifestyle experience. The Salvadoran lifestyle experience means working hard and earning little, live in constant fear of those around you and yeah, dont get confused, we are not friendly at all, people smile at you just because you are a "chelito" and they think they can profit from you.
So yeah, i dont quite understand your decision, a lot of us would be blessed to have the lifestyle and the oppotunities you had in "America" and for me, your story of coming to my country to live here just for teh lulz is a little disrespectul to all the misery and the agony we put up on a daily basis.
June 25, 2011 at 2:15 am
I think you are right. Thank you for bringing it up. There is no possible way I could ever become Salvadoran, or fully fit in here. I can barely understand what it means to be Salvadoran. Most of the country lives in deep poverty, and it stands in glaring contrast to how I live (though I consider myself mid-lower working class). There will always be a divide and not very many are even interested in closing it. But we moved for many reasons, including that we did not like what we had in America, and that the opportunities were not all that great. Though I will never fully understand most of them, I think you are are blessed with many things here, and that if there was economic equity you would not think of the U.S. as a place to be envied. I moved for many reasons, and though adventure might be a small part, and I am sorry if you resent that I find your country amazing. But I do.
El Salvador does not like me, but I don't have any control over that. America didn't like me either. My big hope is that El Salvador's economy can improve, and that the Salvadorans living in misery will live better lives. I don't have the power on my own to change that, and I also don't think I personally created it. I do think America has contributed greatly to misery in El Salvador, and continues to profit from imbalanced policies that profit a very few wealthy and complicit here, but it is not my role to be a political activist. This is not my country. But does America have to be my country? And do I have to fit in? Further, is there anything I can do on a small scale that is of benefit? I think there is.
My presence is offensive to many and honestly, I cannot argue with you on that point. You (the country) should absolutely be offended that I can quit my job and just move here while everybody else is struggling. That is profoundly offensive. Deeply disturbing. Wrong. Everything that set it up to make that possible should be reversed. But where does that leave us (everyone)? How are we going to reverse it? Not by hiding from it. Not by going to our separate corners. Part of the reason I left the US is that I didn't want to be on that team any more. And I think I have alot to contribute to any team I'm on.
If Salvadorans just want to profit from me because I'm Chelito then I hope they do. I think my presence here is profitable, not the the short term profit, like overpaying at the market, or getting robbed now and then. What about long term profit? I'm here to do business. I want to buy local resources, make products locally, and export them to bring money in while paying living wages with employee ownership and benefits. Isn't that the role of Salvadorans to do in their own country? YES. Is it happening now? On a scale that reverses the downward spiral of lack of production vs importing everything (AKA exporting Salvadoran money). My business, if it gets of the ground, will be tiny, but whats wrong with employing a few people at a higher standard here, instead of remaining in the US?
August 19, 2011 at 2:45 pm
I think as a Salvadoran the Parodiaco your a bit how shall I put it cynical in your critic. Life and its experiences aren't exclusively reserve for some nostalgic patriotism. ITS LIFE! and it is perceived in what ever way each individual experiences. I was born in Santa Ana yet raised in America and have to hear critics from both Salvadorenos and Americanos in the same manner. I say I am a human being on Earth with the luck to have known many perspectives those whom choose to exclude me or include me for that matter will do so based on their experiences. Your bitter..sorry your life has been hard but outside of what you may think you know America isn't that easy. In fact I would say that it is just as hard…So I think its the human experience in the end.
March 9, 2013 at 1:32 am
As a salvadorean born and US Citizen I see their decision very positive though our people are use to a different life style but I believe Parodiaco you have gone too far. I am proud that Nanelle chose my country and see that we are a warm hearted people even though our country is still under developed and full of third world problems.. I will them luck and I hope one day to see them and I will feel very happy of them.
June 25, 2011 at 3:10 am
Fair enough Andy. Great response, and a very interesting point about long term profit. I've always thought that its so pointless to give money to charitys and stuff like that. If I can change the life of just one person by increasing his/her standard of living, giving a hope for the future of their children, then that will be better than give 5 million bucks to some fancy NGO.
So yeah, nice response and very heartfelt. Appreciate it. Maybe one day we can do business or just shake hands, you never know. Enjoy your stay here and by the way, if you´re gonna go and try to get anything done at Claro you HAVE to go with a local someone salvadoran, otherwise, yeah, a nine days hell.
Blessings for you man.
June 25, 2011 at 11:20 am
I just came across this blog and I find it fascinating that someone would sell all of his stuff and move to find new horizons. Many people in El salvador have done the same thing by going to the U.S and other parts of the world. As for Mr. Handal's comments, don't worry about him. He is only spreading some of the bad comments that his family got when they first moved here from Palestine. These are different times Mr. Handal and los "Turcos", as you were known, have found a place in El Salvador. This country has been very generous to the Palestine diaspora. Siman, Saca, Nasseer, Hada and others are the movers and shakers of our economy. Andy and Cathy will also find their place among us. Andy and Cathy, I wish you the best in your endvours and welcome to El Salvador.
June 25, 2011 at 11:31 am
My message was directed to "Parodiaco" and not to Mr. Handal
June 29, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Hello, Im Vanessa, a proud salvadorean.
I've been surfing through your blog and i think its very courageous and great what you and your family did plus the idea of this blog, telling the experiences you have among our culture is amazing!!!
God bless your everyday and the life of people like Andy and Cathy, we are very glad you chose this country to live in and the fact that you like it, it's incredible because a lot of salvadoreans dont like it and complain about it wich is ironic.
I think it's a shame the level of violence and crime there is but i pray to God that one day can change because if you put that aside i love my country and i think is beautiful. Well i like travelling around in my own country so if you want ideas or any suggestions you can count on me (=
June 30, 2011 at 1:07 am
Vanessa, thank you so much! We do adore El Salvador, it's amazing to us. Maybe over time the violence will cool off, and the economy will improve. Then nobody would ever want to leave! I would love ideas about places to visit. I am still learning my way around, and there are probably more hidden treasures than I can ever find on my own. Thank you again Vanessa and Godbless!
July 3, 2011 at 12:25 am
I am a US Podiatrist, looking to retire or at least semi-retire soon. I have been to El Salvador twice in the past 8 months and I love it! Why do the magazines and websites that talk of moving to Latin America not even mention El Salvador? I like it much better than Nicaragua, and it is much less expensive than Costa Rica! I just found your website this morning, and i am so glad I did.
Rick
p.s. I share a passion for coffee and owned a coffeehouse in Chattanooga 9 years ago. Being a doctor, the coffee business was secondary and I was out of business in 8 months…..
July 3, 2011 at 2:02 am
Rick, I hear what your saying. I think El Salvador is the the little guy, and I think that´s part of it. Also I think many of the magazines and websites are tied to realestate companies and they haven´t got too solid here yet. But yeah, I think the being the little guy just gets Salvador passed over sometimes.
I have no idea how you could be a doctor and run a coffee house! I can see why you´d go under. We tried to work and run our cafe at the same time, and it was pretty quick that we had to choose! I hope you jump back in! No wait….that´s not really retirement is it.
July 3, 2011 at 2:45 am
Well… I am only 55. Looking for less (mental) stress. I know there is more physical stress in a country like El Salvador, but I think I am up for it. I loved the coffee business, just could not do an adequate job of it with my practice.
July 3, 2011 at 12:11 pm
It does take full commitment to do coffee right. At 55 you are ready for the next version of your life then. I´ll issue you an early welcome to your life in El Salvador, and look forward to meeting you. My biggest stresses are 1) mosquitos, 2) hormigas 3) The sharp change from an 11hour / day job to following my nose through the day, which is nothing to complain about but I find it stressful. (woe is me).
July 16, 2011 at 2:47 am
Hi Nanelle and Andy
I found your blog by accident. I am in a similar position, sold everything in Canada and moved to Mexico. I was wondering if you export coffee. I live in Nayarit state which has lots of coffee but it is not that good, and getting beans from Chiapas seems to be very difficult here. Are you starting a roasting business there? or exporting green beans?
Jose
July 17, 2011 at 7:41 am
Jose, Happy to talk to another crazy person! I LOVE selling everything and going, and just about everyone who is crazy enough to do it! Are you enjoying Mexico? I have not been to Nayarit, but have heard it´s gorgeous. I do know that Nayarit has some very good coffee, but just like everywhere, it isn´t easy to find it, and then to get your hands on it. I have to admit, I am not familiar with the laws and the fees involved in importing green coffee to Mexico from another producing country, but I bet it´s tough and expensive. Most producing countries do not want green coffee coming in. Roasted is another matter most of the time, for instance Starbucks here sends all it´s coffee the US to roast, then imports it back in roasted (IRRITATING). We do not roast, but will be roasting again in the fullness of time. We do not export coffee from here, but we can connect you with excellent people who do and I bet if my husband looked through some contacts he can connect you with very good green coffee close to where you live, and even find out more about Mexico´s stance on foreign coffee coming in (Always learning more!). Now tell me more about Nayarit!
July 26, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Just a little props to Andy & Nanelle: This is awesome! I am a Salvadorean living in Los Angeles. I wish your family much success in El Salvador. If Salvadoreans can come to the U.S. to better ourselves and family why can't Americans do the same in El Salvador? I'm amazed by what you guys are doing and will definitely follow your blog.
July 27, 2011 at 3:43 am
Muchos gracias Albert! Nos amomos El Salvador, come back home!
August 9, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I just found out about your blog through Tim Muth's blog. I'm looking forward to following your exploits. I've been living here just shy of 5 years working in the maquilla industry. I wish you the best of luck with your coffee enterprise. My hope is to one day open a wine store or wine distribution business here. I don't know if your husband has heard, but there's a rumor of a craft beer brewery being opened here in the future. It'll be great if it turns out to be true.
August 10, 2011 at 2:49 am
William, I have heard there are a couple people working on the same general idea, and it makes me very happy! Craft brewing is a culture and I think the whole enterprise will be more successful for everyone jumping in, with a couple opening in the same general time frame. It's something new to locals, and unexpected here by expats so I'm SO glad to know we aren't the only ones. Plus…. we can force each other to get better. I have seen only two wine businesses total here (though I haven't searched actively). My husband is (in case you couldn't tell) a fool for good wine, just like good coffee, good beer, and good food. I bet there are plenty of people looking for good wines on a regular basis. I know we are!
August 11, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I ran a beer and wine store in States during a recent hiatus from my life here and it's been a bit of an adjustment for me to come back to the limited supply of wines and beers we have here; no shortage of good coffee though.
The beer business in Central America is strange. There is a lot of protectionism. If I want to drink Tona I have to go to Nicaragua; if I want to drink Port Royal, I have to do to Honduras. Curiously enough, I could get both of these brands and Pilsner El Salvador for my store in the States.
I really hope you guys are successful with the brewery. Tell Andy if he needs a volunteer helping to get things up and running, I'm your man.
August 12, 2011 at 2:27 am
Thank you William! I'm nervous about protectionism, but hopeful. My hope is that the big guys, who deal in huge quantities of Pilsener type beers can stay up in their "big guy" game, and worry about who is importing what rather than tiny little gnats like us. It is interesting which imports we can get here, and which we cannot though. I wonder what the challenges in importing wines are, and if they run into many roadblocks.
August 13, 2011 at 9:56 am
So long as you keep it a niche business, I think you'll be fine. I'm told there used to be a really good Belgian restaurant here. They were allowed to import Belgian beers for the restaurant with little to no hassles. I think if you were to follow the same concept with a beer pub/restaurant, like Sam Calagione did with Dogfish Head, you'll be able keep the big guys off your back and make local craft beer drinkers happy. You may have already discovered Kreef's has a few good German beers. There's also a good German restaurant (the name escapes me) located in the neighborhood behind CITI adjacent to the bandera Massferer. They serve a terrific German sausage platter and have a better selection of German beers than Kreef's.
I haven't explored the difficulties of wine importation as yet. I've been talking with a couple of my Salvadoran friends about getting into the business. What I do know is, like the beer business, if you keep it small and niche-market focused, the big guys will leave you alone. It's the import duties that are the killer. I'll probably focus my attention on small vineyard wines from Spain, France, Italy and South America because American wines are just too expensive to import. Some of the small vineyard producers operate as collectives, producing great wines at reasonable prices.
August 9, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Duh, it might have helped if I'd watched your video, but at least now you know there's a buzz in the air about Andy's brewery.
August 10, 2011 at 2:40 am
You know what? I didn't even know he posted that video until a few minutes ago! Now comes the pressure to get it done. We used to worry about keeping business ideas we had kinda secret. That was before we realized how hard they are to pull off! I HOPE to be handing out beers (made on a legally permitted fully legit system) to everyone who accepts in a few, especially now!
August 10, 2011 at 2:53 am
OH and yet another shout of for Tim's El Salvador blog. I have been following it since we considered moving here. I love the regular news, and well chosen articles. His blog is radically different than most, because he is showing news about the country in English, rather than talking about himself (which is what we do…talk about ourselves… cause we are vain and admit it)
Visit his site: http://luterano.blogspot.com/
August 11, 2011 at 8:18 am
I also found out about you guys through Tim Muth's blog.
As a frequent visitor to El Salvador for the past 11 years I must admit to a twinge of jealousy over your move. I look forward to following your adventures and whatever else comes your way!
Parodiaco makes a good point when he speaks of the attitudes that exist in El Salvador towards gringos. My experience there has led me to the conclusion that, just like here in the States, some people will see me as a target for exploitation and profit, some will see me as an enemy and still others, the vast majority I believe, will see me as what I am, just another human being trying to live out my life in community with people everywhere. Your explanation left me with hopes for your continued safety and success, one gringo to another.
Since you are into coffee make sure you visit the Starbucks in Santa Elena near the US Embassy. I'm sorry I didn't get the name of the shopping plaza that it's in but you can't miss it if you're driving on the street that passes in front of the embassy. It's opposite the embassy and to the north a little. (If you get to the Pepsi plant you've gone too far.) It is the largest and absolutely coolest Starbucks I've ever seen complete with second story outdoor patio area and at least one incredibly helpful,patient, English-speaking barrista! The coffee is typical Starbucks but the store itself is pretty amazing. Of course there is also a two story MacDonalds in the same plaza that has a mezzanine seating area for those who might choose to take their coffee refreshment without leaving the premises.
Bienvenido a El Salvador…..!
August 11, 2011 at 10:38 am
Tim's blog is awesome. I need to find a way to thank him for running it so well, so long. I have been reading it for years, and it has never changed course and never gotten boring. Thank you Bud! I am not sure, but I think that little mall is Plaza Madera. (here come the corrections, which I welcome)
You brought up Starbucks! Oh MY! I have a little to say about them, because I recently had an overly long argument/conversation! For all my blustery pro-independent indieness, my angle might not be as negative as some friends expect!
Starbucks presents a major game-change to this tiny country that just brought home the world barista championship (first ever for a producing country). Specialty coffee is in it's infancy here, and though the entrance is frightening to the shops that compete on a similar model, I'm excited to see which shops will take it up four notches, abandon the old model for something radically different that really shows off the product! Their presence will force shops here to do something interesting, or be crushed. I will stop by to see their shop there. I have not been, and I was curious about what adaptations they made to enter this market. At La Gran Via, they look exactly the same as the states, but I heard the big one was going to by something different. NOW…if they would just start buying better coffee and roasting it locally………..
August 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Hi just found your blog..and I must add it is very interesting….I was born in Santa Ana but was raised in Los Angeles Ca…my entire life. I have always had a melancholy of my native land and dreams of one day returning to live at least part time. But never had the courage to go back you hear of the crime and lack of civil rights and well it makes it seem like that is all it can be a dream. So glad to hear that it is working for you my family several decades ago where in the Coffee Plantation business. In the mountains of Santa Ana oh this was a very long time ago 50's-60's. So coffee is a staple in our family history much like I would say motza balls are for Jewish people and Salvadoran Coffee is just superb!..I notice you also have a brewery! big thumbs up I am also a fan of beer but I must state that I don't find beer from El Salvador that extroardinary its similar to miller or bud which egad…Please brew some stuff with quality and taste..I know that being a warm climate Country Amber's and Lagers are prefered again taste is essential but how about some Ale's mmmmm……
August 19, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Oh wow! Lilliana thank you! You know your beers! So many people repeat that “Salvadorans only like this type of beer” but that is such BS. Not one person we hand a good beer to dumps it out. The very good news is, that it is not just us. There are a couple Salvadoran enthusiasts ready to bust this wide open, and then us too. It is not a matter of if, but who will be first (it’s a race now!). All flavorful, living and fresh. In a couple years there will choices of locally brewed craft beers. (as you can tell, I do not hate the competition. I think it is better to help create a movement and get a slice of a bigger pie, than go it alone and get all of a less developed sector. Plus who could hate people risking their savings to do things right?)
Yes there is crime. But there is so much more. This beautiful country has problems, but this is still a beautiful country. What I see is that the economy is weak, but getting stronger, and though I cannot speak to any civil rights violations, (because I just plain don’t know enough to comment in an honest way) I do know a few people on both sides of the civil rights questions working very hard on the problem. I hope you do come back, even for visits, and regrow some of those coffee roots. I’m amazed by the depth of the coffee culture here. So many families that skipped a generation have the youngest members jumping into grandmas shoes, and taking back lost (and delicious) traditions. One more bit of pride…(i bet you already knew…but I like saying it) El Salvador this year became the first coffee producing country to take the World Barista Competition. Starbucks just came in, and is planting stores across from Viva, but Viva still kicks their ass!
August 20, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Yes planning a trip soon….My father still lives in El Salvador in San Miguel he is a prof. of Business at a University there. I am also planning on taking my girlfriend with me and she is a bit hesitant about it like I said there are lots of misinformation about El Salvador among other cultures in particular between Mexican Americans and Salvadoran Americans but it is changing. Anyhow yes big big beer drinker and I like my darker beers far more then the lighter ones. More flavor in the dark beers I want to say so yes I think if you begin to brew some fine ones in El Salvador you may potentially be sitting in a gold mine as there is little to no competition and any competition is good I say. What they currently have as beer selection is pale in comparison to even great Mexican beers like Bohemia and Dos Equis Lager. Really its not that good and I can't say it just to give my homeland props so good job down there and perhaps when I make my trip if your brewery is up I would love to swing by for some tastings.
September 7, 2011 at 4:19 pm
remember me? ( you stayed at my house) So you guys decided to stay…for good. Amazing! Best of luck! Where did you end up buying a house? Funny, salvadorians – salvadorenos, not expats- are circulating you blog all over the place; good job.
October 9, 2011 at 9:19 am
i think it's great that you guys have chosen El Salvador to start a new life. i was born in El Salvador, but moved to the States when i was 14, and been living in NJ for 29 years, my wife is from Venezuela and we have a 8yo girl, a new born boy, and two older boys 15 and 16, I travel to ES at least twice a year, we are planning to make the same move in a couple of years.
we own a very nice hair salon and are planning to sell it to go open one in El Salvador, I also want to go open a Tour operating company.
my wife was very excited when she read your blog……thank you
keep blogging
December 4, 2011 at 2:08 pm
You guys seem like good people and to me it doesn't matter what country you originate from. If you have the means to move here and start a new venture I see no problem with that at all. I hope you do succeed in all your endeavours not only for the sake of you and your family but also for this country as a whole.
What that guy Paradiaco said is not how all Salvadorans feel trust me. Though I must admit that Salvadorans have a reputation for having a jealous nature. My mother told me of a joke that Salvadoran crabs in a bucket would pull each other down when trying to escape instead of helping one another. Its not funny at all so I probably shouldn't call it joke…lol.
And Andy, even though the U.S may have played a role in many injustices that have occurred all over Latin America, remember that there must've been people here that allowed them to happen. The social inequalities in this country have been happening since the arrival of the Spaniards hundreds of years ago. You seem like a very intelligent person so I'm sure you don't need me going off about all of this nonsense that either me or you can fix.
And wrt fitting in Andy…even I myself have a hard time fitting in here and doubt I ever will. I was even born here but raised in Canada all my life. But who cares right?…by the looks of your moustache I'm sure blending in is not what you're going for anyway…lol. Just messing with ya!
All the Best!!
December 14, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Hi there! love the articles and blogs. this is probably not the place to ask this but im fairly urgently needing a place to stay for 2012 in san salvador and preferably near to zona rosa. Does anyone know of anyone renting a room? looking to pay no more than $100 a month. Sorry for molestando ustedes! Im from Northern Ireland/Scotland and have been living in San Salvador for the past 6 months. Love it here! Would prefer to live with "young people". I{m 27 years old male. Many thanks if anyone can help! Peter
[email protected]
December 15, 2011 at 7:27 am
Peter, best of luck to you!
January 8, 2012 at 12:41 am
Hello, Thank you for taking the leap. I trully hope that you have a wonderful life in my native country of El Salvador. Ive always thought it is a bit of an undiscovered jewel. Wishing you continued success in your business ventures and many happy years. God bless! and Welcome to El Salvador
January 8, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Hi and welcome to El Salvador. I am a U.S born Salvadoran ( from parents). I travel to El Salvador frequently and plan on moving there in the near future. I read your blog and I am very happy and excited for you guys. I wish you the very best, I recommend visiting all the national parks such as Perkin in Morazon, Planes de Renderos in San Salvador, The volcano in San Salvador. There is a good restaurant called Las Brumas near the volcano in which It has a pleasant view of the city and of course good food.
Enjoy El Salvador very much, Saludos desde Cold Virginia, USA
January 27, 2012 at 12:32 am
Hello Andy, Nanelle and all the bloggers above! I came across you blog tonight by pure coincidence, and like most who have posted, am thrilled to have found it!
My husband and I are both Salvadoran-U.S. citizens, met by chance here. After living long years in the U.S. we would really not like to move back, love living here, and are very happy to know the fact that there are still folks like you, that have decided to move here! welcome to our country, your country now!
I am sorry to read there still are some narrow-minded people who would actually frown upon your moving here. People like you is exactly what this country need! to grow, to learn the way honest people work, broaden our horizons and to bring new work opportunities to those who otherwise, most likely would not have them!
You really have a gift to share with the people of El Salvador, and those of us who want to take advantage of what you and your family have to offer, are more than happy to see folks like you who have worked very hard for what you have had in your lives, (just like people ALL AROUND the world do and obviously mr Parodiaco does not have the sufficient capability to understand that…) choose a country that is super under rated and tagged as "bad" to live in and move here! loved your response, btw.
Good luck with your endeavors!
February 3, 2012 at 7:16 pm
i like ur blog welcome to EL SALVADOR
February 3, 2012 at 7:17 pm
GOOD LUCK IN MY BEAUTIFUL EL SALVADOR
February 21, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I am a big beer enthusiast–mostly IPAs–I have brewed home beers myself. So I was very interested to read your blog. I am looking for a place to get a good beer when I am down there in May. I read somewhere about La Ventana. How is that place?
Have you heard of the brew pub in Honduras? Sol de Copan Brew Pub in Copan, Honduras http://trans-americas.com/blog/category/country/c…
This blog and this brew pub made my decision to plan a trip to Central America in May, but ironically, I am flying into San Salvador and am not really sure how I am going to get there.
March 19, 2012 at 9:24 pm
I really like this blog, it shows the true El Salvador! El Salvador is much much more than what we see in the news, as a matter of fact the news only focuses on the negatives of the country, such as poverty and the gang problem, but there is much more than that. Although we cannot ignore the problems, not all the country is in "bad shape"… anyways welcome to El Salvador and i hope you guys enjoy it as much as we do! Don't forget in El Salvador: "La vida es playa" (life is a beach)… Cheers!
P.S.
Don't bother the people that resent the country (like that one "paradisiaco" dude or whatever), sadly some do, and it is understandable as they live in deplorable conditions and think the U.S. is the "savior" to their bad situation…
August 6, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Reading your blog made me feel good. It sounds like the change was good. My husband and I are from orange county cali. We moved to Sacramento about five years ago and bought a house. Now we want to purchase a vacation home in Puerto la Libertad, How easy is it to buy a home in ES?
August 8, 2012 at 6:42 am
Flower, I have not purchased a home here, but know several people who have. The purchase itself is not very difficult, however moving money is. There are restrictions designed to make money laundering more difficult (in reality money laundering goes on unhindered but small business investment and such take a beating). Be sure to use a lawyer with experience in how to legall move the money. Some people have quite a tangle when it comes to finalizing the purchase. Hopefully we will see you down a the peer!!
February 3, 2013 at 1:32 pm
if you need help in buying a property, I can help, I live in Riverside, Californa, but travel to my country for businees twice or three times per year, I know is overwellming when you do not know people to help in that kind of transactions, best thing is do the transactions via bank transfer, thru your bank. good luck
September 7, 2012 at 9:34 am
Hi. We are new to El Salvador and are in need of information. Would like to know if it is possible to buy organic meats (goat, beef, chicken) here in El Salvador. No one with whom we have spoken to seems to know. Thx.
February 3, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Cerassie, most fo the meat in El Salvador is organic, keep in mind that we do not have the big industrialized meat companies, so justo go to the "mercado" market (no the super market), and get meat from there. beef, chicken and pork, (as far as I know we do not comecialize goat, but you may find in some places (as for carne de cabra). good luck. and wellcome to my country.
March 10, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Cerassie…. due to the lack of high industrialization everything is organic per se… cows are raised eating grass, chicken eats grains like corn and other seeds, fruits and vegetables tend to be treated with pesticide so you have to look in that area where you buy the food.
April 8, 2013 at 10:15 am
Les escribo en espanol porque creo que lo estan aprendiendo,yo hablo ingles,he vivido en USA por 44 anos, ahora en tiempo de mi retiro,ymi sueno es regresar a mipais for good, ultimamente he viajado a mi pais 2 o3 veces al ano, me encanta que ya compre propiedades en el salvador, yo tengo un pequeno negocio en USA, pienso venderlo, mi problema es que mi esposa no le gusta la idea por no dejar a los hijos,quisiera saber mas de ustedes, le pido a Dios que les vaya muy bien en todo lo que hagan, tambien quiero decirles que tengo una propiedad en la playa en un lugar com seguridad, los invito cuando yo valla para el salvador, mi e-mail is [email protected]
April 27, 2013 at 11:07 am
Hey! just found your blog and I think is really cool that your family took the plunge and started life all over in El Salvador. I'm a college student from El Salvador and have been living here in U.S. We visit family in El Salvador and every time I go I can't help but think that maybe one day I can move back and live there. I will be following you blog closely to keep reading and enjoying my country. Wish you all success in your new lives in El Salvador.
P.S. You should visit Jayaque is a beautiful place.